Twenty vineyards where Pinot Noir flourishes in the United States singly
Take a Journey Through Time: The Evolution of Single Vineyard Wines
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From the ancient vineyards of Mount Falernus to the enclosed Clos de Vougeot, single vineyard wines have been shaping the wine world for centuries.
Situated near Campania's northern border with Lazio, Italy, the vineyards on Mount Falernus were divided into separate growths, or 'crus' in today's terminology, as far back as Roman times. These Falernian wines garnered such high regard that they were mentioned by the poet Horace and in the 1st-century work of Roman satire, Satyricon.
No place has made a more profound impact on vineyard expression than Burgundy, where the famous 'clos' system originated. A 'clos' is an enclosed vineyard, generally surrounded by stone walls to shield it from livestock and passerby. Clos de Vougeot, established in 1336, was the first to be protected by such means. Located just outside the village of Vougeot, this vineyard set the stage for the Burgundian emphasis on showcasing distinct terroirs, a principle that remains central to the region's wine classification and reputation today.
The US took some time to catch up, but the allure of expressing terroir through single vineyard production was not lost on American winemakers. As US wineries sought to echo the nuanced terroir-driven wines of Burgundy's Pinot Noirs, the single-vineyard concept began to take root, particularly in regions like California's Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Oregon's Willamette Valley.
Delve into the World of Single-Vineyard US Pinot Noirs - Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 20 outstanding offerings
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- venture into the latest edition of our lifestyle section, where we delve into the world of food-and-drink, featuring a comprehensive guide on the evolution of single-vineyard US Pinot Noirs, complete with tasting notes and scores of 20 outstanding offerings;
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