The past weeks hiking and family time in Sequoia National Forest was much needed and an amazing experience. I was apprehensive about being away from all forms of technology, but I realized how much fun it is do actually talk, play card/board games and watch the stars. Once back, it did not take me long to taste great wine and get back into the groove of sharing what is out there. This Monday I shared wine with a group of "serious" winos and brought a wine I knew nothing about, Black Cap Pinot Noir. Well, the boys enjoyed it and so did I!
I purchased the wine last Labor Day while visiting the Willamette Valley. Ponzi Winery's tasting room not only shows off its own wines but has an amazing selection of extremely small producers. I asked the wine steward to pick out six bottles of wine that were unique, high quality and not super modern in style. He did me right!
Wine: Black Cap
Vineyard: The Eyrie
Region: Dundee Hills AVA Willamette Valley, Oregon
Grape: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2006
Website: Black Cap of Oregon (very limited information)
Retail: $45 to $50
Fun Fact: Black Cap is Jason Lett's "side project". Jason is the son of David Lett, founder of The Eyrie Vineyards and a pioneer in the U.S. wine industry.
Tasting Notes: When I first pulled the cork I was a bit worried. The wine was a reductive and had a touch of sulfur on the nose. We decided to decant the wine and were rewarded for our patience. As the wine got more air the aromas evolved and expanded to levels that I have only seen in a few wines made in the U.S. The wine has loads of Bing cherry aromas, rhubarb, macerated strawberries, hints of yogurt, vanilla and well integrated spice from the oak. Now, with most domestic wines I expect high concentration of fruit aromas and oak spice but Black Cap adds one more layer of aromatic complexity: earth, dried leaves, mushrooms and black tea. Each aroma is translated perfectly to the palate and then continues to evolve showing fruit, earth, tea, fruit, spice, cream...on and on, but alas there were six of us, so the wine went way to fast to see it reach its pinnacle. Luckily the wine's flavors stay in your mouth for a long time, so if you run out to early, don't open another wine for a bit and let your mouth savor the pleasure of a great wine.I have decided to give Jason a call and stock a case away. Black Cap is a fantastic wine and worth trying to find. It is not cheap but it is too damn good not to try.
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