Wine Notes > Pinot Noir > Previous Release

1998 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noir

(updated 11/10/00)

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

The Wine

This wine is the second commercially released vineyard-specific wine from Stoller Vineyards, the newest of our three estate vineyards and technologically a cutting edge vineyard.

This is a big, dark, soft, deeply fruited pinot noir, carrying a brooding smoke and earth richness and complexity that belies the vineyard's age. This single vineyard designate is predominantly from its oldest planting of Dijon fruit and provides great ripeness with decent acid backbone. Early on look to a relatively tight, smoky nose that evolves with time and, with a soft palate, becomes sensually accessible.

Flashy, but not a strumpet. Only 450 cases made from the second vineyard designate vintage.

Stats

Almost exclusively Dijon 114 & 115 clonal fruit (94%) from a medium density 1995 planting, harvested 9/29/98 at 1.7 tons/acre @23.8 brix, 6.5 g/L acid and 3.37 pH; fermented with BRG yeast in a 14 day fermentation, including a 5 day pre-maceration with pectolytic enzyme; acidulated 0.5 g/L; aged in 56% new French oak and 75% new plus 1 year old oak from 6 coopers for 10 months with one racking; eggwhite fined, with no filtration; Bottled 9/22/99 @ 0.03% residual sugar, 13.8% alcohol, 5.1 g/l acid, 3.71 pH. 450 cases made.

Quotes

winetoday.com, September 2000: Comments: The oak is a bit overpowering now, but this wine has all the right elements to age well. General Qualities: medium-full bodied, moderately complex, dry, balanced acidity, strong oak impression, modest tannins. Color: ruby Aromas: coffee, dried herbs, raspberry jam, toast, tobacco Flavors: black cherry, cedar, raspberry, spicy Other descriptors: concentrated, long finish

Northwest Palate, September 2000: highly recommended. Garnet color. Chocolaty, toasty aroma of black fruits. Concentrated black cherry flavors balance spicy oak and ripe, youthful tannins. Well balanced with a long, juicy finish and blackcherry aftertaste. Serve with a pan-seared duck breast or cellar up to five years.

Randall Caparoso, Contributor, Robin Garr's Wine Lover's Page, and Wine Buyer for Roy's Restaurants. Chehalem's owner, Harry Peterson-Nedry, and his winemaker Cheryl Francis, have been on a roll of recent,and this year's crop pulls out all the stops - the smoky, spicy (like incense and peppermint) Pinot perfume leaping from the glass, and the velvety layers of firm yet juicy fruit draping across the palate with suggestions of dark berry liqueurs and cigars. A Pinot to inhale!

Wine Spectator, September 2000: 91 Points. Remarkable for its pure, focused, fruit flavors. A glowing core of raspberry, cherry and red plum notes remain rich and harmonious through the velvety finish. Seductive already.