Not worth a new thread but this pinot kills me: De Ponte

WINE TALK
1

Not the Dundee, which is pure hedonism. This is, at half the price, the 2009 Eastburn Vineyard Chehalem Mountain pinot. I love this wine in every way. it also feels like it’s “my” type of wine, that feeling when you love a wine beyond its talents and neither the critics nor your friends feel the same way and that makes it even better, it hits your vinous G spot and you don’t know why. Besides the delicious-full-long wine experience, I can’t think of another wine under $30 that hits my intellectual wine center while being made in a style aimed more at deliciousness than anything profound. An accidentally profound wine. No sugar, no oak, no BS.

Of course, a Sandy Thompson (Mt. Tabor Wines) recommendation.

Edited to add: I just realized what this is for me. Burt Williams with cooler climate complexity.

2

I can’t think of another wine under $30 that hits my intellectual wine center while being made in a style aimed more at deliciousness than anything profound

Does that mean if it’s profound it’s not delicious? Why would you ever willingly drink something not delicious if you knew that ahead of time?

Of course, the wine would taste a lot better if you could find some critic who gave it 93 points or more, but sometimes you can accidentally like a wine without knowing the score. You just like it. That’s a guilty and somewhat shameful pleasure - it’s better to like something with high scores, but it’s happened to many of us at some point.

My advice is to try to forget this thing. Go to confession, do your penance, and buy the proper wines.

Or just go with what you like. Screw everyone else’s opinion anyway. Cheers! [cheers.gif]

3

Greg, what you sensed from my post is, if wine this satisfying on every level can be had for under $30 (albeit it was a half price blowout), (1) shouldn’t I demand the same from every wine, and (2) why aren’t there more of these?

In this particular case I am indifferent to any critic, with this wine I know exactly what I am tasting regardless of the opinion of others. I do listen to critics and the people around me but if a wine hits one of the G spots in my brain I only listen to myself and this is such a wine.

4

George, after reacquainting myself with OR Pinot, I have an inkling what those Burg nuts are chasing. We can do that here for a fraction of the cost. I now have no real desire to drink anything else. When I do, I think I need to open another Pinot. A lot of wines hit you over the head with a 2x4, these just sneak up on you and give you a big hug. [highfive.gif] [wink.gif]

5

We stayed at De Ponte foe our visit to Oregon and found all of their wines to be excellent, including the melon. Also try the 1789 Wines bottlings from the De Ponte winemaker Isabelle Dutartre - these are very special!

6

Big +1

Not sure why it doesn’t get more much play on WB. I have a few bottles, time to open one.

7

(1) shouldn’t I demand the same from every wine, and (2) why aren’t there more of these

1 - Yep.

2 - Don’t know. Not sure whether there are in OR Pinot Noir or not, but my gut feeling is that there are lots of wines like that in the world, you just have to look around. Best way to buy wine.

Although I was being a wise ass, that is the whole point of scores, or should be. They’re a way of representing what you experienced in a kind of shorthand. It’s cool you found a wine you love. I’d buy more of it!

8

For vintage after vintage, De Ponte used to make one oaky Pinot after another (IMHO). The fruit quality was good and the wines were definitely not overblown…but the new wood signature was guaranteed. If they’ve shifted away from that recipe, there’s great potential. I’d expect Isabelle Duarte would love to highlight her Burgundian background.

RT

9

George-don’t know if you have seen this.
http://mttaborfinewines.com/2014/05/13/an-amazing-deponte-single-vineyard-pinot-noir-for-20-from-mt-tabor-wines/

Too bad it is not being sold around here!!

10

I went there this summer and found their 2010 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir to be gorgeous. There was a hint of vanilla to it but not overpowering. I really enjoyed their Melon as well, it was killer.

11

Liked the '08 Dundee Hills a lot. Yes a bit on the hedonistic side, but no way over the top for my tastes. Got this in memory of Bob Wood, actually.

12

One man’s hint?

Anyway, I remember tasting a number of their PNs during a visit several years ago…pretty sure they were pouring 05s. One of the Pinots included some sort of barrel select bottling for the club members. I asked the pourer “What’s with all the new wood?”. His response was something like: “that’s the way the club members like it”. Seemed a shame to slather that much make-up on the pretty fruit. Haven’t tasted any 10s, 11s or 12s. Sounds like time to revisit.

RT

13

You have a pretty good idea of what Oregon wines I drink, Richard, and I don’t think our preferences are too far out of whack. But it was just one small glass shared with my wife. When I pop my one bottle I’ll post a note.

14

George, I finally located and ordered some of this wine. Looking forward to trying it. Thanks for the heads up.

15

Yep. But some of the Oregon wines are very obviously manipulated and a couple of those get high scores. An Oregon pinot that is not manipulated, in a terrible year, lean and earthy? Yum. In a ripe year? Yum. This board is a great source of which is which.

16

George, I took your advice and tracked down a few bottles. This is a very nice wine, and a great deal at $20/bottle. Not profound, but very well made. Not too heavy, and was even better on the second day.