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B-21 Top Recommendation
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From an under the radar Oregon Pinot Noir producer called one of the region's "leading names to know" by Decanter, these top scoring Brittan Vineyards selections encompass a full range of terroir expressive Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs from outstanding vintages, described as "mineral-driven and more detailed than many of their Oregon peers" by Neal Martin of Vinous and offered at best on the market pricing that's perfect for mixing a case.
An industry veteran boasting an impressive decades' long resume as winemaker for top Napa estates including Far Niente, Robert Brittan resigned after 16 years as winemaker and estate manager at Stags' Leap Winery to follow his longtime passion for cool climate Pinot Noir, purchasing a 128-acre property in the foothills of the northern Willamette Valley's Coast Range in 2004. Situated on a steep hillside in the McMinnville AVA, Brittan's 30 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards are planted in a unique mix of mostly broken basalt with glacial deposits and volcanic material, many of the parcels exposed to the brisk oceanic winds funneling through the Van Duzer Corridor that produce thicker skins and naturally lower yields. Employing a low intervention winemaking approach that Neal Martin of Vinous calls "inspired but not obsessed with Burgundy," Brittan utilizes a mix of old and new barrels with new oak typically under 25%, favoring the wood's influence on texture rather than flavor. Crafted from various parcels across his Estate vineyard, the 96 pt. 2019 Estate Pinot offers a "core of red fruit swept along by racy acidity" according to the Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks and the 92 pt. 2021 Estate Pinot boasts "serious structure" and a "streak of stony minerality" according to Decanter's Clive Pursehouse, both set to evolve for another decade or more. Sourced from a three-acre, east facing parcel planted in 2008 to a single, low-yielding clone, the Cygnus block's unique orientation mitigates the Van Duzer winds, creating fresh, balanced Pinot Noir with abundant red fruit and a long savory finish, both the 2018 and 2019 vintages earning 97 pts. from the Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks. At the heart of the hillside vineyard, the Basalt Block is a seven-acre south-facing bowl with the greatest concentration of ancient, fractured basalts, adding a savory minerality and notable acidity to the 94 pt. 2018 and 98 pt. 2019 Basalt Block releases. From a two-acre parcel on the lower southwest hill, the Gestalt Block boasts shallow topsoil over a dense layer of basalt that results in very low yields, the skins of the grapes thickened by the intense Van Duzer winds yielding rich, concentrated flavors with chewy tannins in the 98 pt. 2018 and 98 pt. 2019 Cygnus Block.
Boasting intense minerality and mouthwatering acidity "sure to send bolts of rapture through lovers of great Burgundy" according to the Wine Advocate's Jay Miller, these small production gems from Brittan Vineyards offer fans of classically styled Oregon Pinot Noir an opportunity to explore their full range of outstandingvineyard expressive wines at unbeatable prices, ready to enjoy now and built to savor over the next decade. |
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Dark red fruit aromas that go back and forth from blackcap raspberry to Bing cherry are joined by notes of violets and a buttery pie crust. The wine's muscular tannins lead to a chewy texture and thoughts of cellaring this wine until the mid-to-late 2030s. Blackberry, cedar and sage flavors go on seemingly forever.
94 points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast (Jul 2024)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate has pure, expressive aromas of pomegranate, raspberry, rosewater, cardamom and earthy undertones. The light-bodied palate has a soft, tea-like astringency, vibrant acidity and a long finish laced with floral perfume.
93 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Dec 2024)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate pours a deep ruby and presents a dark profile of blackberry, violets, and forest floor. Youthful with grippy tannins and angular acidity, this full-bodied Pinot has a firm hold at this stage and will do well with another 6-12 months of bottle age before drinking 2024-2030.
92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Sep 2023)
Dark and brooding with floral and earth-driven aromatics from this Pinot Noir planted in the foothills of the Coast Range south of McMinnville. Crushed violets mingle with stone and black and blue berry aromas. The palate is a streak of stony minerality that envelopes a core of dark pomegranate and black plums. There is serious structure and a savoury note of mint to finish.
92 points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter (May 2023)
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