What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD)

It is not often you come across a wine that includes a back label dedication by the winemaker to the vineyard manager and crew. But it is truly unique to find a bottle featuring a group photo of the vineyard crew on this same label. Such is the case with the Lumos 2005 Pinot Noir Five Blocks, a bottle that immediately connects you to the people who cultivated the grapes as well as those who crafted the fruit into wine.

Here is the back label's description and dedication:

This wine is grown using sustainable, earth and people-friendly farming methods. It is handcrafted in small lots by regular sized people, it beautifully balanced and plays well with others. We dedicate this vintage to Javier Garcia and his crew who watch over the grapes with such detail and caring attention.

Lumos is a producer that strives to highlight the people behind its wines, as evidenced not only by its label, but also for its web site design. The first area of the site to render on the homepage is a place entitled, "People, the grand crew", and it is this same section that appears at the top of the navigation list. Overall, I really liked the simplicity of the Lumos site, where visitors can easily access sections on their wines, vineyards, winery, and of course, the "grand crew".

It's too bad there aren't more detailed tasting notes on their wines, as I would have liked to know more about what went into the Lumos 5 Blocks and how it was made. Even still, after visiting the vineyards section of the site, one can start to connect the dots due to all of the fruit going into Lumos wines being grown by Dai Crisp. Since 1999, Dai has been organically farming the famous Temperance Hill vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills. He also owns and manages two estate vineyards, Logsdon Ridge and Wren, in the same area.

As to what was experienced inside the bottle, the Lumos 2005 Pinot Noir 5 Blocks (13.5%) absolutely blew me away. At $24, this is an outstanding Oregon pinot noir, one I would highly recommend if you can still find it at retail. If can't locate any, then there is hope, for the Lumos Winery is holding back a few cases for its pre-Thanksgiving Weekend tasting event.

On the eyes, the Lumos 5 Blocks was a light, translucent ruby red. On the nose, it offered bright red berry fruits, with strawberry and raspberry notes combined with hints of herbs and earth. On the palate, this Oregon pinot noir was just my style, modest in its approach, but long on its finish. There was subtle fruit balanced with nice acidity and smooth tannins. No candied cherry or over-extracted fruit in this wine.

Based on what was inside the bottle and that offered outside of it, I am completely smitten with this Lumos pinot noir. The next day it tasted even better, holding up after 24 hours without dropping any of its delicious characteristics. As a result, I went out and bought several more bottles of this wine, knowing it is only going to get better with time.

And it's clear that Dai Crisp is doing something magical in the Temperance Hill vineyard, for the Lumos 5 Blocks is yet another in a growing list of my favorite Oregon pinot noirs that source grapes from this special place. For more about the characteristics of Temperance Hill, the approach Dai takes in the vineyard, and the winemakers sourcing fruit from it, check out this profile on AvalonWine.com.

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