BELLE PENTE
Vineyard & Winery
Cellar Recommendations
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Vineyard & Winery |
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Cellar Recommendations |
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Last updated 24-Nov 2009 The following recommendations are based on recent tastings of the wines (including selected customer feedback), and reflect our assessment of their development. Personal preferences vary, however. Drinking a wine too young is generally better than too old. For older wines, it is best to stand the bottles upright for 2-3 days prior to opening (to allow any sediment to settle to the bottom). Open younger wines 2-4 hours before drinking, and about 1 hour for older wines. 1996 Pinot Noir Reserve Absolutely delicious! Congratulations to those who waited! Drink 1997 Pinot Noirs At their peaks...nothing to be gained from more time. Maresh Vineyard - Drink Murto Reserve - Drink Estate Reserve - Drink 1998 Pinot Noirs Showing very well at ten years on, these are great examples of how Oregon Pinots from good vintages can age beautifully. The Murto is starting to show some secondary characteristics, but the Wahle is still remarkably fresh. There is no rush to drink these, but there is probably not much to be gained by holding them longer (with the exception of the Estate Reserve) Murto Reserve - Drink Wahle Reserve - Drink Estate Reserve - Drink/Hold (half over the next year or two, go "long" on the other half) 1999 Pinot Noirs Showing well on their 10th birthday, but still taste like very young wines. Pull a cork or two if you must, but there are many other great choices for drinking today, so I'd advise letting these rest. Murto Reserve - Hold Wahle Reserve - Hold Cuvee Mystere - Drink/Hold 2000 Pinot Noirs Delicious...at their peaks...enjoy! Murto Reserve - Drink Wahle Reserve - Drink Estate Reserve - Drink/Hold (showing very well...drink half, cafe half until it's 10th birthday or later) 2001 Pinot Noirs Drinking beautifully now, probably at or near their peaks, not much to be gained by holding much longer. Murto Reserve - Drink Wahle Reserve - Drink Estate Reserve - Drink/Hold 2002 Pinot Noirs Showing reasonably well, but at this point leave then be until their 10th birthday...I'm betting that these wines will be even better a few years from now...they are always best on the second or third day Murto Vineyard - Drink/Hold Wahle Vineyard - Drink/Hold Belle Pente Vineyard - Drink/Hold Estate Reserve - Hold 2003 Pinot Noirs Big, luscious wines that can be enjoyed now with hearty fare, but still a year or two away from their peaks. Murto Vineyard - Drink/Hold Belle Pente Vineyard - Drink (if you also have Estate Reserve) Hold (if you don't) Estate Reserve - Drink/Hold 2004 Pinot Noirs Although still young, these wines are pretty delicious now...if you're holding reasonable quantities, it makes sense to pull a few corks. Murto Vineyard - Drink/Hold Belle Pente Vineyard - Drink/Hold Estate Reserve - Hold 2005 Pinot Noirs If this is all you have in the cellar, and have more than a few bottles, these wines can certainly be enjoyed now...but I would certainly drink '03 & '04 first. Murto Vineyard - Drink/Hold Belle Pente Vineyard - Drink/Hold Estate Reserve - Hold 2006 Pinot Noirs These are pretty enjoyable now, and I'd certainly drink these before the 2005. Enjoy some now, but save some as well Murto Vineyard - Drink/Hold Belle Pente Vineyard - Drink/Hold Estate Reserve - Hold
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