Wine Notes > Pinot Noir > Current Release
2007 Corral Creek Pinot Noir
(new release May 2009)
The Wine
This wine is the single-vineyard wine from Corral Creek Vineyards, the vineyards surrounding the winery, and recently the source of very consistent, balanced wines, without extremes of fruit, acid, tannin, or barrel. They have become a favorite of those who want elegance without having to wait years for it to appear from the musculature of bigness.
The Vineyard
Corral Creek, although not our oldest estate vineyard, was begun in 1983 by John and Diane Howieson, founders of Veritas Winery from whom the vineyard was purchased in 1995. A 28-acre vineyard predominantly planted to Pinot Noir, with significant reworked plots of Dijon Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, and both new grafts of Riesling and a heritage 1.1-acre block of 15-year-old Riesling, it is nestled on a low bench above Corral Creek. Soils are Laurelwood, a predominantly blown sedimentary soil series (i.e., loess) that, although being low in elevation, is well drained and not terribly fertile. Visible from Highway 99W, and with seductively folded land masses, this may be the most photographed vineyard in Oregon.
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 9/29/2007 @ 23.4 brix, 3.39 pH, and 6.8 g/L TA, from 1.9 tons per acre cropload
Fermentation:
13 days total fermentation with 4 days pre-maceration
Cooperage/Aging:
Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, racking once, with 31% new and 62% new or one-year prior use
Wine Selection:
Selected barrels from three fermentation lots
Bottling:
Bottled 9/3/08
Bottling Analyses:
13.8% alcohol, 5.6 g/L TA, 3.64 pH
Cases Produced:
298
Suggested Retail:
$32 (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
Light-medium garnet, lush raspberry-cherry nose, with a core of black-blue fruit, floral tea aromas, broad on the palate with silky entry and nice length, excellent acid and balance, light focused tannin, very pretty—small boned, delicate and long-lived.
Quotes
Wine Advocate, October 2009, Jay Miller: 91. A bit more expressive aromatically. Notes of toast, cinnamon, allspice, cherry, and raspberry lead to an elegant, medium-bodied wine. On the palate, it reveals round, ripe, succulent flavors, a velvety texture, and a lengthy, pure finish.
Wine Enthusiast, December 2009, Paul Gregutt: 90. Here is the earthiest, most complex of Chehalem's 2007 single vineyard Pinot Noirs. Wild berry fruit, forest floor aromas, sweet baking spices and a streak of black tea give the Corral Creek extra flavor interest. Overall it's much lighter than the 2006, but in many respects more detailed.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009, Josh Raynolds: 90. Vivid red. Fresh strawberry and raspberry scents expand with air and pick up suave floral and mineral character. Bracing red fruit flavors are given a refreshingly bitter edge by notes of cherry skin and cracked pepper, but turn sweeter on the back end. Finishes juicy and very long, with a strong echo of red berries.
Wine Spectator, December 2009, Harvey Steiman: 88. Light, open-textured and expressive with its red cherry, floral and spice flavors, lingering against refined tannins and crisp acidity. Drink now through 2012.