2021 Winemaker's Series Heritage Clones Pinot Noir

NOTES FROM WINEMAKER, KATE PAYNE BROWN

A richly textured wine with a broad range of flavors to explore. The aromatics are complex and inviting with ripe marionberry, black licorice, and forest floor on the nose. On the palate, generous notes of blue and black fruit, black tea, and a unique ferrous minerality are complemented by plush tannins that build to an expansive finish.

VINTAGE OVERVIEW

The 2021 growing season was warmer than average in the Willamette Valley, producing beautifully ripe fruit with vibrant flavors. A dry spring led to lingering rain showers during bloom, which reduced the yield in some blocks. Then, an abnormal heatwave spread across the valley, with temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, the fruit prospered as high temperatures occurred between bloom and véraison when berries were hard and less sensitive to damage. Temperatures tapered off prior to harvest, with warm days and cool nights, which allowed the fruit to ripen at an even and slower pace. Quick yet seemingly smooth, harvest started on August 21 with little to no breaks until we finished on September 26. The resulting wines are balanced with focused flavors, stunning fruit, gorgeous vibrancy, and incredible aging potential.