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1996 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir

(updated 5/9/00)

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The Wine

This is the first release from an exceptional vintage. It shows the impeccable balance and elegance of the vintage. Fruit and the name come from our three Estate Vineyards: Ridgecrest, Stoller and Corral Creek, blended into a fully-complemented wine. Exceptionally dark and fruity, the grapes combined range from pre-rain younger grapes soft on the palate to mature vineyard fruit harvested patiently after rains and hang-time made for complexity and firm structural tannins. Together we feel they balance perfectly. Rich, complex and intense, this wine packs red and dark fruit flavors with hints of chocolate into a broad, sweet mouthful. With length, texture and firm tannins in such a balanced wine, we challenge others' reserves to beat this one!

NOTES: THIS PINOT NOIR IS OUR FIRST 1996 TO BE RELEASED. IT IS THE BEST BLEND WE CAN DO WITH GRAPES FROM ALL OUR ESTATE VINEYARDS (RIDGECREST, CORRAL CREEK AND STOLLER). IT IS DESIGNED TO BE APPEALING EARLY BUT UNCOMPROMISING IN INGREDIENTS. IT WILL LIKELY IMPROVE GREATLY IN THE BOTTLE, ADDING ADDITIONAL FLESH TO THE MID-PALATE AND FINISH WITH TIME-IT WAS ONLY BOTTLED IN SEPTEMBER. THE FRUIT COMES IN 1996 FROM RIDGECREST (27%), CORRAL CREEK(65%), AND STOLLER(8%).

Stats

Selected barrels from most fermentation lots, harvested from 10/1-10/27/96 @21.0-24.0 brix, 3.07-3.42 pH; 13-16 days total fermentation with 5-10 days pre and 1-3 day post maceration; 10+ months in barrel, 8 without racking, in 22% new French oak barrels from 6 coopers and several forests; Bottled 9/10-12/97 with egg white fining and no filtration @ 13.1% alcohol, 3.68 pH, 5.3 g/l acid, 0.02 residual sugar. 2200 cases made.

Quotes

Evergreen Review, Off the Vine, April 1999: Somewhat spicy, this wine carries distinctive Pinot Noir characteristics in its flavor and richness. Chehalem has made a fine inroad into the regionally competitive Pinot Noir market.

Wine & Spirits, April 1999-91: Deep, spicy raspberry scents introduce this robust and generous pinot. It's not complex, just silky and shining with flavorful fruit. And that's what lasts-the oak doesn't get in the way of the finish. Quite fine.

The Vine, January 1999 (Clive Coates) 13.0: Medium colour. Aromatic nose. Some wood. Medium body. Light to medium body. Rather a dull example. One dimensional. Quite fruity. Not bad.

South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), January 30, 1999 (Kevin Sinclair): ...for a romantic dinner for two, this is a hard wine to beat.This is everything a pinot noir is supposed to be, soft, gentle, mild and full of elusive flavour. It's as elegant as a Parisian model and svelte as velvet. [Chehalem's] scientific knowledge is used to draw the most out of fruit.pinot is bigger and blacker than most, with an intense nose and bold flavour.

Tastings, Premier Issue, 1999: Bright pale ruby cast. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Mildly tannic. Brown spices, red fruits. Forward aromas carry a hefty wood accent and core of velvety berry flavors. Tasty, but lacks a bit for grip on the finish.

Shanghai International Wine Challenge 1998 (Shanghai, China, September 1-4, 1998) Silver Medal: Since there was no gold medal awarded to any Pinot Noir or Burgundy, Chehalem was the best Pinot Noir in the competition. Alex Hui, Larkon Limited.

The Wine Spectator, May 15, 1998 (Harvey Steiman): Of the 39 1996 Pinot Noirs tasted so far, 26 have earned ratings of 85 points (very good) or higher, a good omen for the vintage. An even better sign for value-minded wine drinkers is that several wines priced under $20 sneaked into that group, including Chehalem 3 Vineyard (88 points) [highest of those listed]: Firm and focused, with a lovely mouthful of smoke-tinged black cherry and anise flavors that linger on the chewy finish. Not a huge wine, but articulates its flavors nicely.

The Toronto Star, January 21, 1998 (Tony Aspler): When you think of stylish but affordable Pinot Noir, Oregon springs to mind.At a preview tasting. I sampled some 55 of them by grape variety. So if you don't want to be so long at the fair, here are some recommendations: Chehalem 3 Vineyard 1996 [1 of 7 pinot noirs including our 1995 Rion Reserve].

The International Wine Cellar (Stephen Tanzer) 86: Cherry/berry flavor offers, good concentration and intensity, and solid structure.Finishes fairly tannic, but with good fruit. Got better with aeration.