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Bells Up Winery 2015 Titan Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40

By on December 29, 2017

The late Leonard Bernstein is credited with raising the profile of 19th century German composer Gustav Mahler, particularly for Titan – the Symphony No. 1 in D Major nicknamed by Mahler as a tribute to the Jean Paul novel by the same name. Classical music hornist Dave Specter devoted about a quarter of his overall annual production to this Titan Pinot Noir, and as his own vineyard in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains takes root, he sources from the nearby Yamhill-Carlton region for this blend of Dijon clone 115 and 777 berries with Pommard. A brief seven months in 30% new French oak barrels offers tones of cranberry-rhubarb compote with sweet mulling spices. There’s a sense of Burgundy in the background as a rub of sandalwood is met by earthiness, saddle leather, red currant acidity and lower level of alcohol. That structure prompts the Newberg winery to promote this as a “red meat Pinot.”

Rating: Excellent

Production: 116 cases

Alcohol: 13.3%

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Articles credited to Great Northwest Wine are authored by Eric Degerman and other contributors. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

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