Orogeny Vineyards Pinot Noir Green Valley 2005
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"Presented in the richly extracted, generously textured style that has come to define many of the most sought-after Russian River Valley pinot noirs, this vintage of Orogeny has enough brightness and cool, succulent fruit to keep it fresh."
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The 2005 Orogeny Green Valley Pinot Noir is a blend from several vineyards in the Green Valley sub-appellation. The vineyards represent different clones, each of which contributes something unique to the finished wine. Each vineyard site has been carefully selected to display the bright, crystalline fruit characteristics of classic Green Valley Pinot Noir.
The 2005 Orogeny Green Valley Pinot Noir shows bright Bing cherry, pomegranate and toffee notes on the nose, with a hint of spicy oak layered with ginger, nutmeg and coriander.
On the palate, the bright cherry flavors dominate, supported by lively notes of blackberry and blueberry that linger on the candied-cherry finish. The lush fruit continues to develop with time in the glass. This lovely wine pairs perfectly with seared duck breast with cherry sauce, pork tenderloin with pear-ginger chutney or wild mushroom risotto.
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They focus on cool-climate Pinot Noir from Green Valley, the coldest region of the famed Russian River Valley. Fog flows from the Pacific Coast along the Russian River and through the Petaluma Wind Gap, converging on this small area.
Orogeny's grapes are grown on five small vineyards, each only five to ten acres, which were selected to display the bright fruit characteristics of classic Green Valley Pinot Noir. Their limited size permits Orogeny to use hands-on farming techniques. The vines are planted on ridges in Gold Ridge soils, a mix of sandy loam over sandstone and clay. These sites provide excellent drainage, which promotes even ripening and concentrated flavors.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Situated on the foggier and colder western edge of the Russian River Valley, almost abutting the Sonoma Coast appellation, Green Valley is one of California’s most reputable Chardonnay and Pinot noir producing regions. It is also a wonderful source of sparkling wines made from these varieties.
Goldridge soils abound throughout the Green Valley appellation. This fine, dark, sandy loam and fractured sandstone is derived from the remains of ancient inland seabeds dating back three to five million years. It is valuable for high quality grape growing because of its excellent drainage and low fertility.