Yield in Tons Per Acre: 1.8
Cases Produced: 1500
Drinking Window: 2005-2012

The 2002 Soter Beacon Hill Pinot Noir is an estate bottled wine from Tony Soter's family-owned vineyard located 30 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon. Limited in quantity at 1,500 cases, this is the 4th bottling of this wine, released in October, 2004.

The 2002 season began with an uneventful spring - this after 2 years of spring frost was a welcomed change. An early flowering and moderate temperatures throughout the summer led to a harvest that began the first week of October and proved to be very successful. The fruit was in superb condition and perfectly ripe.

The Beacon Hill Vineyard sits at 300 feet elevation and is comprised of two soil types: the Willakenzie soil series and the Carlton soil series. These soils are sedimentary, clay loam, 2-3 feet deep over fractured siltstone and sandstone. Half of the vineyard's Pinot Noir is planted to own-rooted Pommard clones that are 16 years old. The remaining sources are six years of age and represent our latest thinking regarding optimum vine density and clonal selections. These vines are on devigorating rootstocks which offer the bonus of enhanced ripening.

The 2002 Beacon Hill Pinot Noir is a superb example of captivating aromatics, luscious textures and satisfying flavors. A wine with such a keen sense of balance that it can offer opulence while never being accused of excess. It is a wine of overt charm and sustaining strength of character.

The wines from Beacon Hill typically express themselves with appealing toast and brown spice aromas highlighting copious dark fruit elements suggestive of Oregon blackberries and blueberries. The 2002 is a luscious wine. This great vintage has graced the wines with both ample structure and appealing opulence. The wine should improve with up to 10 years of cellaring, but the sheer decadence of its ripe brambly flavors and seamless balance make it a wine that should not be missed in the interim. Enjoy it today with roasted meats or barbequed Salmon and grilled vegetables.

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