I love the range of terroir in wines produced in the Willamette Valley. There is just something so unique with wines captured from the terroir at the Brittan VIneyard, which is set on fractured basalt. Those stony and salty tones are deftly reflected the wines of the talented Robert Brittan, who was the former winemaker at Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa before moving to Oregon and starting his namesake winery. Robert is a graduate of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program and founded Brittan Vineyards in 2004, acquiring a 128-acre hillside property with soils that are a mixture of glacial deposits and volcanic material, with a predominant presence of broken basalt. The volcanic material brings out a terrific stony quality in the Pinot Noirs. In addition to the Pinot Noir, Robert has 4 acres of Chardonnay and 1.5 acres of Syrah have been planted. He makes wines for several top Willamette Valley producers as well.
These are wines that cellar remarkably well due to the stony tension and good richness produced vintage to vintage. I adored the new 2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is loaded with finesse and shows outstanding flavor range. Even better is the scintillating 2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has plenty of stony mineralogy and is loaded with black fruits. Learn more about the great wines of Brittan Vineyards at http://www.brittanvineyards.com Here are the brilliant Pinot Noir releases by Brittan Vineyards.
2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir-The 2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir is souecwsd from a western facing hillside that is set on broken basalt. Showing a deep core, the 2019 ‘Gestalt Block’ leads with stony undertones alongside clove, wild mushroom and blackberry compote. The palate is beautifully textured with plenty of flavor density. Sour black raspberry and black cherry notes collide with shades of kumquat zest, wet stone and cloves. Texturally very elegant, and showing a good acid backbone, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2035- 93
2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir comes from a southern facing aspect at their estate vineyard which is set on broken basalt. Once on the nose this revels in tart red fruit tones alongside freshly tilled soils and stony undercurrents. The palate is soft and polished with plenty of tension and stony minerality. Rich red and dark fruits combine with shades of pipe tobacco and a soft texture. Finishing long with black fruits and mineals, this is a downright awesome new bottling that has plenty of stuffing and finesse to cellar over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035- 94
2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Cygnus Block’ was sourced from an eastern slope on the estate vineyard which was planted to Pinot Noir clone Swan selection, 420A. Once on the nose this revels in tart red fruit tones alongside freshly tilled soils, cardamom and stony undercurrents. The palate is very refined and soft, effortlessly gliding throughout the drinking experience. Medium to full-bodied, with gobs of finesse, this black fruit-driven Pinot Noir is already beautifully evolved and will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035- 94
2019 Brittan Vineyards ‘Heritage Block’ Pinot Noir- A new wine for their lineup the ‘Heritage Block’ Pinot Noir was planted to Mt. Eden, Calera, Swan, Wadensnwil, Pommard clonal selections. A light dusting of volcanic earth and white pepper greet you on the nose, with rich boysenberry and baking spice tones. The palate is soft and inviting with rich dark fruit flavors with smoldering stones and shades of black truffle. Enjoy this beautiful 2019 Pinot Noir over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2033- 93