Wine Notes > Pinot Noir > Previous Release

2004 Oregon Pinot Noir Reserve

(released February 2007)

2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

The Wine

We look for this wine to embody the essence of Pinot Noir. Select barrels and fermentation lots are chosen from Ridgecrest Vineyards before any blending is done in the cellar. We choose components to make a wine that epitomizes finesse, elegance, complexity, textural silkiness, and palate breadth and length for the vintage. We think these elements are what Pinot Noir is all about—not as big and macho as we can make it, but as beautiful and feminine as we can make it. Its balance makes it optimally ageable.

NOTE: Beginning with the 2002 vintage, we gave Patrice RION his name back, having thanked him for 8 vintages for help he gave in the mid-1990s by naming this wine for him — his new negoçiant brand would seem to benefit from fewer Rions in the marketplace. Thanks again, Patrice.

The Vineyard

To date, our Reserve has used fruit almost exclusively from Ridgecrest Vineyards, our oldest estate vineyard, a 37-acre vineyard on a 72-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

What a difference some rain makes! What a difference some rain makes! Vintage 2004 was destined to be as equally hot and ripe as 2003, until we had a quenching rain in late August and then a month later. Young and early vineyards that were almost ready to harvest the first week of September could have done without the rain, but the rest (like Chehalem’s) thought it a blessed relief. A short cropload, plus growing-season heat make 2004 properly plump, but with restraint. An interesting vintage—almost an average of 2001, 2002, and 2003, with perhaps a little more variability in reds and more structured, brighter whites similar to 2002.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 9/21–10/14/2004, fruit coming from Ridgecrest Vineyards (88%) and Stoller Vineyards (12%), with sugars of 23.8–25.2 brix; acids of 4.6–5.6 g/L; pHs of 3.37–3.53; from yields of 1.1–2.1 tons/acre

Fermentation:

12–16 days total skin contact, with 3–8 days of that pre-maceration, native ferments on Ridgecrest fruit and RC212 yeast with Stoller; average 20% whole cluster

Cooperage/Aging:

Aged for 10 months in French oak, with 48% new, 82% new or once-used barrels

Clonal Selection:

Pommard, Wadenswil, 115

Bottling:

Bottled 9/5/2005

Bottling Analyses:

14.5% alcohol, 3.64 pH, and 5.8 g/L TA

Cases Produced:

1,446 six-bottle cases

Suggested Retail:

$60

Release Date:

February 2007

Winemaker's Comments

If I always want elegance from this wine, this is a year to remember. This is all about restraint, complexity, lightness, and richness, beginning with perfectly extracted moderate color depth and palate density, with lifted red fruit in a deeply complex nose, punctuated with subtle rock/earth notes. On the palate the sweet, red fruit continues, integrated with very nice oak tones. As always, the texture and palate feel says it all, with an elegant, but lush impression, a mile-long finish, and the sense that the complex, lighter style allowed you to see every nuance the fruit created.

Quotes

Wine Spectator, November 15, 2006, Harvey Steiman: 92. Lithe and spicy, with distinctive cinnamon and floral overtones to the vibrant raspberry and red cherry flavors that echo on the persistent finish. A graceful wine with miles to go...

Pinot Report, April 2007: 92. Medium ruby color; deep, earthy aromas with dusty cherry and herbal notes; deep, rich, dusty cherry flavors with earthy, herbal notes; sweet oak, good structure and balance; long finish. Deep and complex with a great core of cherry fruit — great for grilled meats.

The Wine Advocate, June 2006, Pierre Rovani: 89. ...The 2004 Pinot Noir Reserve is excellent. Its waxy black cherry, floral aromatics are followed by a medium to full-bodied core of silky black fruits. This expansive, expressive wine is suave, plump, and generous...

International Wine Cellar, May/June 2006, Josh Raynolds: 88. Light red. Bright, spicy red berries on the nose, with exotic notes of dried flowers and anise. Fresh and lively in the mouth, with medium weight and strong fruit flavors of pepper-laced cherry and red plum. Ther's good lift to this wine's finishing flavors of cherry preserves and bitter chocolate.