2017 Chehalem Mountains Select Pinot Noir

Vintage 2017 

2017 was a very wet winter with weekly snowfalls that paralyzed the area, giving us 40” in the first 4 months (20” average). Early May the heat was turned on to the low 80s, reaching the 90’s by the end of the month. By late June we were in the 100’s. The summer fires in the Columbia River Gorge and Southern Washington filled the Northern Willamette Valley with thick smoke for weeks at a time; we were lucky to avoid smoke-tainted grapes. Yield was on the high side (5+ tons per acre), forcing the growers to send the crews in the vineyards to drop fruit. 

Wine notes. Tasted in 2019

Winemaker, Jacques Tardy has blended three highly regarded vineyard sites within the Chehalem Mountains AVA (Alloro, Hoy, and Nemarniki) to create this beatuiful expression of Pinot noir. This wine was aged for 16 months in almost 12% new French oak, resulting in forward aromas of sweet florals, light fruit and a hint of oak toast. The palate displays a brightness of blueberry and blackberry flavors, again surrounded by a touch of toastiness. The rich structure and bright acidity of this wine results in a lengthy finish of sweet oak tannins and dark berry flavors.  Enjoy this wine now with some decanting or cellar fof 6-8 years.