Wine Notes > Pinot Noir > Previous Release

1999 Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir

(updated 11/9/01)

2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996

The Wine

This wine is one of three vineyard-designated Pinot noirs we produce. Chehalem has made a Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot noir since its first release in 1990, with selected barrels going to an upper-end elegant Rion Reserve from Ridgecrest and several not hitting the mark being designated 3-Vineyard. It is characteristically brawny, briery, dusty black-fruited, and occasionally currant or cassis. Deep sweet fruit has been balanced with fine tannin structure in recent years which, with good acidic structure that gives good ageability.

The Vineyard

Our oldest estate vineyard, Ridgecrest is a 37 acre vineyard on a 72 acre property. Beginning in 1980, this site pioneered grapegrowing on Ribbon Ridge, a small ridge on the western end of the Chehalem Range and Valley. Soils are Willakenzie, a transition soil series exhibiting characteristics of both volcanic and sedimentary underlying structures. The rich, supple black cherry and blackberry fruits are characteristic of Ridgecrest Vineyards and the Willakenzie soil series. Excellent acidity and a finesseful texture and finish are hallmarks of the vineyard site, being relatively high in elevation, mature in vine age and deeply rooted. Wines are very ageable.

The Vintage

The 1999 vintage is the second of three excellent vintages in a row. A great year for white wines because of retained acidity, Pinot noir also benefited from good structure and good ripeness, making the vintage good for aging. Some vineyards were exceptional in the vintage, others very good. Ridgecrest Vineyards excelled, with extremely low tonnage of 1.4 tons/acre yielding a density of fruit and structure unparalleled to-date. That is to say, 1999 Ridgecrest Pinot noirs are the best wines we have ever made.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 10/15-16/1999, 78.% from the Babies Block planted in 1989, harvested at 1.30 tons/acre @24.0-25.2 brix, 7.7-7.9 acid and 3.16-3.22 pH

Fermentation:

Fermented completely with native yeasts in fermentations of 13-14 days total skin contact, with 8 days of that pre-maceration; acidulated with 0.5 g/L; pectolytic enzyme used for uniform extraction; no post maceration.

Cooperage/Aging:

Aged for 13 months with one racking in 45% new (6 coopers from 6 forests), 58% new + 1year French oak.

Clonal Selection:

Pommard (42%) and Wadenswil clones (58%).

Bottling:

Bottled 11/30/00 with egg white fining and no filtration.

Bottling Analyses:

14.2 % Alcohol, 3.42 pH, 6.2 g/l acid, 0.01% Residual Sugar

Cases Produced:

976

Suggested Retail:

$39

Release Date:

August, 2001

Winemaker's Comments

This is our best Pinot noir released to-date, which is saying a lot considering some of the vintages preceding it. We were pleased with the richly structured, densely fruited and perfectly balanced aspect of the wine. It IS big, but is composed to slip into ultimate elegance, a little like a rugged Paul Newman in his youth might presage refined older age. We don't think words are the best way to comment on the wine. We look for little gasps and subtle smiles.

Quotes

Wine Advocate, August 2001: 92+ ... bursts from the glass with sweet blackberry aromas. The wine explodes on the palate with dramatically intense sweet cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and candied currants. It is medium-bodied, gorgeously concentrated, and sports ripened tannin. It is harmonious, seamless, extremely extroverted, and completely dominated by its lush fruit. Projected maturity: 2004-2012.

Wine Spectator, November 2001. 90 points. Ripe in flavor and elegant in structure, with pretty blackberry and cherry character, shaded with dusky spice and pepper notes. Fine tannins on the finish are not obtrusive.

Special to the Mercury News McMinnville, Oregon, August 2001, by Laurie Daniel (Notes from the International Pinot Noir Celebration). Full-bodied, with black cherry, firm tannins and good acidity.Well-structured, without sacrificing suppleness.

James Tidwell from Restaurant Serenade in New Jersey after a vertical tasting of Chehalem Pinot Noirs. Laser-like focus to the aromatic, perfumed nose of blackberry and black cherry. Almost piercing. Fine, focused structure and flavors of fresh, tart blackberries and a touch of bitter chocolate. Perfectly balanced tannins and acidity with a medium-long length.A magnificent wine.Hold for 12 to 15 years.

Beverage Testing Institute, Tastings, Spring 2001: 94 Points. Saturated, dark red-purple hue. Extraordinarily fleshy and dark fruited on the nose. Super-concentrated and weighty with a full body and a dense, chewy finish showing noble tannins and fruit. This should be even better than the 1998 bottling, when it is released.