2012 Wind Ridge Block Pinot Noir

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

This Pinot shows typicity for Ridgecrest’s younger plantings on Wind Ridge, with lots of vibrant fruit and density. Visually it is a deep garnet color with a red-purple hue, the nose shows blackberry to red-currant, chocolate cherry, red licorice, and freshness.  The palate is rich and fleshy, with moderate tannin, a slight presence of alcohol, bittersweet chocolate, a smooth finish, and a wild, bright aspect that assures a long life ahead.

VINTAGE OVERVIEW 

This was a uniformly excellent vintage in the Willamette Valley, moreso than the past few years where some winemakers read it well and others may not have. The weather was storybook, almost entirely positive, with the Grinch of hail in one or two localized sites proving we’re as vulnerable as Burgundy.  The heat accumulations are the 5th highest in the last 16 years, putting ripeness in the league with 2004 and 1998.  The perfectly warm and completely dry growing and ripening seasons kept disease away and pushed full ripeness without sacrificing acid structure. Check back later to see if it is even more than a great year.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
92 Points - Vinous

Chocolate Cherry, Red Licorice, Smooth