WTN: 2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir - Over 8 Bottles Consumed

Everyone in our monthly group ... including some Houstonians, got a bottle of this and we consumed it at our leisure. We listed our notes without discussing with each other but there were consistent perceptions about this being a ripe and forward wine that had a bit of candied fruit. It seemed to me that this was a bit of victim of the vintage. A very good wine but much more forward than I would expect from Belle Pente.

2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (5/4/2008)
I had this over 2 nights. The aromatics were so ripe … and heavy. Plummy. I certainly would have guessed Cali. I would have thought KB or Loring in style. Lots of big ripe fruit on the palate. The acid fit in nicely but the sweetness of the fruit was borderline candied. This all works well when you are in the mood for this style. The finish was a week spot. A bit flabby and a touch of heat. Last years Willamette Valley bottling was a much better but there is a lot of bang for your buck with this wine. (88 pts.)

More evidence that 06 will be a vintage to be very careful with your purchases.

Peace,

Jason

[Jenise]

Everyone in our monthly group ... including some Houstonians, got a bottle of this and we consumed it at our leisure. We listed our notes without discussing with each other but there were consistent perceptions about this being a ripe and forward wine that had a bit of candied fruit. It seemed to me that this was a bit of victim of the vintage. A very good wine but much more forward than I would expect from Belle Pente.

2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (5/4/2008)
I had this over 2 nights. The aromatics were so ripe … and heavy. Plummy. I certainly would have guessed Cali. I would have thought KB or Loring in style. Lots of big ripe fruit on the palate. The acid fit in nicely but the sweetness of the fruit was borderline candied. This all works well when you are in the mood for this style. The finish was a week spot. A bit flabby and a touch of heat. Last years Willamette Valley bottling was a much better but there is a lot of bang for your buck with this wine. (88 pts.)

More evidence that 06 will be a vintage to be very careful with your purchases.

Peace,

Jason

A few months ago during my twice-yearly foray onto eBob, there was a post from some guy to the effect, "Is 2006 going to be the most awesome vintage of Oregon Pinot Noir or what!!!" He went on to name which hard-to-get wines he had already ordered and wanted to know what others were considering. Not sure just whose hype he was buying into, but he obviously bought the whole enchilada and couldn't imagine to whom elevated alcohol and flabby fruit would be a problem. To my delight, his post was replied to by an Oregon winemaker who said something like, "Not for me, it won't be." Your tasting note astutely deals with that difference. The only 06 pinots I've had so far are the Elk Coves, wherein in I liked the regular bottling much more than their more-expensive single vineyard wines. Oh, and I had their pinot grigio/gris, which if it's any indicator does not bode well for whites in this vintage as it seriously lacked acidity.

Thanks for the note.

Hello, Jenise.

Any experience with the Archery Summit Special Cuvee from 2006?

I purchased one untasted

...I might have made a mistake?


Still, a lot of people do love the goopy style (give me acidic, lean and earthy any day) and it might make a good gift or party wine where others who better appreciate the style can drink most of it???

Jason, thanks for notes. As you seem to have alot of BP experience, any recent tries of the '01 Murto? Was pondering if it might be time to open.

Any experience with the Archery Summit Special Cuvee from 2006?

I purchased one untasted. I might have made a mistake?

Still, a lot of people do love the goopy style (give me acidic, lean and earthy any day) and it might make a good gift or party wine where others who better appreciate the style can drink most of it???

Brian,

I haven't had that particular wine, but I would say that goopy better characterizes the Archery Summit style than does acidic or lean (caveat: unless their style has changed, I haven't had anything from very recent vintages). And I don't mean goopy in any sort of derogatory way--I absolutely loved their wines, even for the formidable prices they charge. But those prices make me wonder why you sprung for a bottle untasted--a particularly good price, doing your part for charity, or similar?

[Jenise]

Hello, Jenise.

Any experience with the Archery Summit Special Cuvee from 2006?

I purchased one untasted

...I might have made a mistake?


Still, a lot of people do love the goopy style (give me acidic, lean and earthy any day) and it might make a good gift or party wine where others who better appreciate the style can drink most of it???

Haven't tasted the wine myself, Brian, but knowing your "I hate pinot" stance and preference for traditionally styled wines, I don't think that Archery Summit would be a particularly good fit for you. I'd have steered you to the 2005 vintage of Domaine Drouhin.

My last venture with Archery Summit Pinot Noir (a couple years ago) was that they were disguising really nice fruit with too heavy an oak treatment. I wish they would ease back a little on new oak.

[Jenise]

My last venture with Archery Summit Pinot Noir (a couple years ago) was that they were disguising really nice fruit with too heavy an oak treatment. I wish they would ease back a little on new oak.

Same here, JC. But I may have tasted a bottle made in a deliberately Parkerized style--called something tongue-in-cheek like 'Nuthouse'. Or do I have AS mixed up with another producer? Not sure.

A few months ago during my twice-yearly foray onto eBob, there was a post from some guy to the effect, "Is 2006 going to be the most awesome vintage of Oregon Pinot Noir or what!!!" He went on to name which hard-to-get wines he had already ordered and wanted to know what others were considering. Not sure just whose hype he was buying into, but he obviously bought the whole enchilada and couldn't imagine to whom elevated alcohol and flabby fruit would be a problem. To my delight, his post was replied to by an Oregon winemaker who said something like, "Not for me, it won't be." Your tasting note astutely deals with that difference. The only 06 pinots I've had so far are the Elk Coves, wherein in I liked the regular bottling much more than their more-expensive single vineyard wines. Oh, and I had their pinot grigio/gris, which if it's any indicator does not bode well for whites in this vintage as it seriously lacked acidity.

Yes I joined in on that conversation as well. The post was started by a Cali producer and he had only tasted wines made by Cali producers. But knowing the poster ... I think he was just stirring the pot a little as well as having a preference for a riper vintage. That being said, I think it will be a great vintage for many consumers.

Keep in mind, this is the entry level bottling for Belle Pente and is meant for early consumption and I think restaurant lists. It is also the first time for this bottling.

Jason

My last venture with Archery Summit Pinot Noir (a couple years ago) was that they were disguising really nice fruit with too heavy an oak treatment. I wish they would ease back a little on new oak.

Same here, JC. But I may have tasted a bottle made in a deliberately Parkerized style--called something tongue-in-cheek like 'Nuthouse'. Or do I have AS mixed up with another producer? Not sure.

Jenise,

I think you are confusing Archery Summit with Argyle--another Willamette Valley winery who does produce Nuthouse.

I haven't had that particular wine, but I would say that goopy better characterizes the Archery Summit style than does acidic or lean

Goopy, woody and over priced. Well made wines and a great place to visit but I go for other producers.

Jason

Jason, thanks for notes. As you seem to have alot of BP experience, any recent tries of the '01 Murto? Was pondering if it might be time to open.

Sadly I do not have any 01 Murto. I have drank many Belle Pentes but I am lean in my cellar.

I would assume that the 01 is coming into a good window.

Jason

Reasons for purchasing it untasted were not 100% rational:

1. The wine shop owned by neighbors had comped me some tastes that evening so I wanted to "thank them" and I swa it.

2. Several friends raving about A. S.

3. An actual experience with A. S. in a previous vintage that I found drinkable and even nice.



I'm sure if I bring it to a party it will be enjoyed!

Fair enough, sounds pretty rational to me. And you never know, you might enjoy this bottle as well . . . only one way to find out!