2018 Torii Mor Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Olson Estate Vineyard, Magnum

The 2018 growing season started with an average to late bud break late April, following a cold and wet winter with a few snow events. January to mid-February was warmer than average, end of February to mid-April turned colder than average delaying bud break. By early May the heat was turned on with low 80s, almost reaching the 90s by the end of the month. Bloom started earlier than average the first week of June with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. The summer was hot and dry, eclipsing previous years out of the record books with 31 days over 90F most in the upper 90s without reaching the century mark, with a stretch of 10 days over 90F in July. Summer fires in the Southern Washington and Southern Oregon/ Northern California filed the Northern Willamette Valley with smoke, for weeks at a time, increasing the possible chances of smoke taint in the wines. The grape yields were on the high side again, forcing the growers to send the crews in the vineyards to drop fruit to a reasonable level. Torii Mor’s harvest started on September 17th and finished on October 18th.