Carlton Cellars 2016 Pinot Noir Estate, Yamhill-Carlton

Another exciting Oregon Piot Noir find! Dave Grooters has a prime estate vineyard located right between Tony Soter's and Ken Wright's vineyards in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of Willamette Valley. With well-drained Wellsdale sedimentary soils, it was first planted in 2003, so the vines are mature and the roots go deep. It features 777 Dijon clone on Riparia Gloire rootstock, and Wädenswil and 828 Pommard on both 3309 and 101-14 rootstocks. These vines contribute bright, intense fruit notes all the way from blueberry and black cherry to plum and cassis.

For this Estate Pinot Noir, grapes are carefully picked and then triaged in the winery. After a temperature controlled fermentation the wine aged in 25% new and 75% 1 to 3 year old French oak barrels, primarily Cadus, for 10 months. Only 430 cases were produced of this 2016 which was a small but outstanding vintage in the Willamette Valley.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded this an Editors' Choice and scored it 93 points saying "Grapes from the estate's Russell-Grooters vineyard are the centerpiece here, and this wine easily competes with many reserves costing twice as much. Blackberry, black cherry and black coffee flavors dive deep into a rich, resonant midpalate. Aged 10 months in one-quarter new French oak, the wine feels bigger and darker than that would suggest, and it finishes with a burst of dark chocolate nibs."

We grabbed whatever we could of this rich Oregon Pinot but needless to say, the supply is limited! Grab it now while it's On Sale!!!