The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Jenise » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:52 pm

And nope, not pinots, but chardonnay. Friends dropped by and we opened:

2005 Acacia 'A', $9.99
Golden color with fairly standard California chardonnay nose and flavor. Bigger body than one usually expects for the price, but (unfortunately for me) it comes with a lot of toasted oak. Has a slightly bitter finish which I suspect means 14% or higher alcohol, but the label only claims 13.6%. Still, fair value. This wine was followed by:

2004 Belle Pente "Belle Pente Vineyard" Chardonnay, Oregon, $22.99
Well, hello there. We've jumped up $13 in price and one can taste every penny of it. Gorgeous complex nose and flavors of sweet apple, pear, lemon and white flowers, lovely long finish and no RS. Very fine, and a great sipping chardonnay. Which was followed by:

2005 Evesham Wood "Le Puits Sec" Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
$18


After the Belle Pente, this bone dry wine seemed rustic and chunky. In fact, for a chardonnay, it was surprisingly unfruity. Minerally, but more than that, savory, a word I am certain I've never used before for this grape. Not a sipping wine, but very interesting and very good, especially as by now our guests had left and we were having our main course of chicken (vs. beef) based French onion soup with raclette crouton, and the wine showed much better with food.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Dale Williams

Rank

Compassionate Connoisseur

Posts

11125

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:32 pm

Location

Dobbs Ferry, NY (NYC metro)

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Dale Williams » Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:23 pm

chardonnay! I was lured here under false pretenses!
I like the Belle Pente PNs, but maybe should look at Chards too. Thanks
no avatar
User

David M. Bueker

Rank

Riesling Guru

Posts

34251

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am

Location

Connecticut

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by David M. Bueker » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:04 pm

Inyeresting note on the Belle Pente. I work with the winemaker's Sister-in-law (or is it sister, or cousin, I can't remember) in Connecticut, and she keeps asking if I have tried the wines. Only one problem - I never see them around here.
Decisions are made by those who show up
no avatar
User

Dale Williams

Rank

Compassionate Connoisseur

Posts

11125

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:32 pm

Location

Dobbs Ferry, NY (NYC metro)

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Dale Williams » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:13 pm

David,
while I don't shop in CT much at all, a fair percentage of my Belle Pente PNs were bought at Francos in New Canaan.
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Jenise » Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:28 am

David and Dale, I left out the adjectives but the Belle Pente was truly a stunner. Worth seeking out. And heck, I'm right next door to Oregon and I don't find their wines up here. Bought this one at Vinopolis in Portland about two months ago.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Marc D

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

568

Joined

Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:44 pm

Location

Bellingham WA

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Marc D » Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:47 am

Belle Pente makes a very good riesling, too. Dry and big boned in more of an Alsace style.

Jenise, Wick had some Belle Pente pinots in stock not too long ago. At one point he even had a few bottles of the excellent 2002 Belle Pente Estate Reserve. I haven't been down there recently so don't know if any are left now.

Best,
Marc
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42547

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Jenise » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:06 pm

Marc, thanks for the tip. Haven't been into Wick's in awhile either.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Jason Hagen

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

813

Joined

Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:03 pm

Location

SoCal

Re: WTN: Evesham Wood, Belle Pente, Acacia

by Jason Hagen » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:18 am

Great notes. Thanks! I have yet to try an Evesham Wood Chard. This does sound interesting.

Jason

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 2 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign