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2005 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Blanc

(new release October 2006)

2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

The Wine

This Pinot Blanc continues our appreciation of Alsace varietals. From our newest plantings at Stoller Vineyards, there is excellent ripeness and clean

flavors. Experiments have developed a process that combines classic Alsace texture and Kaiserstuhl ripe characteristics, showing a purity of fruit, lushness, and huge weight on the palate. We think we’ve found the key to making predictably complex wines from a potentially monochromatic variety.

The Vineyards

Stoller Vineyards is the newest, and therefore most viticulturally advanced, of our three estate vineyards. A south-sloping, 110-acre vineyard on a 350-acre parcel, Stoller Vineyards commands a dominating view of the southern end of the Red Hills of Dundee, giving it regular comparison to Burgundy’s Corton Hill. Stoller Vineyards is planted on Jory soil, with a touch of Nekia, which both deep, red volcanic soil types. There are one and a half acres of Pinot Blanc at the site. Formerly a turkey farm, the vineyard is owned by winery partners Bill and Cathy Stoller.

The Vintage

2005 was an old-style Oregon vintage, warming the cockles of the hearts of industry old folks like me, as much as the coffee we drank as rains interrupted harvest. Cooler and damper than the average modern vintage, mature winemakers and mature vineyards understood and adjusted to the weather, giving the grapes a chance to fully ripen and working magic to assure clean fruit. Experience should show with our three classic estate vineyards. Great extraction, great acid, lower alcohols (no Pinots above the 13%s!) — expect wines of finesse and ageability. White wines hum with the electricity of higher acids and lower alcohols.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 10/17/05 @ 22.9 brix, 3.31 pH, and 8.10 g/L TA

Fermentation:

Fermented with several yeasts in barrel (VL3, VL1, 3079 & SIHA7) and in tank (VL1), barrels being neutral with a single new Vosges barrel

Cooperage/Aging:

33% barrel fermentation and 66% tank fermentation; no ML

Bottling:

Cold stabilized, filtered, and bottled screwcap 4/20/2006

Bottling Analyses:

13.8% alcohol, 6.4 g/L TA, 3.38 pH, 0.3 % residual sugar

Cases Produced:

264

Suggested Retail:

$16

Release Date:

October 2006

Winemaker's Comments

Again, because of the great white vintage in 2005, even Pinot Blanc wows me. It is golden/straw, with bright fruit, honey, pineapple, and toast elements on the complex nose and with balancing, full textures and good acids on the palate. The flavors combine pineapple freshness, cantaloupe, and almost lemonade acidities. Complex and well balanced. We did very well here, thanks to Mother Nature.