2005 Domaine Pierre Noire Cuvée en Amont

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/14/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Pierre Noir Rouge) Pierre Noire Dear Friends, Tired of the same old-same old? As far as domestic releases go, this is one of the hotter new wines in Washington State and the story has only just started... What happens when a former Beaucastel person of interest decides to bring a dedication to the soil and sustainable practices to America? He heads north, to a climate more suited to cooler expression and sets down roots in the Columbia Gorge - probably Washington State’s most intriguing and renegade region. If you are an artist who wishes to go your own way in wine, head to the Gorge (and I don’t mean for music) - Woodstock for a wine producing generation? Alexis Pouillon and Juliet Pouillon, a husband and wife team dedicated to the pursuit of all things natural are the owners and inspiration behind this winery. Alexis started his career at Restaurant Nora in Washington DC, one of the “serious” pioneer organic restaurants in the US (A number of years ago, I sat next to Janet Reno having dinner there - another story for another time but needless to say, it spawned interesting conversation). He moved on to be instrumental in organic wine endeavors the world over including projects in Napa, Sonoma and the above mentioned Beaucastel. A few years ago it was time for him to make his own mark with a cutting edge terroir and Pierre Noire is the result (not to mention, it led to the meeting of his wife and working partner, Juliet). This wine is so limited, I’m not sure how much detail to go into but it will be a statement maker in the industry. Form an equal percentage of Cabernet and Syrah, from a variety of vineyards including their own Reed’s Lane parcel on the Gorge, this is about letting a vintage speak volumes on the winemaker’s behalf (like the Barbaresco this morning). No manipulation, added chemicals or extract additives, no spinning cones, no roto fermenters - this is wine, pure and simple made in Washington State the way nature intended (it just happens to be silky, intense, and gloriously ripe as well - almost a baby Amarone of Vin du Pays). Vinified only in neutral oak, this is an educational and experimental wine of some importance that should be sampled and studied not only for its quality but for it’s pioneering approach in a state that has been slow to change its ways (regarding sustainable and green practices). If this winery can make solar power and the implementation of humane animal farm labor take the place of belching tractors with as small an eco-footprint as possible (like our forefathers did), why can’t more wineries learn from this? All of us can. Bravo Pierre Noire - we’ll be seeing quite a lot of you in the coming years... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for dedication to a cause despite the nay-sayers and brick walls. EXTREMELY LIMITED - VERY RARE - only 150 cases were produced: 2005 Domaine Pierre Noire Vin Rouge “Cuvee en Amont” Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA WA7900