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2007 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Villages Cuvée Release Date: 3/1/2009 Retail Price: $ 22/bottle Availability: 2043 cases Production Notes The 2007 Pinot noir, Villages Cuvée is a blend of grapes from Vitae Springs, Freedom Hill, and Zenith Vineyards located in the northern Willamette Valley. The grapes were fermented in small tanks after one or two days of cold maceration. The wine aged for 13 months in 20% new French oak barrels and was bottled without fining and filtration. Crop Level 1.2 to 2.7 tons/acreHarvest Mid-Oct., 2007 Bottled January 2009 This Pinot noir complements red meat, cheese, and rich fish entrees and is ready to drink or can be aged up to 5 years.
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Winemaker Notes
Oregon vineyards were originally planted on their 'own roots'. European grape vines, unlike American vines, have no inherent resistance to damage by the root louse phyloxera. This root louse survives by feeding on the small roots of grape vines. Damage to the small root allows secondary infections to enter the vine resulting in its death. There is no way to save infected vines short of replanting with grafted vines - european (vitus vinifera) tops and american vine roots.
Many of St. Innocent's vineyard sources have phyloxera. As we replant, the early crops have lovely fruit charactoristics, but little sense of terroir. The wines made from young vines will not be blended with older vines from our best vineyards. Our solution is to blend these 'first crops' with a consistent Pinot noir base wine from Vitae Springs Vineyard producing a Willamette Valley blend. Given the extent of our replanting efforts, the amount of Willamette Valley Pinot noir will increase in the coming vintages.
2007 was one of the more challenging harvests in the past decade. The season began early with sunny and dry weather in May and June. Bloom was about a week earlier than normal indicating that we would expect to begin picking in late September. The crop level was thinned significantly in late July targeting yields of between 2.1 and 2.7 tons per acre for Pinot noir.
September was cooler than normal and the cool weather continued into October. Intermittent rains slowed maturity and increased the risk of rot. Sunny periods between the rain events allowed the critical process of ripening and flavor development to continue. The tension mounted as waited and prayed for sun watching the acids soften, the tannin sweeten, and the flavors gain complexity. The first grapes were finally picked on October 5th, ten days later than expected. By October 15th, all of the fruit was picked, making 2007 our shortest harvest. The extended hang time produced exceptional white wines and complex, layered Pinot noirs.
The 2007 Villages Cuvée is primarily from a blend of new and old Pinot noir blocks at Vitae Springs Vineyard. There are two slightly different lots of the Villages Cuvée. In Oregon and through the tasting room, the 'VC' is entirely Vitae Springs Vineyard. The VC sold in other US markets contains 80% of the above lot, 10% estate fruit (Zenith Vineyard) and 10% of a blend of fourth leaf fruit from Freedom Hill and old Pinot noir vines from Vitae Springs.
Tasting notes
The 2007 Villages Cuvée Pinot noir has a vibrant nose of freshly cut flowers, bright red fruit and sweet spices. Cherry and red berry flavors are layered with freshly ground pie spices and a core of minerality. Medium ruby and elegant in a Beaune Villages style, the '07 reflects the vintage's nuanced and more elegant layered structure. Bottled in January '09, it will benefit from being opened several hours and can be aged up to 5 years to gain added complexity.
Mark Vlossak, winemaker