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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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About Great Northwest Wine

Articles authored by Great Northwest Wine are co-authored by Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

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