Chehalem Ridgecrest Vineyard Pinot Noir 1998

The 1998 vintage is possibly the best we have yet seen in Oregon, or at least the equivalent of the highly touted 1994 vintage. The rich, supple black cherry and blackberry fruits are characteristic of Ridgecrest and the Willakenzie soil type. Excellent acidity and a finesseful texture and finish are hallmarks of the vineyard site also, especially since it ripens well, bears stingily and, because of its 5-600 foot elevation, has great acidity even in ripe years like 1998. The component fruit is largely from our newest dense plantings at the site, coming from Pommard and Wadenswil clones planted ten years before. This is at first a big wine, but with time will show itself to be elegant and long-lived.