2019 Villanelle (Fanfare Club Exclusive)
Tonnelier Vineyard ∞ Yamhill-Carlton AVA Reserve Pinot Noir
ONLY available to members of Fanfare Club. ONLY 55 cases produced. $58
Composed of 100% un-pressed wine, 2019 Villanelle has the lightest tannic structure of our three handcrafted Pinot Noirs. Named for Paul Dukas’ duet for French Horn and Piano, it combines equal parts free-run Dijon clones 115 and 777 (19-year-old vines) from Tonnelier Vineyard’s 4-acre micro-site on sedimentary Willakenzie soil. Barrel-aged for 12 months in French oak, this silky, elegant and delicate wine is “the little black dress” of Bells Up’s Pinots. ***Notably, the 2019 vintage marks the retirement of Tonnelier Vineyard owners Mike and Julie Slater, and of the Villanelle label. This is the final bottling of this wine.***
TECHNICAL NOTESNOSE: Ripe black plum, fresh blueberry, black tea leaf, black cherry, dewy fern fronds, rose petal.
PALATE: Soft tannins, bright acidity, velvety texture, and well-balanced finish. Marionberry, rose petal, cherry skin, pomegranate, black pepper, fresh huckleberry, light salinity, rose petal.
Jeff Kralik (The Drunken Cyclist) Review: Only available through Bells Up’s Fanfare Club. 100% free-run juice (no pressing involved, so this is considered the best juice — think Extra Virgin Olive Oil). Whoa. Quite a nose. Rich, bing cherry, black cherry, a bunch of other cherries. Heck, all of them? Whoa. Add in some spice and earth. This is perhaps even better on the palate with intense fruit, impeccable balance, and just the right amount of acidity. Incredible. Outstanding. 95 Points.
Margot Sinclair Savell (Write for Wine) Review: Named for Paul Dukas’ duet for French Horn and Piano, “Villanelle,” this is another reserve Pinot Noir and has the highest price point in the portfolio. Sourced from 19-year vines of Dijon 115 and 777 clones in Tonnelier Vineyard of Yamhill-Carlton, Villanelle is elegant, yet delicate. Sara says this silky wine is “the little black dress” of their Pinot Noir collection, and a perfect counterpoint to Candide. Meanwhile, the 2019 vintage marks the retirement of the Tonnelier Vineyard owners, and subsequently the end of the Villanelle label.
Anatoli Levine (Talk-A-Vino) Review: Blackberry/raspberry, Marionberry; Cassis leaves, light crunchy cherries, well-integrated tannins, good acidity on the finish, delicious.
