The first thing I noticed about Scott Wright was his voice - deep, rich baritone. It has served him well. His first career included stints as an on-the-air radio personality that he parlayed into a position in promotion and marketing for a well-known record label. This led to the formation of his own promotion company, and he still remains active with them.

His real passion, however, is the wines of Burgundy. 

His love of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay began at an early age with lessons from his father (and an enviable cellar). Scott's eyes brighten, and his ever-present smile broadens as he tells of those early days. "I was fortunate", he says. Indeed. He was tasting wines as a teenager that many of us may never enjoy.

Scott has no formal training in winemaking, but that does not deter him at all. He crafts the wines himself, with Greg La Follette as his mentor. "Greg lays out the options, and I make the decisions", he smiles. His decisions are based on taste and instinct. The results are quite impressive.

I tasted his first two releases during a visit to the facility where he custom crushes, as well as barrel samples of the 2000 wines.

1999 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley - first release from the winery - pretty golden color - restrained aromatics with hints of acacia flower - lovely smooth entry with a broad mouthfeel, but has enough acidity to avoid feeling fat or buttery - surprising, since this wine went through 100% malolactic fermentation. The wine is complex and interesting with a long follow; it clearly needs time to develop, but even now shows breeding and great promise.

1999 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - to be released March 2001 - (bottled only seven weeks ago) deep color - very restrained in the nose - soft entry with smooth long chain tannins - interesting notes of forest floor and loam with slightly subdued fruit that opens with airing showing sweet ripe plummy Pinot fruit - good texture - a very cleanly made wine with a long finish. I look forward to tasting this again as it comes closer to release.

Scott and Martha Wright are living their dream - a new winery, their first wines, a new baby, and life in the Napa Valley. 

We wish them well, and we'll be watching these wines.

califusa
Left Coast Correspondent for the Gang of Pour

Scott Paul Wines
PO Box 2035
Yountville, CA 94599-2035
707 944 1188
707 944 1383 fax
www.scottpaul.com

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© Allan Bree October 2000

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