2019 La Belle Promenade Vineyard Pinot Noir 5L

La Belle Promenade Vineyard: This is a new-to-us vineyard that is one of the most exciting vineyard development projects I have seen in some time. The vineyard is located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA high up on Kings Grade Rd. and is owned by Flaneur Winery. It is planted on a plateau just before the sharp incline that takes the road up to the top of Bald Peak. We are receiving fruit from a massale selection planting (several clones scattered throughout a single block) and a very steep planting of Pommard at the crest of the vineyard. One would suppose this higher elevation site would produce some pretty lithe, focused, red-fruited Pinot Noir. That would be the incorrect supposition. To the contrary, this wine is very dark fruited and not quite tannic enough to be powerful. Rich, for sure, but surprisingly deft for a wine with its fruit density. A new wine, and one to certainly take notice of as it is here to stay and is only going to improve with time.