In The Glass: Angela Estate Abbott Claim Pinot Noir 2012

The first time I was introduced to the Angela Estate wines was during a 2012 winter wine event in the small wine-centric town of Carlton, Oregon – a town I like to refer to as “the front porch to wine country.“  Ducking into one of the many tasting rooms that line the quaint downtown main street, I discovered Angela Estate wines via the Folin Cellars tasting room.  Angela Estate did not yet have a tasting room – the camaraderie in this small town is impressive.

The Angela Estate tasting room is just down the hall from Evening Land, Le Cadeau and Tertulia.

At first whiff of the Angela Estate 2009 Pinot Noir, I knew I was in for a treat.  From the bright red fruit characteristics to the vibrant acidity, this was my kind of Pinot Noir.  (Read the review here).  Fast forward to the summer of 2014 when I stayed at the Inn at Red Hills in Dundee while attending the weekend-long Bounty of Yamhill County event, located in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country.  Boasting several incredible tasting rooms right in the same building as the Inn, Angela Estate’s tasting room was in good company with Evening Land Vineyards, Le Cadeau and Tertulia Cellars.  

The masculine, bold 2012 Pinot from Angela Estate’s Abbott Claim vineyard stands out from the crowd

Beautifully decorated with large picture windows, high ceilings, painted concrete floors, dark wood accents and a large fireplace at one end, Angela Estate’s tasting room drew me in, and made me want to stay.  Each of the wines I tried really stood out in character and quality, but my absolute favorite was the Angela Estate Abbott Claim 2012 because it was a different kind of Pinot Noir – more big and bold than most.  Rich, dark, intense layers of fruit coated the mouth with a beautifully silky texture complemented  by dark berry fruit, fresh rolled tobacco and earthy characteristics.  Vibrant acidity pulled everything together to create a beautifully rounded, balanced finish that was ever-lasting.

Particularly known for their bubbles, Graham Beck can be sampled in the tasting room alongside the Angela Estate wines

Abbott Claim Vineyard was previously owned by famed Willamette Valley winemaker Ken Wright (of Ken Wright Cellars), who sold the popular vineyard site to the owners of Angela Estate, Antony and Angela Beck, in 2013.  If you know wine well, the name Beck may ring a bell: Antony’s father is the world-renowned Graham Beck of Graham Beck wines out of Robertson, South Africa, established in 1983.  Ken Wright has been the winemaker for Angela Estate since its inception and it’s likely why I favor the Angela wines – Ken Wright’s winemaking craft is unparalleled.

Check out the tasting room at the Inn at Red Hills in Dundee, Oregon, 1326 OR 99W.