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2004 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir

(updated May 1, 2007)

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The Wine

This is our most widely distributed and earliest available Pinot Noir. It is a wine blended from all of our vineyards and bottled before the single-vineyard and reserve wines. The complementary nature of the lots that go into this blend is obvious in its full, early integration and its occasionally being considered superior to single vineyard wines. ALL Pinots are made with the same care, receive the same oak, are from the same estate vineyards, etc. — the 3 Vineyard represents the very populist notion that egos and individuality may elevate some brothers and sisters, but the rest of us together are just as wise and powerful, sometimes even moreso. Beginning in 2003, with the reduction of single-vineyard bottling production quantities, barrels of single-vineyard quality are now returned to the 3 Vineyard blend for even greater complexity.

The Vineyards

Fruit and the name come from our three Estate Vineyards: Ridgecrest, Stoller and Corral Creek, blended into a fully-complemented wine. The estate vineyards are planted on three different soil types, which provide complementary elements in resulting wines, especially Pinot noir: Ridgecrest on Willakenzie, Stoller on Jory, and Corral Creek on Laurelwood. The excellence and distinctiveness of single vineyards can be seen in vineyard designated labels for these vineyards. However, the wisdom of complementary blends, with their consistency and fullness of character is very often seen in 3 Vineyard.

The Vintage

What a difference some rain makes! Vintage 2004 was destined to be as equally hot and ripe as 2003, until we had a quenching rain in late August and then a month later. Young and early vineyards that were almost ready to harvest the first week of September could have done without the rain, but the rest (like Chehalem's) thought it a blessed relief. A short cropload, plus growing-season heat make 2004 properly plump, but with restraint. An interesting vintage-almost an average of 2001, 2002, and 2003, with perhaps a little more variability in reds and more structured, brighter whites similar to 2002.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 9/21 to 10/14/2004 (approximately 46% Stoller, 39% Corral Creek, and 15% Ridgecrest), from a 1.96 tons per acre cropload

Fermentation:

10-18 days total fermentation with 2-8 days pre maceration

Cooperage/Aging:

10 months in 32% new, 29% one-use, and 39% multiple-use French oak barrels

Wine Selection:

Selected barrels from most fermentation lots, after reserve level selections

Bottling:

Bottled 8/8 & 8/9/2005 with DE filtration

Bottling Analyses:

14.7% alcohol, 6.0 g/l TA, 3.7 pH

Cases Produced:

2472

Suggested Retail:

$27

Release Date:

May 2006

Winemaker's Comments

It's not surprising that this is a lovely wine. With crop yields as low as 1.5 tons per acre and a cool, long ripening finish to a warm start, we were able to retain acidity rather than burn it away in the last days, but finished without disease and with full ripeness. We only wish for more of it. This is a great example of great wines in small vintages, with bright red raspberry fruit on the nose and palate, great spice, a sweet cherry finish, and very fine tannin silk on the palate. Exceptionally good balance, with lushness, sappy fruit, and a long finish. Exceptional purity. And, it will stay that way, this being our first Pinot with Stelvin screwcaps. Very little, very pretty, very soon gone.

Quotes

Pinot Report, April 2007: 92. Medium ruby color; deep, complex aromas with cherry and earthy notes; rich and ripe, complex cherry and earthy notes with forest floor and sweet oak notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Complex and interesting, this Pinot has a lot of depth and nuance.

Wine & Spirits, December 2006: 89. Ripe and extracted, this blend of three estate vineyards has the rich scent of liquid smoke, and flavors like smoke-tinged raspberry jam. It's a jammy, ripe pinot for grilled chicken.

Wine Spectator, November 15, 2006, Harvey Steiman: 89. Lithe and open-textured, with lovely cinnamon and nutmeg accents to the plum and cherry flavors, remaining fresh and refined as the finish goes on.

International Wine Cellar, May/June 2006, Josh Raynolds: 89. Bottled with a screwcap. Light red. Delicate, racy aromas of wild strawberry and white pepper. Fresh and lively, with tangy raspberry and strawberry flavors offering lift and cut. A fresh, elegant pinot with good energy and drive to the finishing flavors, which pick up some exotic, pungent floral tones.

Burghound.com, October 2006, Allen Meadows: 87. A pretty and very pinot nose of red raspberries and ripe cherries merges into light to barely medium weight flavors that possess good precision on the layered, delicious and forward finish that delivers good if not distinguished length. This is a pretty effort that is easy to like...