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2000 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir

(updated 10/9/02)

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The Wine

This is our "best value" and "approachable early" Pinot noir. But that shouldn't fool you into believing the quality is anything but great. Made in exactly the same way as our most highly touted pinots--as a matter of fact ALL Pinots are made with the same care, receive the same oak, etc.-- the 3 Vineyard sometimes competes head-to-head with the others for praise. (The 1998 received 93 point scores, the 1997 91 point scores in major publications.)

The Vineyards

Fruit and the name come from our three Estate Vineyards: Ridgecrest, Stoller and Corral Creek, blended into a fully-complemented wine. The estate vineyards are planted on three different soil types, which provides complementary elements in resulting wines, especially Pinot noir: Ridgecrest on Willakenzie, Stoller on Jory, and Corral Creek on Laurelwood. The excellence and distinctiveness of single vineyards can be seen in vineyard designated labels for these vineyards. However, the wisdom of complementary blends, with their consistency and fullness of character is very often seen in 3 Vineyard.

The Vintage

Vintage 2000 was our third great vintage in-a-row, providing full ripeness and excellent weather throughout the growing season and through harvest. The average to one week early harvest, September 29-October 26, saw only 1.09 inches of rain. Fruit quantities were bountiful, permitting crop thinning to obtain ideal croploads of 2.50 tons/acre for Pinot gris, 2.55 for Chardonnay and 2.31 for Pinot noir. White wine characteristics are between 1998's round fleshiness and 1999's crisply structured ageability. Red wines benefit from less extreme extraction at Ridgecrest than the prior two vintages, thanks to normal croploads of 2.49 tons/acre and improved and excellent quality from the other vineyards. The overall quality in the Pinot noir cellar exceeds 1999 and is similar to 1998.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested from 9/29-10/19/00 (approximately 47% Ridgecrest Vineyards, 47% Stoller and 6% Corral Creek) @ an average 22.1-25.1 brix, 3.1 –3.6 pH, and 5.8 g/l TA

Fermentation:

12-15 days total fermentation with 5-8 days pre maceration

Cooperage/Aging:

9 months in barrel, in 24% new and 23% 1 year's prior use French oak barrels

Wine Selection:

Selected barrels from most fermentation lots

Bottling:

Bottled 8/27-8/01 with egg white fining and DE (Diatomaceous earth) filtration

Bottling Analyses:

14.3 % alcohol, 5.8 g/l TA, 3.62pH

Cases Produced:

3100

Suggested Retail:

$25

Release Date:

November, 2001

Winemaker's Comments

The 2000 3 Vineyard has all major facets covered well, from a juicy briar berry nose to a sweet, acid and fine tannin structured long palate. It is Pinot noir as it should be, with appeal, sexiness and complexity. Depth is very good for an entry wine and, with a little more intensity and concentration, could compete well with wines double its price. We're very pleased that it fits into the finesse category, rather than the wood or hyper-extraction category. A great value.

Quotes

Wine Enthusiast Magazine, October, 2002: 88 Points. One of the strongest entry-level pinots in our 1999 World Series, this year's version again gives a solid performance. Smoke-tinged cherry and cranberry fruit, vanilla, tea and herb accents, and a velour-like mouthfeel provide plenty of pleasure. The long, chocolaty finish has supple tannins.

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31190 NE Veritas Lane • Newberg, OR 97132
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