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1997 Rion Reserve Pinot Noir

(updated 2/26/01)

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The Wine

Named for Patrice Rion, our friend from Burgundy who gave us advice several times over the years, we look for this wine to embody the essence of Pinot noir. Select barrels and fermentation lots are chosen from Ridgecrest Vineyards before any blending is done in the cellar. Cheryl and Harry choose components to make a wine that epitomizes finesse, elegance, complexity, textural silkiness and palate breadth and length for a vintage. We think these elements are what Pinot noir is all about — not as big as we can make it, but as beautiful as we can make it.

The Vineyard

To date, our Rion Reserve has been comprised of Ridgecrest Vineyard fruit. 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 Vineyard and the Willakenzie soil type. 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.

The Vintage

The 1997 vintage is equivalent in quality to 1996, with a firmer tannin and acid structure, which bodes well for aging, and equivalently tightly wound flavors on the palate. As is normal for a wine from Ridgecrest Vineyards fruit, there is great ageability here. This wine projects exceptionally well the delicacy and fine tannin of 1997.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 10/4/97.

Fermentation:

Approximately 12-13 days total fermentation with 6-10 days pre (with enzymes), and no post maceration; finished with RC212, 254, BRG yeasts; chaptalized 1-1½ brix and saigneed 2-5%; ML innoculated after pressing.

Cooperage/Aging:

13 months in barrel with one racking in August, in 46% new French oak barrels from 8 coopers and several forests and 32% 1 year barrels.

Clonal Selection:

Selected barrels from 3 Ridgecrest Vineyards fermentation lots, 39% old block (16 year old vines) and 49% younger block (9 year old) Pommard clones.

Bottling:

Bottled 1/20/99 without filtration.

Bottling Analyses:

12.4% alcohol, 3.56 pH, 5.5 g/l TA, 0.02% residual sugar.

Cases Produced:

Approximately 945 cases made.

Suggested Retail:

$38

Release Date:

August, 1999

Winemaker's Comments

Currently the wine has deep, dense black fruit packed onto a mouthfilling fine tannin structure. It is young and tightly wound, with sweet oak highlights shining through. The finish is long, but will only extend, with the texture becoming more silken with time, a hallmark of Rion Reserves.

Quotes

WineToday.com, Doug Frost, Master of Wine, Columnist, August 2000 (comments after attending the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville, OR July 28-30, 2000): The vintages of 1998 and 1999 are going to give the state of Oregon more opportunities to kick the collective rear of American Pinot Noir than anything since the 1983s and 1985s.the 1998 and 1999 vintages highlight the real heroes, .Chehalem - These Pinot Noirs aren't just rich in French oak flavors, they're just plain rich. The Rion Reserve is a stylish and delightful statement.

Wine Spectator, April 30, 2000: 86. Bright and open-textured, with black cherry, vanilla and spice flavors that linger generously on the finish. Drink now through 2003.

Northwest Palate, March/April 2000: Recommended. Medium garnet color. Smoky barrel toast and black cherry fruit in the nose. Sweet oak rounds out light-bodied fruit, with flavors of black fruits and caramel in the finish. Drink now with braised pork, or cellar 2-3 years for additional complexity.