Chehalem Rion Reserve Pinot Noir 1998

The 1998 vintage is equivalent in quality to 1997, with a firmer tannin and acid structure, which bodes well for aging, and equivalently tightly wound flavors on the palate. As is normal for a wine from Ridgecrest Vineyards fruit, there is great ageability here and, accordingly, a need for a year or so more in bottle to show at its best. From 100% Ridgecrest fruit and aged 13 months before bottling unfiltered in January, this wine projects exceptionally well the delicacy and fine tannin of 1997.

Currently the wine has deep, dense black fruit packed onto a mouthfilling fine tannin structure. It is young and tightly wound, with sweet oak highlights shining through. The finish is long, but will only extend, with the texture becoming more silken with time, a hallmark of Rion Reserves.