Friday, December 28, 2018

Maison L’Envoyé Attaché Pinot Noir

Maison L’Envoyé Attaché Pinot Noir 2012

Ryan brought this Pinot Noir over for Christmas dinner to accompany baked ham, candied yams, zuchini and cauliflower casserole.

This label, Maison L’Envoye Attaché is a project of film producer turned vintner, Mark Tarlov, founder, who was recently written up as one of the 9 People You Need To Know In American Wine Right Now. He gained notoriety in the Pinot Noir wine world with the success of Evening Land, which he co-founded and launched in 2007.

Now, Mark’s latest project, Maison L’Envoye is crafting Burgundian varietal wines focused on regional identities sourced from growers in proximity to some of the world's great producers.

Originating in Burgundy, Maison L’Envoyé crafts wines of Burgundian varietals - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay Noir. Terroir-driven Pinot Noir is the flagship. Searching the world’s finest Pinot Noir sites around the globe, Maison L’Envoyé sources fruit from Burgundy, Willamette Valley in Oregon, Otaga Valley in New Zealand and Tasmania. They work with family owned growers who have farmed their vineyards for decades or generations, some in proximity to illustrious neighbors. Maison L’Envoyé was launched in 2014 and was immediately cited by Wine & Spirits naming it a ‘Winery To Watch’ in 2015. 

Maison L’Envoyé Attaché Pinot Noir 2012
 
This label was crafted by Consulting Winemaker Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, it is comprised of 100% Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley. The valley formed by the Willamette River is sheltered from inclement weather by the western Coastal Range and the eastern Cascade Range. The grapes are sourced primarily from Yamhill-Carlton, Ribbon Ridge and the Eola-Amity Hills appellations.

The Attaché release is a barrel selection culled from both alluvial and volcanic vineyard sites. The wine was matured for ten months in French oak barriques, 20% of which were new.

Readers of this blog know I am not a Pinot guy, but I loved this wine. It's a Pinot for Pinot-philes as well as non-Pinot drinkers. Perhaps it was the ideal match with the baked ham and candied yams that I liked this so much. In any event it was delicious.

Garnet colored, light medium bodied, sprites of black cherry, bright raspberry and black currant fruits accented by mineral, dusty rose, vibrant spices and what the winemaker cites as 'hints of sassafras and gravel' turning to a silky smooth lingering finish with notes of sweet oak.

REM 93 points; this label was awarded 94 points by Wine Spectator, 94 points from Wine & Spirits, and 92 points by Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2045380

https://www.maisonlenvoye.com/