Pago Capellanes, Nogal

Pago Capellanes, NogalThe 2009 Parcela El Nogal is a single vineyard wine from a 13 year old plot called El Nogal (the oak tree) that is fermented in oak vats and carried out its malolactic fermentation in barrique where the wine aged for 22 months in oak. It has a clear animal character, with notes of leather, hung meat, tempera paint, fountain pen ink, licorice and peat with a good layer of oak related aromas on top of the ripe black fruit. The palate is medium bodied,

with a touch of dried sage

and that day may be closer than most people realize

The rich and solidly concentrated medium- bodied flavors also flash a pungent minerality that adds a sense of lift to the youthfully austere and sneaky long finish that is even more tightly coiled

(88-90)/2010+

particularly blue berry as well as notes of crushed herb

There is good delineation to the vibrant middle weight flavors that exude a fine minerality on the firm

the Relic proved an Australian perspective more than relevant

as it will almost certainly head for a slumber during which it will be impossible to evaluate with any accuracy

pear and a hint of straw

Discreet oak influence sets off a ripe and fresh nose of poached pear

Good balance

The 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley has alluring notes of cedar