2015 MAISON L’ENVOYÉ THE ATTACHÉ PINOT NOIR
REGION: Willamette Valley, Oregon
VARIETALS: Pinot Noir (Clones: Pommard/Dijon 114/115/777)
MATURATION: 12 months in 100% French oak (35% new)
ANALYSIS: 13.6% alc/vol I TA: 4.8 I pH: 3.54
VINTAGE: 2015 was a nearly ideal growing season. It began with a warm winter and above-average temperatures continued through the summer. Light scattered showers in late August and a return to normalcy in September gave a break to what was an intense growing season. The result was concentrated, balanced fruit throughout one of the driest and warmest vintages in Oregon’s winemaking history.
AVAs & VINEYARDS: Eola Amity - Eagle Crest, Eola Springs, Popcorn. McMinnville - Hyland. Willamette Valley - Croft. Yamhill Carlton - Bishop Creek, Fairsing, Gran Moraine, Stardance.
WINEMAKING: The Attaché is a barrel selection culled from both alluvial and volcanic vineyard sites. An indigenous, whole berry fermentation took place employing a gentle infusion technique to extract color and depth without excessive phenolics. The wine then matured for 12 months in French oak barrels, 35% of which were new.
TASTING NOTES: Vibrant aromas of wild berries, dried fl powers, and sage with touches of spice and woodsmoke. The palate fills the mouth with fleshy red fruits, cherry cola, and earthy layers. Gentle tannins provide a structured yet soft frame to the fruit which is kept in line by a satisfying minerality. The wine fi finishes long with clarity and focus.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM: 92 pts Vinous, 90+ pts Robert Parker Wine Advocate
ABOUT MAISON L’ENVOYÉ: Driven by a tireless hunt for elusive sites where Pinot Noir shines, Maison L’Envoyé, ‘The House of the Messenger’ traverses the globe with the intention of presenting the acme of regionality and winemaking styles. With winemaking footprints in Burgundy, Willamette Valley, Central Otago, and Tasmania, they champion many unsung growers who have farmed their vineyards for decades and generations, some mere feet away from more illustriously cited neighbors. This project has been a standout since its debut in 2011 including Wine & Spirits naming Maison L’Envoyé a ‘Winery To Watch’ in 2015.
