Wine Notes > Gamay Noir > Current Release
2007 CERISE™
(new release May 2009)
The Wine
Cerise™ is our name for a predominantly Gamay Noir blend with Pinot Noir. Both varietals are best done in Burgundy and both exhibit a palate of cherry flavors and aromas. "Cherry" in French, Cerise is our tribute to a high fruit, moderately serious red wine. In Burgundy they do one, too, called passetoutgrains, blended at approximately 80% Gamay Noir to 20% Pinot Noir, for drinking while waiting for their highly structured Pinots to develop. Ours is made with the same casual purpose in mind.
The Vineyard
Our oldest estate vineyard, Ridgecrest is a 55-acre vineyard on a 176-acre property. Beginning in 1980, this site pioneered grapegrowing on Ribbon Ridge, a small ridge on the western end of the Chehalem Range and Valley. Soils are Willakenzie, a transition soil series exhibiting characteristics of both volcanic and sedimentary underlying structures. The rich, supple black cherry and blackberry fruits are characteristic of Ridgecrest Vineyard and the Willakenzie soil type. Excellent acidity and a finesseful texture and finish are hallmarks of the vineyard site, being relatively high in elevation, mature in vine age, and deeply rooted. There are two acres of Gamay Noir planted at the site, in perhaps the oldest commercial planting in the United States.
The Vintage
In summary, we think this may be a fantastic white vintage and a surprisingly good red vintage, despite a cool growing season and the final rains that many times might lead to less intense wines. Most winemakers in the valley knew how to adapt to the cooler weather and took advantage of the vintage’s attributes, such as lower sugars (and therefore alcohols) and higher acids. Because of the exciting influence of vintage in a cool climate like the Willamette Valley, you’ll see nuance differences between this 3 Vineyard and its older siblings. Expect ripeness but with a crisp, bright, fruit edge of minerality from higher acids and the cooler growing season. The vintage will have stellar wines, just with a greater range of styles. Buy whites in general, buy reds from trusted names.
Stats
Harvest Data:
Harvested 10/13/2007 @ 20.4 brix, 3.26–3.1 pH, and 7.8 g/L TA, from 1.6 tons per acre cropload
Fermentation:
14 days total fermentation with 6 days pre-maceration
Cooperage/Aging:
9 months in barrel, racking once
Wine Selection:
Gamay noir (80%) and Pinot noir (20%)
Bottling:
Sterile filtered and bottled 8/1/08
Bottling Analyses:
12.8% alcohol, 6.8 g/l TA, 3.28 pH
Cases Produced:
269
Suggested Retail:
$24 (TO ORDER)
Release Date:
May 2009
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© CHEHALEM
31190 NE Veritas Lane • Newberg, OR 97132
Tasting Room (503) 538-4700 • Winery (503) 537-5553 • Fax (503) 537-0850
Winemaker's Comments
Bright, red cherry aromas, red-purple youthful color, lovely spices, tart on the palate, purity of fruit, cola/sassafras hints, very nice balance, one of the best we’ve done of this cult favorite.
Quotes
Wine Advocate, August 2009, Jay Miller: 90. …Cherry red in color, it has a fragrant perfume of cranberry and wild strawberry leading to a ripe, racy, easy-going wine designed for immediate gratification.
Wine Enthusiast, December 2009, Paul Gregutt: 88. Cerise is French for cherry, and cherries are here in abundance, scents and flavors, an explosion of cherries. Light, forward, delicate yet deep, this is a perfect autumn red.