2014 Seven Springs Estate La Source Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir

13.1% alc., 1,611 cases, $75. Since 2012, this wine has always been a selection of the very best barrels in the cellar. For this vintage, rather than hew to tradition, Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr tasted through all individual blocks of Seven Springs Vineyard. The uppermost blocks planted to Dijon clones set themselves apart from the older vines downslope. The upper vines are in rockier soils and exposed to windier conditions making them stressed. Adjacent to the top block is a small vineyard called Clos de La Fôret that is encircled by a dense grove of Douglas Fir (see photo below). This block performs beautifully in a warm vintage like 2014. This wine was aged in French oak barrels, 30% new, and bottled without fining or filtration. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Welcoming aromas of cherry, pomegranate, rose petal, exotic spices and sweet pipe smoke. Delicious attack of cherry fruit with added notes of spice and rose water. Luscious, yet balletic, with refined tannins, complimentary oak, and an aromatic finish featuring cherry and strawberry at its best. This wine is a perfect example of why people get so excited about Pinot Noir. It simply grabs your heart. Still superb when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 96. Reviewed May 7, 2017

Winery: Evening Land Vineyards
From article: Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Pinot Noir