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The 2007 growing season began in promising fashion with a relatively mild spring. We had light to moderate rainfall and a brief heat spike at the end of May just prior to bloom, which began in early June. Conditions were ideal during flowering, with temperatures moderate and almost no rain. We had a brief heat spell in early July (with temperatures over 100oF for a couple of days) but then almost all of August was cool and overcast. The hot, drying east wind kicked in for a few days in early September, but then we had a return to overcast and cool. We even had a week in mid-September that was cold and drizzly. By September 20th we were watching forecasts that predicted an extended period of heavy rain beginning at the end of the month, so, even though we would have ideally waited a little longer, we began the harvest and brought in as much as we could as fast as we could. Between September 20th and 29th we did about 85% of our total harvest under mostly ideal conditions – cool mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. We did have some heavy rain overnight on the 27th, but kept going on the 28th and 29th during cool and sprinkly conditions. We finally had to stop after receiving almost an inch of rain on the 30th. As predicted, the weather did turn unfavorable after that – we had about 2” of rain between September 30th and October 4th, had small window of dry weather on the 5th and 6th to finish up the harvest, then it stayed cool and wet (over 4” of rainfall) until almost the end of October. Ultimately, we were very happy that we had made the decision to pick rather than wait, as many winemakers did, for a return to good weather and further ripening. 2007 was one of those years in which that just didn’t happen; had we left the grapes out in those three weeks of cold and wet they would have been at severe risk of mold and rot, and the wines would have turned out thin, light, and dilute. Because bloom had been a little earlier than usual and we had had good conditions during the growing season, we did have enough hang time for good development and maturity even though we picked a few days earlier than we may have had the weather not forced our hand. And the wines are turning out to be very nice. Our 2007 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is delicate and elegant – soft, supple, harmonious, and already showing layers of complexity. Flavors and aromas are of mocha, black cherry, and raspberry, and our distinctive Jory soil forest-floor earthiness is beginning to show through. It’s drinking beautifully now after only about five months in the bottle and should age well and develop additional complexity for at least the next five to ten years.
Grape Variety/Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir
Age of Vines: 7-9 years old
Case Production: 6111 Cases
Alcohol: 14.50
Length/Type of Fermentation: One-ton and three-ton open top fermenters, punched down 3 times/day
Fermentation Temperature: ~80 Deg. F
Length/Type of Aging: 100% barrel aged, 16 months in barrels, 44% new barrels
Date Wine was Bottled: March 2009
Food pairings: Rosemary Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, Duck Breast, Lamb Stew
