VINTAGE HIGHLIGHTS

2021 was the 2nd warmest growing season we have ever seen since 2015. We also got to add a new term to the dictionary: "Heat Dome". Three straight days of triple digit temperatures in late June breaking heat records for the Willamette Valley! Bud break started like usual in the middle of April. We had the driest March through May that the Willamette Valley has seen through 128 years of record keeping! Bloom also appeared on time in early/mid June. While late June brought the “Heat Dome”, our grapes made it through thanks to bloom being finished at all our sites and there still being soil moisture, so they grew like crazy over those three days of hellish temperatures. While July and August turned out to be exceedingly hot and dry, September arrived with little rain which that allowed us to fully ripen the grapes. The hot and dry summer made for fruit that was extremely clean, resulting in for excellent fermentations. All in all, mother nature gave us something to be grateful for on our 50th anniversary.

WINEMAKING
Located on 16 acres in the Eola-Amity Hills, this vineyard is comprised of volcanic soils and is influenced by cooling marine winds. The fruit was hand harvested from Blossom Ridge on September 26th and brought back to our Estate winery were 100% was destemmed. Over a 15-day period the wine went through an ambient fermentation in 3 ton stainless steel tanks with punch-downs for cap management. The wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels with 20% new oak.

WINE PROFILE
Our 2021 Blossom Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir has the perfect balance between red fruit, flowers, minerality and baking spices. Right off the bat there is cherry, strawberry, raspberry that is married wonderfully with notes of cinnamon and allspice and a hint of violets.

PAIRINGS
Mushroom risotto, duck confit, and a wood fired prosciutto and arugula white pizza.