2006 Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley

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Overview
Our passion for the Pinot Noir grape extends northward to Oregon's Willamette Valley, where we seek an inspiring contrast to our Pinot Noir bottlings from California's Santa Rita Hills. The 2006 vintage hails equally from Temperance Hill Vineyard in the Eola Hills and Parish Hill Vineyard in the Red Hills of Dundee. Both vineyards are progressively and exquisitely tended, resulting in fruit of the highest caliber for a pure expression of Oregon Pinot Noir.

Vineyard
Temperance Hill Vineyard is planted to igneous Nekia and Jory soils that impart unique floral spice qualities to the fruit. Here, we select our grapes from a southeast-facing slope at an elevation of 700 feet, where a long growing season is protected from rain by the surrounding mountains–a geological effect known as a "rain shadow." Parish Hill Vineyard is a small, progressively farmed vineyard featuring several clones of Pinot Noir at an elevation of 600 feet. The vineyard's soil, which is composed largely of Willakenzie series sediment, contributes to a darker fruit profile, with blackberry flavors and a hint of spice.

Winemaking
A warmer-than-normal summer in the Willamette Valley was followed by a warm spell during harvest, resulting in excellent concentration of color and flavor, as well as ripe, rounded tannins. The grapes were gently destemmed and meticulously hand sorted to isolate the best fruit and remove any lingering stem or leaf material. The chosen fruit was placed in small 1.5-ton fermenters. The cap was punched down manually three times daily during fermentation for enhanced color and extraction. After careful pressing, the wine was returned to tank for two days of settling, then racked to French oak barrels, where it aged for 14 months.

Tasting Notes
Our 2006 Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley offers delicate aromas of dried cherry and rose petal. The wine opens up in the glass with jammy flavors of cherry, plum and earthy spice. Accents of anise and rosemary add beguiling complexity to the finish. This wine is a fine match for lemon coriander chicken, butternut squash soup, lamb stew and traditional holiday fare.

Purchase Fact Sheet (1 page, 406 KB)

3 Stars - Brilliant!
"Bright ruby red color. The nose is lovely and pleasing with scents of cranberry, cherry, dried herbs, and earth with a hint of pepper. The palate is dry and fresh with a healthy dose of acid and rustic earthiness. Well rounded and ready to please with soft, dusty tannins."
Beverage Experts - November 3, 2008