past vintages of yamhill-carlton pinot noir

2021 Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir

233 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$72
label-Hancox family barn

The Yamhill-Carlton AVA is our home turf – and as I alluded to regarding the chardonnay – the AVA tends to make wine with a boldness and power to it – 2021 is no exception!  Ripe fruit along with supple tannins, a sweet mid palate, and some oak to round it out make this a delicious wine now and for a few years to come.

tasting notes – Inviting with a deep gravity. The airy notes of lilac, rose petal, and warm Earl Grey tea spice circle around a dense core of dried bramble berries, black cherry cola and pomegranate molasses. As time slowly passes, textures of nutty granola with spiced wildflower honey arise, complementing the dark, concentrated berry notes. Each sip invokes recollections of freshly-baked blackberry oatmeal bars. #breakfastofchampions

scores -
93 pts — Paul Gregutt
91 pts — Wine Enthusiast
93 pts — International Wine Report
91 pts — Wine Spectator
94 pts — Vinous
93 pts — Wine & Spirits
93 pts — James Suckling

2019 Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir

235 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$68
label - Westside Road barn

I view this wine as the best of what we can offer from the YC AVA.  Comprised of four different sites, each brings a different perspective of the vintage.  I think this might be our best version yet, and I hope that one day we can include some of our own homegrown fruit in this blend as well.  The label is a barn that we pass by regularly, Clare and I love the old barns of Yamhill county so we try to preserve them by featuring on the label.

A luscious and lively, concentrated core of brandied cherries and raspberry-fig jam is wrapped by whispers of moss covered timber, pine needles and savory mushrooms, developing a mysterious, earthy complexity. A fine paper-grain tannin continues to evolve with hints of sweet cigar, sassafras, roasted coffee and smoked meat that linger on the finish. Pair this with a sunset hike in the forest on a cool autumn night.

scores-
93 pts — Owen Bargreen
94 pts — Vinous
95 pts — James Suckling
94 pts — International Wine Report
90 pts — Burghound/ Allen Meadows

2018 Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir

234 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$68 (sold out)
label - Westside Road barn

2018 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir – some day we will see a little BTF fruit in this blend!  Our place is in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and part of why we started making this wine, thinking that someday wine from our vineyard would have a home.  As I mentioned before – the YC wines seem to have darker fruit notes-a little more power than finesse- making it an able partner to grilled food and heartier fare.  Clare uses the label to showcase the local barns from years gone by that are still standing.  234 cases produced

tasting notes-
A motley crew of complexity! Leading off with a deep concentration of berry notes ranging from fresh blueberries and wild picked black berries bursting with ripeness, to jammy huckleberry and raspberry pie, with a touch of overripe strawberry and currant preserves thrown into the mix. Touches of dried violets, sweet tobacco leaf, fennel seed and cedar balanced with a distinctive touch of tilled earth and leather flesh out the juicy core. Light, prickly tannins play energetically on the tongue, adding to the depth and enjoyment.

scores —
93 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
93 pts — Vinous

2017 Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir

239 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$100 (sold out)
label - Clare has chosen to honor the area’s history by drawing local barns


Now comprised of 4 vineyards here in the YC AVA – where Big Table Farm resides – each brings a slightly different element to create a wine with the power the area is known for, but also the finesse that makes Pinot noir so beautiful. I visit these sites as often as all the others, but their proximity makes it just a little bit easier. Three are early ripening (warmer) and the fourth is one of the last to be picked.

tasting notes -
This wine shows heady aromas of plum, raspberry preserve, stewed fruit and wet earth. Palate has liqueur qualities, juicy dark blue fruits, leather and black cherry. Full ripe tannins on the finish add unexpected but well received structure on the palate to hold all the dark fruit.

scores —
93 pts — Vinous
92 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
92 pts — Wine Enthusiast
92 pts — Wine & Spirits
92 pts — Wine Spectator

2016 Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir

322 cases
unfined and unfiltered
$100 (sold out)
label - The Bernards' Barn, Carlton

This wine represents the best of the Yamhill Carlton AVA and is adorned by one of the many historic barns of the county.  The 2016 Yamhill-Carlton is made from the fruit of the Coats and Whitney and Kalita Vineyards, both farmed impeccably by Daniel Fey and the team at Results Partners.

tasting notes - Impressions of blue and black fruits lift from the glass as sweet black cherries and baked plums come into focus. On the palate the wine is elegantly bold, concentrated and generous. Richness is balanced by bright acidity in harmony with ripe, velvety tannins. Flavors of wild blueberries and blackberries bring to mind a perfect berry pie at the height of summer. Notes of cedar, toasted fennel seed, black pepper and bramble add a savory counterweight to the luscious fruit.

scores —
92 points — Wine Spectator
92 points — The Pinotfile - Prince of Pinot
92 points — Vinous
93 points — Washington Wine Blog
90 points — Purely Domestic Wine Report
92 points — Wine & Spirits