2018 Titan
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
111 cases produced. $44 | SOLD OUT
The 2018 release of our flagship pinot noir, “Titan,” blends 41.4% Chehalem Mountains Pommard (10-year-old vines) grown on wind-blown Loess with 29.3% Dijon Clone 115 and 29.3% Dijon Clone 777 (18-year-old Yamhill-Carlton vines) grown in sedimentary Willakenzie soil. Named for Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan,” the wine aged 12 months in French oak (38% new). The 2018 growing season was characterized by consistent warm, dry days and cool nights, resulting in rich fruit flavor, balanced structure, and deep color development. From this, 2018 Titan shows a bold, fruit-forward character with balanced structure and acidity that may require a year in the bottle (or some time in the decanter) to show at its peak.
TECHNICAL NOTESNOSE: Red raspberry, dewy forest floor, tart currant, violets, chocolate.
PALATE: Balanced and structured with a medium finish and red raspberry, tart currant and white pepper.
Ellen Landis’ Review: A brilliant shade of ruby sets the stage for the alluring aroma of forest floor and fresh berries, putting you squarely in Pinot Noir land. It is bright and elegant on the palate with layers of raspberry sauce, black cherries, allspice, a hint of flat-leaf parsley, strawberry rhubarb pie, and cherry cola. Elegant and well balanced, it floats seamlessly across the palate, and the spice-accented finish lingers forever.
Owen Bargreen’s Review: The 2018 ‘Titan’ Pinot Noir shows nice Bing cherry and peat moss tones alongside ripe guava on the nose. The palate is soft, showing off sour red fruits, citrus rind, damp earthy and stony undertones. Drink 2021-2027 – 90
James the Wine Guy’s Review: Very expressive and lyrical and beautiful. So, if you haven’t tasted a lot of Oregon Pinot noir, this is an excellent one to add to your wine tasting table. It is fantastic. I love the color: light, mid-garnet colorization, vitreous. The nose on this is blue and black fruit notes and split cedar, red and purple flowers, as well as leather notes, evergreen forest and spices. Next, the palate characterization. Such a beautiful, splendid wine. The acidity is very, very forward and very approachable. And I really get on the front palate notes of heirloom blackberry. Also the minerality on this is very nice. It’s a graphite note, especially on the front palate and then a sequencing to notes of white pepper, red tea, hoisin notes for a bit of a savory character, and finishing with a dried red rose pedal. This one is 94 points out of a hundred points.
Crushed Grape Chronicles’ Review: While this bottle was delicious, it will continue to get more delicious as it ages in the bottle. Get more than one bottle and taste it on its journey. It will be maturing for the next 7 or so years…The 2018 Titan Pinot Noir from Bells Up had notes of red cherry, raspberry, cooked fruit, cola, nutmeg, forest floor, & tobacco on the nose. In my mouth it was more like cranberry, red cherry and candied fruit with a bit of baking spice, a bit of cherry Jolly Rancher, and the wine did have a juiciness about it.
