Beyond the Bottle : Belle Pente Archives

November 15, 2010

Photos: Belle Pente's biodiversity

When it comes to wine, there are tasting rooms, there are wineries, and then there are farms. Belle Pente Vineyard and Winery is a true farm, with a range of biodiversity that might surprise those who visit, including me. I arrived expecting to find rows of grapes, but instead came upon a diverse collection of animals grazing in the pastures surrounding the Belle Pente estate vineyard. Case in point, a small herd of Scottish highland cows with two six month old calves. Their moms were highly attentive to anyone approaching the fence, especially with a camera pointed at them...

Posted by Thad W. at 07:37 PM | Permalink

November 07, 2010

Photos: Chardonnay fruit at Belle Pente and Brick House

The fruit at both Belle Pente and Brick House tasted absolutely delicious on the vine. I am looking forward to opening a bottle of each 2010 Chardonnay a year from now. Chardonnay in Belle Pente Vineyard Chardonnay in Brick House Vineyard Related Links More coverage of Belle Pente Vineyard More coverage of Brick House Vineyards...

Posted by Thad W. at 06:47 PM | Permalink

November 04, 2010

Photos: Filling the bins with fresh picked fruit

Here are two of my favorite shots from the Belle Pente Vineyards harvest last month. It was amazing seeing how quickly these bins filled with fresh picked fruit. The pace this crew undertook to pick the fruit and load each bin was humbling. Thank goodness there are folks like the ones who worked this vineyard to bring this harvest in and eventually bring the fruit to our tables. Again, I am humbled by their hard work harvesting. Filling the bins with fresh picked fruit Clean clusters of delicious Pinot noir...

Posted by Thad W. at 06:29 PM | Permalink

November 01, 2010

Photos: Picking Pinot at Belle Pente

In yesterday's post and photo, I described how steep this vineyard was to climb and how out of shape I was trying to ascend it. Here are a couple of shots captured as the crews quickly harvested Pinot noir in this section of the Belle Pente estate vineyard. For more photos of harvest and other wine-related scenes, click on any photo or the Flickr module in the right hand column. Hope you are enjoying these images from harvest in the Willamette Valley. B>Related Links More coverage of Belle Pente Vineyards...

Posted by Thad W. at 01:59 PM | Permalink

October 31, 2010

Photos: Sunrise on Belle Pente Vineyard

With the sun about to rise over the horizon, I raced past the crew that had started picking Pinot noir at the bottom of the Belle Pente vineyard to find a high point from which to shoot. As I ascended the hillside, it dawned on me how steep this vineyard was and how bad of shape I was in. I instantly gained respect for those picking fruit, a group of men and women, young and old, who would quickly and methodically move up these slopes, without ever seeming to pause for a rest. I arrived to take this shot out...

Posted by Thad W. at 02:44 PM | Permalink

October 30, 2010

Photos: Harvest in the Willamette Valley

For three pristine days this month, I had the privilege of visiting several producers in the northern Willamette Valley, who were all at their peak of harvest activities. At each location, crews were hand picking tons of Pinot noir in the vineyard, while teams in the winery were hand sorting countless bins of fruit. It was a truly connective experience each day walking the rows and tasting the fruit at sunrise, following the harvest through early afternoon, and then finally watching clusters being sorted well past sunset. During harvest, the day's work is clearly never done until the last bin...

Posted by Thad W. at 01:20 PM | Permalink

September 27, 2009

Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

The Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills (12.9%) is hands down one of my top five favorite Oregon pinot noirs from the 2007 vintage. I picked up a bottle of the Belle Ponte Dundee Hills back in July for $22, a bargain price considering how delicious this wine is now and how wonderful it will most likely be after more time in the bottle. In the glass, the Belle Pente was a clear ruby red delivering an earthy funk at first that blew off in due course to reveal strawberry fruit and floral perfume. In the mouth, this...

Posted by Thad W. at 06:09 PM | Permalink

September 15, 2009

Belle Pente 2005 Riesling Willamette Valley

I've had the good fortune of enjoying a variety of Belle Pente pinot noirs recently, one of my favorite producers who also happens to make a very delicious riesling. The Belle Pente 2005 Riesling Willamette Valley (13.1%) is a beautiful golden yellow color in the glass, with signature petrol, wet slate, and citrus fruit on the nose. This Oregon riesling offered wonderful citrus fruit and mineral flavors, balanced with crisp acidty and just enough residual sugar. I really liked the texture of this wine. Overall, it went very well with our spicy Kung Pao Beef dinner, a dish crafted...

Posted by Thad W. at 08:26 PM | Permalink

September 13, 2009

Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

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...

Posted by Thad W. at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 02, 2009

Belle Pente 2007 Cuvée Contraire

In the glass, the Belle Pente 2007 Cuvée Contraire Willamette Valley (12.7%), a rosé of pinot noir and gamay noir, is a light, watermelon red color with slight hints of red berry fruit on the nose. This wine came around more as it warmed up from its refrigerated state. This Belle Pente rosé offered bright red berry fruit flavors with balanced acidity. It was slightly viscous and cloying, but not so much that it turned me off. Overall, we found this to be a refreshing, delicious rosé. Not sure I would buy another bottle at the $17 price point,...

Posted by Thad W. at 03:42 PM | Permalink

June 09, 2008

Review: Crow and Betty Restaurants

Last month, I had the opportunity to dine at two sister restaurants, Crow and Betty, within weeks of one another. These two places are owned by Craig Serbousek and Jesse Thomas, who opened Crow several years ago and last year launched Betty, both in the Queen Anne area. As a result, Crow and Betty share a lot of common ground such as a bistro-style menu, a diverse list of old and new world wines, and very attentive service, all provided at moderate prices. The environments at both places are open and well designed, with plenty of bar and chef counter...

Posted by Thad W. at 06:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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November 15, 2010

Photos: Belle Pente's biodiversity

November 07, 2010

Photos: Chardonnay fruit at Belle Pente and Brick House

November 04, 2010

Photos: Filling the bins with fresh picked fruit

November 01, 2010

Photos: Picking Pinot at Belle Pente

October 31, 2010

Photos: Sunrise on Belle Pente Vineyard

October 30, 2010

Photos: Harvest in the Willamette Valley

September 27, 2009

Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

September 15, 2009

Belle Pente 2005 Riesling Willamette Valley

September 13, 2009

Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

August 02, 2009

Belle Pente 2007 Cuvée Contraire

June 09, 2008

Review: Crow and Betty Restaurants

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