2017 Yamhill Carlton 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. 

Winemaker's notes. Tasted in 2019

Winkler Vineyard, sitting at an elevation of 600 to 700 feet, in Yamhill Carlton AVA brings us fruit for this stellar Pinot Noir. Using 100% Dijon 115 clones, the wine was aged for 22 months in 26% new French oak barrels. A rich aroma of blue plums and notes of lavender introduce this lovely wine. The juicy flavors of plum and berries are complimented by just a touch of earthy complexity and soft tannins that lead to a complex finish of dark chocolate and spice.