Honestly, this might be the BEST compliment we’ve ever had on one of our wines:
“Mama like. A lot.”
– International fine wine writer, critic, judge and curator L.M. Archer about the 2017 Villanelle Tonnelier Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir
Archer included that note along with her review of Bells Up’s other two 2017 Pinot noir releases, Titan and Candide, in her September 20, 2020 Hedonistic Taster site. Although all three wines are now sold out, we just sent the 2019 vintages of these same blends to bottle and are looking forward to sharing them with you in 2021.
In the blog, highlighting several “Notable Oregon Wines,” she writes:
Dave and Sara Specter founded micro-boutique Bells Up Winery on Chehalem Mountain in 2013. Former mid-western professionals, their winery name nods to Dave’s previous french-horn playing days.
Bells Up Winery’s estate vineyard also features the Willamette Valley’s first planting of cold-climate hybrid varietal Seyval blanc.
Here’s her thoughts about our 2017 Pinot noir collection…
Bells Up Winery ‘Titan’ Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Suggested Retail: $ 40 / 129 cases produced.
Robe: Clear purple-ruby robe.
Nose: Red (pomegranate, currant) and blue fruit, floral (rose) aromas.
Palate: Light body, well structured and balanced. Red cherry attack, sous bois mid-palate, supple, red raspberry finish. Like Mahler’s “Titan,” this vinous version lilts, pirouettes and bows with grace upon the palate.
Bells Up Winery Reserve ‘Candide’ Pinot Noir – Nemarniki Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.1 %
Suggested Retail: $ 54 / 74 cases produced.
Robe: Brilliant ruby robe.
Nose: Red fruit (raspberry, cherry), bramble back note.
Palate: Light body, artful acids and supple tannins. A subtle cherry attack builds to a nervy red currant and red berry crescendo on the finish finish. Bravo!
Bells Up Winery ‘Villanelle’ Reserve Pinot Noir – Tonnelier Vineyard, Yamhill Carlton AVA
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.7 %
Suggested Retail: $ 54 / 52 cases. (Fanfare Club Exclusive.)
Robe: Pellucid ruby robe.
Nose: Enticing Rainier cherry and aromatic sous bois aromas.
Palate: Wow. Cue the French Horns. One virtuoso vinous performance. Light body, finely balanced acids and tannins. Bright red fruit attack, exotic orange peel mid-palate, elegant red raspberry finish. Mama like. A lot.
The 2019 editions of Titan, Candide and Villanelle will be released on a rolling schedule in 2021.
If you would like to add any of these wines to your collection, you can pre-purchase them by calling the winery at 503.537.1328 or emailing info@bellsupwinery.com.
