Winemaker Notes
We experienced a wet, cool spring which delayed flowering until late June, setting the stage for a later harvest. The cool spring was replaced by a hot, dry summer. Harvest started in September. A few light showers early during harvest helped to refresh the soils. Flavor development was slow and steady, and we were allowed to hang fruit to promote fuller skin and tannin development. Mild summer weather allowed us to pick at our own steady pace. The resulting wines are very pure, with great balance and texture.
While the Willamette Valley and Pinot Noir are a like a fairy tale match made in heaven, most of Oregon is in fact, a glorious source of Pinot noir. Claiming over half of its total area under vine, Pinot noir also thrives in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua and Rogue Valleys where sedimentary and volcanic soils dominate hillside vineyards and cool temperatures create the perfect environment for Pinot noir. Also, Oregon’s Columbia Gorge is becoming increasingly popular for Pinot noir production. What sets Oregon Pinot noir apart from the Pinot of other regions, both New and Old World, is its innate combination of grace with both power and restraint.