Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Stunning Stuff: Cameron Arley's Leap Pinot Noir

It’s been a while since I’ve created a post about a specific bottle of wine. But, then again, Cameron Pinot Noir is something else. 
 
The juice from this 2011 Arley’s Leap Pinot Noir comes from a hillside plot of vines above the Abbey Ridge Vineyard. (Cameron’s Abbey Ridge Pinot and Chardonnay are also consistently exceptional.) Many vineyards have interesting stories behind their names, but Arley’s Leap may be my new favorite. Apparently it’s named after owners Bill and Julia Wayne’s departed dog, Arley, who got scared by a cat and jumped off a second story balcony to his untimely demise. Poor guy. At least his memory lives through one killer Pinot Noir.

My thoughts…

Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
$40
Clear, light ruby color. Bold spice elements (tobacco, black pepper, oregano, pickled peppers) accenting the bright cranberry and red plum fruit, hints of light roast coffee. Bright acid makes this refreshing to drink, fine-grain tannins help as well. The red plum, cranberry and red cherry fruit is crunchy and fresh, gliding across the palate. This wine has a whole lot of pickling spices and mineral notes working for it, and it’s hitting all the right spots. Cool, clean, complex yet elegant. Ready to drink now but the stuffing for some near-term aging is here. This is a stunner for my palate. (93 points)
 

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