(La Paulee SCOTT PAUL Pinot Noir) Pinot Noir Dear Friends, Those of you that have not tried the vibrant wine of Scott Paul should do so - not only for the exemplary attention to detail but also for the commitment to artisanal production and the expression of a true American sense of place. The mythic synthesis between Oregon's Willamette Valley and Burgundy has been sought after for the last twenty years (or more) by pioneers intent on one-upping California's battle with the sun - some would argue they've actually succeeded. While sunlight is essential to adequate ripening, too much of a good thing can have deleterious (and alcoholic) results which mask the wonder of this delicate varietal. Oregon's winegrowing districts lie on a similar latitude to Burgundy and the local winemaker cognoscenti will be quick to tell you the climate can be nearly ideal for growing Pinot Noir - that may be the case but (like Burgundy) magical vintages are few and far between. With a "live by the sword die by the sword" mentality, Oregon's wine industry battles the elements year in and year out but they do so for a reason - the potential to produce something special that only exists in Oregon. It is this tightrope walk with Mother Nature (and the terroir itself) that results in a Holy Grail of New World meets the Old and that makes this region unique among so many pretenders. Enter Scott Paul to harness that synthesis - a very intriguing style of "old meets new" that many of you will find not only complex but deliciously complicated. The formula is simple: allow each vintage to speak its volume by doing nothing. Sound simple? It is if you possess terroir with a unique pedigree. To give you an idea of the winery style, here is the "La Paulee", bottled from the best lots of the vintage. For the price of a village-level red Burgundy, it will be interesting for many of you to compare this wine: This parcel is directly from the source with perfect provenance: 2006 Scott Paul "La Paulee" Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA OR6700
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By Allen Meadows
(Scott Paul Wine Cellars Pinot Noir La Paulée Red) Subscribe to see review text.4th Quarter, 2008, Issue #32, (See more on Burghound...)