2002 Carlton Cellars Roads End Pinot Noir

[dananne]

Ken Wright makes his only blended wine for this Willamette label, using fruit from Nysa, McCrone, and Canary Hill. We tried and bought the '03 on our Oregon trip, but this one turned up unexpectedly on a wine list last night, and Anne and I couldn't resist.

Easily assumes a place near the top of our best of year list. Explosive and aromatic red berries and cherries, lithe, satin-like texture, subtle spices, an earthy, forest floor note on the finish, just seriously yum. Amazing. You just want to wash it around and around in your mouth. I was very disappointed to see the last drops fall from the bottle. Wow, was it good. Anne loved it as much as I did.

Small production, but if you see it, jump. Runs around $40 (and was only $55 on the wine list!). Didn't notice alc. WS gave it a 92, FWIW.

[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.