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2009 Pinot Noir, Justice Vineyard
Release Date: 5/28/2011 Price: $50 Production: 406 cases Production Notes: The grapes were fermented in a small tank after two days of cold maceration. The wine aged for 16 months in 35% new French oak barrels and was bottled by gravity without fining. Crop Level 3.2 tons/ acre This Pinot noir complements a wide variety of rich meat and vegetable dishes, especially those with grilled or spicy preparations. When served young, this wine is best opened 1-2 hours before serving . It is drinkable at release and will benefit from aging up to 8 years.
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Winemaker Notes
Justice Vineyard is located just over the east ridge of the Eola-Amity Hills just south of Bethel Heights Winery. Planted in 2001 at 500' in elevation on a southeast slope of thin volcanic soil, the vineyard faces the Cascade Mountains. These grapes come from a 2.33 acre block in the NW corner of the vineyard. It is a state-of-the-art, vertical canopy, high density planting of Pinot noir clone 777 and is farmed by one of Oregon's best grapegrowers, Ted Casteel. Our first vintage was in 2004.
I consider it to be a blessing to access fruit from Justice Vineyard. I have asked counsel regarding grape growing problems from Ted Casteel for years. To make wine from fruit grown by him is a gift.
2009 was an unusual vintage. Normally, the fruit grown in the northern Willamette Valley is fairly uniform in character over the 40 or so miles from the north end in the Chehalem Mountain AVA to the area just south of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This was not true in 2009.
The northern AVA's (Yamhill-Carlton, Dundee, and Ribbon Ridge) experienced significant cluster dehydration and lower acidity yielding intense and very fruit-dominated wines. AVA's to the south (McMinnville and Eola-Amity Hills) harvested 7-10 days later, had no significant dehydration and normal acidities, producing exceptionally balanced wines.
Tasting Notes
Great vineyard locations produce wines that transcend the difficulties of a vintage. By this definition, Justice is a great vineyard. Although only in its ninth leaf, this wine has a breadth of texture and flavor layers that indicate very great potential for this site as the vines achieve maturity.
The 2009 Justice Vineyard Pinot noir has a nose of that is dominated by nutmeg, ginger, cardamon and cassis notes with raspberry and anise notes underneath. Its lighter color belies the textural density from the moment this wine touches you palate. Mixed fruits dominate the entry framed by detailed spice and light floral notes. Best described as elegantly complex, it is seductive without being cloying or heavy and possesses great finesse and charm.
Justice Pinot noir is a great match for traditional Burgundy dishes: Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourguignon, Oeufs en Meurette, as well as wild birds and game, sausages, mushroom and a wide variety of risottos. Drink over the next few years or age up to a decade and watch it evolve.
Mark Vlossak, winemaker