2021 Jupiter
Estate Vineyard ∞ Chehalem Mountains AVA Pinot Noir
154 cases produced. $50
Bells Up’s estate Pinot Noir, Jupiter is named for both Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” orchestral suite and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.” The 2021 vintage is composed of of 58.8% heritage clone Pommard and 25.8% Dijon clone 667 (8-year vines) plus 15.4% Dijon clone 113 (6-year vines). Jupiter showcases the key notes of Pinot grown in Jory soil in the Chehalem Mountains AVA.
TECHNICAL NOTESNOSE: Candied cherry, pomegranate, black plum, baby crimini mushroom, red leaf lettuce, walnut.
PALATE: Well-balanced acidity and robust, creamy mouthfeel with craisins, pomegranate, plums, blackberry and a long finish.
Jo-Anne Bowen, Journeys with Jo-Anne: It really is like a ski jump. I did decant it for an hour after I read the fact sheet, and I find now it’s a lovely sipping wine smooth mouthfeel with just a hint of fruit to it. I think I also would pair this with both chicken and beef. It would be lovely with both.
Penny Sadler, Adventures of a Carry-On: When I first tasted it, I thought, “I would like to drink this wine in about five years.” But the fruit is is there. You can definitely drink this wine now. But I can tell there’s just enough oak on it that if that is integrated a bit more, this is going to be so much more complex and a lot more rewarding to drink.
Terry Nozick, Truth ‘n’ Wine: This Pinot is so perfect right now. I love the fresh fruitiness of it, but that’s the kind of Pinot I like. I think it’s just gorgeous. And I love this sort of dusty minerality that you have on this wine. I think it’s just so beautiful and it’s hitting the spot right now.
Marlynn Schotland, Urban Bliss Life: This wine and I have been having a moment and then another moment, and then a totally different moment in the last hour. And I’m loving it. I totally agree about the ageability of this wine. When you first drink it, it smells like that Oregon Pinot that we all love and then you drink it and it definitely has a lot more complexity to it already. At the beginning I got a lot of bright red fruits, almost like a candy cherry red fruit at the beginning. But that definitely softened and became more elegant as it opened up. I would pair this with chicken and beef, all the typical things that you would pair a Pinot with. But then also some of the things that I would pair a bigger red with; I was thinking this would be awesome with just a big vat of pasta with Bolognese sauce.
Andy Harris, The SoCal Restaurant Show: Definitely on the nose, I am getting the ripe fruit. On the tasting, definitely juicy and certainly a lot of depth there. I’m very happy to drink it now, but in a year it might be better. I can afford to with a little space and a little time to hang onto it for a year and see what happens from there.
Lisa Smith, Big Blend Radio Podcast: It’s like flying to the planet Jupiter with happiness. It’s the happy joy juice — incredible! I had to sit down because it was so amazing. You need to sit down and experience the journey with this wine.
Linda Kissam, The Food, Wine & Shopping Diva: There’s an awful lot of power in this wine. I think for those of you who are patient, buy two [bottles] at least, and the first one try now and the second one leave in your wine case for a year to see just what this wine can do. Either way, this one you’re going to like.
John Compisi, Bites, Flights and Sights: The 2021 Jupiter showed dark cherry on the nose and a fairly deep garnet color. The blend of Pommard, Dijon, 667 and 113 offers a level of complexity that is subtle and very pleasant. The flavors of cola. Red fruit and cherry come through clearly.
Virginie Boone, The New Wine Review: This is a small-production estate wine grown in volcanic soils that offers structure and acidity alongside soft, well-integrated tannins and dark berry fruit.
Jeremy Young, International Wine Report: My favorite of the bunch. Grown in 100% Jory soils and all estate-grown fruit, it gifts a glorious ruby-blue core with a neon pink rim with bountiful aromas of red and black cherries, raspberry liqueur, candied violet petals, baked wet earth that spill from the glass. It starts off elegant across the tongue and then ends strong and plush with a blueberry and sweet spice finish. Drink 2024-2034. 95 Points.
Michael Apstein, Apstein on Wine: Dave Specter, the owner of Bells Up gives all of their wines musical references because he was a French horn player for decades. Despite a similar stated alcohol to Candide, 13.5 percent, the Jupiter (think Mozart’s Symphony #41) bottling is weightier, displaying rich, black fruit notes intertwined with a charming minerality. It does exhibit the same suave texture and polished, fine tannins that mark all of the Bells Up Pinot Noirs. The interplay of black fruit and savory notes continue into its long, bright finish. It sings like a great tenor. The silky texture means it is a joy to drink now. Think grilled salmon. 96
Jeff and Melissa Lawson, Drink the Bottles: The 2021 Jupiter Estate Pinot Noir was yin and yang to the [2021] Titan. This one had more fresh red fruits, strawberry preserves, floral notes and less smoke than [the 2021 Titan] Pinot Noir. It starts off softer and then really becomes more powerful and full of black cherry and spice cake flavors that trail off to a very satisfying and lightly spicy finish. This one is drinking beautifully! 94/100
Cori Solomon, The Written Palette: The wine is composed of Pommard and Dijon clones, 667 and 113. I discovered wonderful florals on the nose and tart cherry on the palate. The wine is soft yet elegant.
