Robert Brittan left Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa after 16 years as Winemaker and Estate Manager to fulfill his dream of making Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from unique sites in cooler climates. In 2004 he and his wife Ellen purchased a 128 acre estate in the foothills of the Coast Range in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and shortly thereafter founded Brittan Vineyards. All of the wines made at Brittan Vineyards are estate wines.
Crimson in color. Pretty nose of red fruits, earth and flowers. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Less opulent and more earthy than previous experiences with Brittan but perhaps a better expression of the Willamette Vallley. Black cherry, black tea and earth on the palate. Nice length on the finish. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 89 points.
The 2019 version of this wine is available at the winery for $50.
I am always looking for a new Pinot Noir producer to add to to my repertoire and have signed up for the mailing list so I can follow the winery in the years to come.
I previously blogged about Brittan Vineyards in A Visit to Brittan Vineyards in McMinnville.