Belle Pente Pinot Noir 2020, Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon

Belle Pente is a vineyard and winery located on a historic 70 acre farm two miles east of the town of Carlton, Oregon in the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticulture Area. Owned and operated by Brian & Jill O’Donnell, Belle Pente produces premium Oregon Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir grapes are 75-100% de-stemmed and fermented with vineyard indigenous, native ambient, and (occasionally) selected commercial yeasts. Following fermentation, the wine flows directly into barrels (20-35% new French oak) for 10-18 months aging. Wines are assembled and gravity bottled in-house (no contract bottlers) without fining or filtration. Our ‘house style’ emphasizes freshness, complexity, focus, elegance, and balance. Belle Pente Pinot Noirs can be enjoyed young, but will also reward careful cellaring. Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir – In most vintages this is 100% estate grown, from higher elevation blocks that we harvest early with the intention of showing the kinder, gentler side of the Yamhill-Carlton appellation. It is the first wine in the ‘Good, Better, Best’ hierarchy from our estate vineyard.