The Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (12.5%) is comprised of fruit "from selected blocks of several Yamhill County vineyards". From what I understand, this bottling was labeled in previous vintages as the Yamhill-Carlton District pinot noir. However, this year their web site declared it "a Belle Pente "economic stimulus package" Pinot Noir!", pricing it under $20.

What a terrific value this Oregon pinot noir offers at the $18 price point I purchased it at retail. In the glass, the Belle Pente pinot noir was a cloudy, ruby red color, initially offering a predominant earthiness that eventually morphed into a red berry fruit until finally revealing these floral, perfumed notes. After being open a while, a few notes of menthol and wet cement were present, which I have found common with many Oregon pinot noirs.

Even still, I really enjoyed the Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir WV, for its bright fruit flavors, earthy funk, and overall food-friendly acidity. It was light, yet flavorful, while evolving in the glass throughout our meal. We paired the Belle Pente with a black bean chicken sausage chili dressed with fresh avocados and sharp cheddar cheese. The spices in this dish really came alive with the Belle Pente pinot.

I am going to stock up on a few more bottles of this wine, for its quality-to-price ratio is good now and shows promise for being a delicious go-to-wine in the years to come.

Related Links
Belle Pente's Current Releases Page
San Francisco Examiner Review