ArtisanWineDepot.com

Notes From The Winemaker:

Black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and anise open the bouquet, gradually giving way to raspberries, royal anne cherries, and orange zest. The palate opens with pure black cherries framed by bright, juicy acidity and fine grain tannins. The wines of 2009 are expressing their fruit early, but we believe this wine has the structure and acidity to age gracefully for 10-15 years.

Harvest dates: October 1-20, 2009
Grapes at harvest:
Brix : 23 - 24.5, pH: 3.1 - 3.4 TA: 6.2 - 8.5 gr/liter
Finished wine: Alcohol 13.6 %, pH 3.59, TA: 5.3 g/L
Barrel aged 11 months in French oak, 30% new barrels
3231 cases produced; bottled September 20, 2010

The 2009 Vintage
The Willamette Valley was warm and sometimes hot during the summer, with a couple of extraordinary heat spikes. September was atypically sunny and warm. October continued dry, but cool enough to extend hang time without losing balance in the fruit. The grapes were harvested during the first three weeks of October, with great acidity and full flavor development.

---

92 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Light in texture and weight, but shows real presence with its strawberry and cherry fruit, with cinnamon and talcum overtones. Finishes with refinement and grace. Drink now through 2019."—H.S. (Aug 3, 2011)

91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2008 vintage):
"The 2008 Pinot Noir Estate Grown is a bit darker in color with an expansive, spicy bouquet, cherry, and black raspberry aromas leading to a wine with excellent concentration, layers of fruit, and enough ripe tannin to evolve for 2-3 years. This well-balanced, lengthy wine will be at its best from 2012 to 2020." - Jay Miller (Oct 2010)

90 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2008 vintage):
"Ruby-red.  Pungent, floral-accented aromas of cherry-cola and dark berries, with a sexy note of Indian spices emerging with air.  Fleshy and smooth, with sappy dark berry flavors and notes of allspice and black cardamom.  This very suave pinot finishes with strong thrust and sweet persistence." - Josh Raynolds (Jul/Aug '11)

---