2002 Carlton Cellars Roads End Pinot Noir

[dananne]

We finally got around to the '03 at Christmas, and while just a notch below the '02 in overall quality, it still proved a delicious wine. Blending seemed to help handle the heat of the vintage, and the cinnamon-spiced red fruits jumped around in the mouth. Lively and balanced, it finished long and lush. Though Wright makes perhaps our favorite Pinots, and is an absolute master at single-vineyard wines, this one is a compelling argument for the merits of blending in Willamette. The high 14.7% alc. was invisible on the palate. We paid $47 for it on our summer '05 visit to Oregon's Willamette Valley. Come to think of it, we tasted it the same day we met Wondersofwine!

If you happen to see a bottle of Roads End on a wine list or in your local wine shop, and you are a fan of Pinot Noir, jump on it quickly. It won't disappoint.