Wine Notes > Pinot Noir > Current Release
2007 Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir
(new release October 2009)
The Wine
This wine is the oldest of the four vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs we produce. Chehalem has made a Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir since its first release in 1990, with selected barrels going to an upper-end elegant Reserve from Ridgecrest since 1994, and any not measuring up to this standard being designated 3 Vineyard. It is characteristically brawny, briery, dusty black-fruited, and occasionally currant or cassis, all hallmarks of Ribbon Ridge wines. Deep, sweet fruit has been balanced with fine tannin structure in recent years, which, with good acidic structure, gives good ageability.
The Vineyards
This wine uses fruit from Ridgecrest Vineyards, our oldest estate vineyard, 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 Mountains. Soils are a Willakenzie soil called Wellsdale, a transition soil series exhibiting characteristics of both volcanic and ocean sedimentary underlying structures. The rich, supple black cherry and blackberry fruits are characteristic of Ridgecrest Vineyards and the Willakenzie soil type. Excellent acidity, silky texture, and a long finish are hallmarks of the vineyard site, being relatively high in elevation, mature in vine age, and deeply rooted.
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 10/5–10/9/2007 @ 21.1–21.3 brix, 6.4–7.3 g/L TA, and 3.22–3.38 pH, from 1.8–2.9 tons per acre cropload
Fermentation:
Fermented with all-native yeasts with 12–14 days total skin contact, 7–9 days of that pre-maceration; pectolytic enzyme used for uniform extraction; average 15% whole cluster
Cooperage/Aging:
Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, racking twice, with 55% new and 85% new or one-year prior use
Clonal Selection:
Pommard (58%) and Wadenswil (42%)
Bottling:
Bottled 9/5/2008
Bottling Analyses:
12.8% Alcohol, 3.59 pH, 5.9 g/L TA
Cases Produced:
686
Suggested Retail:
$32 (TO ORDER)
Release Date:
October 2009
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31190 NE Veritas Lane • Newberg, OR 97132
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Winemaker's Comments
Medium red, with a blue youthful hue; smoky, barrel-accented, black and red fruit aromas, with a suave savory character; mineral and earth flavors, with cherry-cranberry tartness, raspberry sweetness, and a punctuating grip on the finish; tight, great acid, balanced. Will reward aging.
Quotes
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009, Josh Raynolds: 90. Bright red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with sexy notes of incense and minerals adding interest. Tangy, tightly focused strawberry and raspberry flavors open with air and pick up a deeper black cherry quality. The mineral note repeats on the finish, which is impressively pure, focused and long.
Wine Enthusiast, December 2009, Paul Gregutt: 90. Those who seek elegance and lower alcohol levels will certainly want to try this beautifully balanced, well-defined vineyard designate from Chehalem. Briary, dusty, with currant and berry fruits it has less concentration than in warmer years, but compensates with impeccable balance.
Paulgregutt.com, August 25, 2009, Paul Gregutt: The original Ribbon Ridge vineyard is beautifully balanced, with briary, dusty, currant and berry fruits. It has less concentration than in warmer years, but compensates with impeccable balance.