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2005 Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard Release Date: 5/26/07 Retail Price: $28.00 Availability: 534 cs. Production Notes Temperance Hill Vineyard is located in the hills formed by an ancient volcanic uplift ten miles northwest of Salem, Oregon. The Pinot noir grapes come from the eastern edge of the vineyard, that was planted in 1984 on thin weathered basalt at an average elevation of 720'. The grapes were fermented in a small tank after one day of cold maceration. The wine aged for 16 months in 32% new French oak barrels and was bottled without fining or filtration. A small amount of sediment may accumulate during the aging process and is normal for wine produced in this manner. Crop Level: 1.8 tons/acre Harvest: 10/15/05 Bottled: February 2007 This Pinot noir complements grilled meat entrees - salmon, lamb chops, pork tenderloin and filet. When served young, this wine is best if allowed to breathe for 1-2 hours. It is drinkable at release or will benefit from aging up to 5 years. Winemaker Notes Situated at 723' atop the Eola Hills, this is our coolest and latest ripening vineyard. The vineyard is managed by Dai Crisp, one of Oregon's great grapegrowers, and is farmed organically. We have two blocks: one high on an east facing ridge, the other slightly lower and facing south. We have a new block at Temperance Hill that will come into production in 2007. It lies on a sheltered south facing hill just to the north of Bethel Heights Vineyard's Flat Block. It consists of two different Pinot noir clones planted on phyloxera resistant rootstock at three times the density of our old plantings. I believe this block will become one of the best at Temperance Hill. Look for the first wine in 2009. Bloom was late in 2005, meaning that we would not pick until October. A summer of dry warm, but not hot weather, was followed by a moderate, but dry September. The vines were water stressed and in need of rain. On September 30th it finally rained, 2.5 inches over three days. We were blessed with moisture (in abundance) and that was followed by adequate sun over the next two weeks. This allowed the plants to come back into water balance and complete the final ripening phase of flavor development. All of our sites ripened within a few days of each other and this was our most compressed harvest on record. Tasting Notes The 2005 Temperance Hill is a deep ruby red. It has a dense and rich aroma of black cherries and dried, chocolate covered cherries with hints of lilac and other purple flowers. With air, the aromas liven and become sweet. Red and black fruits dominated the palate with spice and earth notes. I am struck by the depth of the 2005 Temperance Hill. The complexity in this wine reminds me more of Shea. During my initial tasting, I allowed a bottle to sit on the table for 10 days (60% full). Expecting it to be shot, my wife and I were amazed at the layers of flavors, fresheness, and pleasure in the bottle. This Temperance Hill will open significantly over the next six months and should evolve over a decade. When I fire up the barbecue, this is the wine I serve. It matches perfectly with grilled meats, vegies and potato salad (my favorite summer meal). It is also a wonderful match with grilled salmon. Back to top of page