2004 Nuthouse Pinot Noir Magnum
Oregon Pinot Noir
Lone Star Vineyard
Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon
1.5L bottles
2004 Nuthouse Pinot Noir Magnum Tasting Notes
This is a very powerful Pinot Noir from an interesting vintage. This wine rewards the patient imbiber who lingers over a glass of wine while it develops in the glass! The aroma s are concentrated blackberry center with radiating essences of cedar cigar box, roasted pecan, vanilla bean, jam packed dark chocolate Black Forest Tort, and a wonderful black truffle earthy component. Foretold by the aromas intensity, the palate of this wine is Nuthouse concentrated. A juicy plus core is wrapped up by blackberry fruit leather, red cedar box, and a long fruity blackberry to blueberry finish. The big time tannins of this wine are hidden under a very juicy sweetness. This is "Pukka Pinot Noir"!!
2004 Nuthouse Pinot Noir Magnum Vintage Notes
January's snow, ice, and 16F degree weather seemed to herald the tenacity of the cool side of Mother Nature. A wonderfully dry Spring, was interrupted right at flowering by cold rain to limit grape pollination. Grape clusters had extraordinarily high numbers of small pea-sized berries. Overall yields for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were down 25% and 10% respectively. Summer and early Fall experienced at least three unusual heat spikes leading us to believe harvest would be at least as early as 2003, if not earlier! Along with the revitalized Mt. St. Helens volcano, two very cool, Fall rain events moved into the Willamette Valley from the Bering Strait. Snow levels dropped to 5000'! This was a blessing in disguise as harvest was pushed back into the 'normal' end of September-October timing. Fresh fruit flavors were lifted and bracing mineral structure was re-established. Life in the grape berries was reborn and infused into the wines of 2004.
2004 Nuthouse Pinot Noir Magnum Wine Scores and Reviews
- 2004: Wine Advocate 91 "The 2004 Pinot Noir "Nuthouse" was sourced from the winery's Lonestar Vineyard. Dark ruby-colored, it offers a lovely perfume of cedar, spice box, black cherry, and blueberry. This leads to a forward wine with gobs of up-front, black fruit flavors, wrapped in a silky, elegant personality. Drink this tasty wine over the next 8-10 years."
