About This Product
Tasting Notes:
A selection of 8 of our favorite barrels from the 2008 vintage. Dark red to violet in color, on the nose the wine reveals cherry and raspberry fruit, herbs de Provence and cinnamon spice, with an undertone of earth and wild mushroom. Full bodied, with rich sweet fruit on the mid palate, gripping tannins, well balanced acidity and a long silky finish.
$36.00 / Bottle
WINE PROFILE
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Vineyard Notes:
15 of 66 acres planted: 12 of Pinot Noir, 3 Pinot Gris, and a small new block of Pinot Blanc, Arneis and Syrah. Tight spacing, mostly 5’x5’.
Winemaker Notes:
The 2008 Valois Reserve Pinot Noir is a selection of the 6 best barrels of the vintage. Two were new French oak barrels chosen from specific coopers and forests to match the fruit profile of the vineyard. The weather allowed us to wait until mid-October to harvest. Clusters were small but perfectly ripe. Because the nights were so chilly, and picking was done very early in the morning, the fruit came in very cold. This resulted in a long, natural cold soak prior to the onset of fermentation, further concentrating what were already potent fruit flavors. Primary fermentation took place in small, 1.25 ton open-top fermenters, using only native yeast strains. Approximately 75% of the fermenters contained whole clusters to add spice and enhance the mouth feel. Punch downs were done twice daily; fermentations were problem free and lasted 14 to 21 days. 140 cases were bottled in late August 2009.
Vintage Notes:
2008 was another challenging vintage for Willamette Valley winegrowers. Bud break got off to a late start due to cold, wet spring weather. As a result, bloom was late and the fruit set small. As late as the end of September, the fruit was not yet ripe and the fall rains looked like they might set in at any time. Fortunately instead, the Valley was treated to an incredible Indian summer. Long, warm, sunny days followed by very cool nights created ideal conditions. Aggressive fruit thinning, in order to insure the chances of ripening what was left on the vines, was rewarded with a perfectly ripe crop; moderate in sugars, very concentrated and exceptionally well balanced. Within a week, everything was off the vine and into the winery by the 17th of October.
Harvest Date: 10/16/2008
PH: 3.62
Barrel Aging: 11 months in 30% New Oak
Ageability: 10+ years
Bottling Date: 9/24/2009
Residual Sugar: 0
