Belle Pente Pinot Noir "Murto Vineyard", Dundee Hills 2017

Our vineyard-designated Pinot Noir from Mike and Robin Murto’s outstanding old vines (planted in 1978) has been one of our most popular wines for the last 20 years. This mature, high elevation Dundee Hills sites makes terrific wine every year, but really delivers something extraordinary in warm vintages. 2017 actually got off to a slow start, with a very cold, wet winter that delayed bud break until late April. Cool conditions continued until late May, but a series of progressively more intense heat spikes began during flowering , setting the stage for a larger than normal crop. The heat spikes were thankfully moderated by hazy air caused by wildfires in other areas of the West that drifted into the valley, allowing us to delay harvest until early October.

The net result is that the 2017 wines are remarkably fresh and vibrant for being the products of a very warm growing season. There is a sense of elegance and finesse in these medium-bodied beauties that is a rare commodity in the string of hotter vintages from 2014 through 2018. Fans of our Murto vineyard wines will immediately recognize the old vines, Dundee Hills pedigree on the first sniff. Earthy notes of iron, accented with Christmas spices jump out of the glass, revealing ripe red fruit aromas beneath. The red fruit carries over onto a harmonious palate, where persistent tannins are balanced by lively acidity.

Although this wine is certainly approachable now, it will benefit from several years of cellaring. Enjoy with grilled salmon, mid-eastern accented dishes, and anything with small birds!

546 Cases Produced