Belle Pente, Pinot Gris 2018, Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, OR

This Alasatian-style Pinot Gris is smooth and soft, with delicate notes of honeyed apricot and white flowers.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: Oregon

APPELLATION (AVA): Yamhill-Carlton

VINEYARD(S): 60% Belle Pente Estate Vineyard; 40% Rivenwood (Estate) Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2018

GRAPES: 100% Pinot Gris

SOIL: Willakenzie soil

PRACTICE: Organic, biodynamic and regenerative

VINIFICATION: Crushed, pressed, and settled 48 hours (no SO2). 40% fermented in 1200L German oak casks (40 years old), 20% fermented in neutral 225L oak barrels, 40% fermented in stainless steel tanks. Long, cool fermentation, aged 10 months on the lees.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Pale gold

BODY: Medium bodied

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Rich, baking spice, pear, melon, honey

FLAVOR: White flowers, apricot, honey

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.1%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve chilled. Pair with braised pork tenderloin.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: “At Belle Pente we are dedicated to producing high quality artisanal wines in partnership with nature and with respect for the environment. In the winery, our processing philosophy reflects the inspiration we draw from “old world” winegrowing traditions: that great wine is made in the vineyard and merely nurtured in the winery. Grapes are hand harvested and meticulously sorted upon arrival at the winery. Our 3 level gravity-flow facility is designed for gentle, natural winemaking in small lots, with minimal handling and manipulation, to preserve varietal integrity and the unique attributes of the time and place in which the wines were grown.” (bellepente.com)

“Jill & Brian O’Donnell established Belle Pente Vineyards in 1994, with the first wine produced in 1996. Brian is from New York City, and Jill from St Cloud, Minnesota. They met while living in California, and moved to the Willamette Valley in 1992. Both were award-winning home brewers, and Brian began making wine for family and friends in 1986. On the night of the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, they resolved to begin a transition out of their Silicon Valley careers to start up a small premium vineyard & winery. Brian is currently responsible for production, and he and Jill share marketing and administrative duties. Daughter Riona arrived just in time for the 1999 vintage, and now serves as Director of Social Media Marketing (in her free time between Neuroscience classes at the University of Vermont)!” (bellepente.com)

“Belle Pente (bell-pont’) means “beautiful slope” – a perfect description for our 70 acre hillside vineyard & winery site in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. It also reflects the inspiration that we draw from the exquisite wines of Burgundy and Alsace, following the guiding principle that great wine is made in the vineyard and merely nurtured in the winery. We are located on a historic 1840s farmstead two miles east of the town of Carlton in the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area.” (bellepente.com)

ABOUT THE LABEL: The label depicts the Belle Pente vineyard and winery site.