Last week I received this email from our old friend Tom Miller of Birmingham, Alabama:
Pat, Please share this with the gang. I am SSSOOOOOOOOOO glad my little girl was born in 1999 AND I had money back then.
1999 Bethel Heights Southeast Block Reserve Pinot noir: (13%); pulled and poured; After figuring out that I had not opened a bottle of this wine since purchasing it in 2002, I decided it was about time. Crystal clear, medium dark ruby color; on the nose, hints of dark cherries and maybe a touch of menthol or eucalyptus (?); on the palate, there is a eruption of dark fruits balanced with nice acidity and integrated tannins…the eucalyptus is still present but adds a certain nuance to the overall experience; after 45 minutes, the eucalyptus blew off, tears of extract were running down the glass and the finish lengthened nicely. Why did I wait so long? Fortunately I have many 750s, six magnums and one three-liter left of this beauty…woo hoo! Simply exquisite with the coriander crusted salmon topped with a fennel crab salad… [3-4-09]
I am also proud to say that the first wine we had in our new house back on April 11, 1998 was my second to last bottle of 1991 Southeast Block Reserve. Fortunately, I still have a bottle each of the 1991 and 1992 Southeast Block and Flat Block Reserves (with the old school labels) left in the cellar…but I’d better drink them up I’d guess.
My best to all, Tom
Thomas H. Miller
Depletion Specialist, Just Pinot, LLC
Tom Miller has been a friend of Bethel Heights and a great ambassador for Oregon wines since he started coming out here for the International Pinot Noir Celebration, way back in the late 80’s. Over the years he has had a lot to do with making Birmingham one of the great Oregon Pinot towns in the country – no exaggeration! He has also had much to do with the great success of Birmingham’s TumTum Tree Foundation Wine Auction, now in its 20th year benefiting the children of Alabama. www.tumtumtreefoundation.org
Tom’s personal wine cellar includes a remarkable collection of Oregon Pinot noir going back to the early 90’s, and he keeps good notes on the wines he opens. His reviews on some of Bethel Heights’ older vintages will soon be posted on our website.
Pat Dudley
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