current release
2021 Quartz Acorn vineyard pinot noir
winemaker notes
A gorgeous, complex wine from our Quartz Acorn Vineyard. The nose is plum, brioche, tar, and rich blackberry. A savory herbal profile shows sage, spearmint, fennel and anise as it opens. Spicy on the palate with massive body and depth of flavor. Bold tannin and immense concentration show the site’s rocky terrain in a finish that packs a punch. This wine will age gracefully for 10-15 years. There is a very limited amount of this wine because of an extreme barrel selection of only the purest expression.
winemaking details
This wine blends together south-facing and east-facing Pommard, Dijon, Wädenswil clones from our second estate planting, the Quartz Acorn Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton. The average fermentation time was 13 days in amphora and stainless steel vessels. The fermentation is both 100% native and whole cluster. Aged on lees for 11 months in 20% new Taransaud French oak barrels. Alcohol of 14.9%.
vintage notes
We kicked off harvest on August 30th and wrapped up Chardonnay the first week of September. By mid-September, we were well into picking out our Iron Filbert Vineyard. We started with the bottom section of the vineyard and made our way up the hill steadily. The last pick for our Dundee Hills estate was on September 29th. This year, we incorporated a small percentage of whole cluster into the ferments. In hot, riper vintages like we are working with now, the stems are lignified enough to benefit and add beautiful complexity to the ferments. We brought in our first fruit from the Quartz Acorn Vineyard on Friday, October 1st.
wine information
This top tier showcases a limited barrel selection, with only 425 cases were produced in 2021. Fruit for this label is sourced from our organically farmed Quartz Acorn Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton.
reviews
2017 | 96 points James Suckling
This is impressive in so many ways. Deeply complex dark cherries, plums and blackberries are framed in seductive fragrance and spicy complexity and the palate has a plush thread of ripe, deeply flavorsome blueberries, dark cherries and plums. Supple, fleshy and detailed texture. Great wine. Drink or hold.
2018 | 96 points James Suckling
Wow! This has such impressively ripe, intense, dark-cherry aromas with striking purity. Some gently spicy notes and dark-stony, mineral notes, too. So youthful and fresh. The palate has a very juicy and deep feel with a very concentrated core of dark-cherry flesh and a long, vibrant and sleek finish. Great wine.
2019 | 94 points James Suckling
Aromas of cherries, raspberries, flowers, dried herbs and baking spices. Medium-bodied with crunchy tannins and bright acidity. Juicy and supple with savory and mineral character. Light smoked meat at the end, So pure, textured and refined. Long finish. Attractive now, but better in two or three years.