AVA: Dundee Hills
LOCATION: Breyman Orchards Rd.
ELEVATION: 600-650’
SOIL TYPE: Jory
YEAR PLANTED: 1990
CLONAL MATERIAL: 100% Pommard
VINEYARD SIZE: 6.45-acre vineyard
VINIFICATION: 1.75-ton open-top fermenters done with a variety of fermentations ranging from 0-100% whole cluster and 1 x 2.5 ton fermenter with 40% whole clusters
PICKING DATE: 10/02/19
TONS/ACRE: 1.91
OWNERS: Joyce Cooke
MANAGED/FARMED BY: Patricia Green Cellars
PRODUCTION: 390 cases bottled
PICKING DATE: 10/05/18 TONS/ACRE: 2.12
OWNERS: Joyce Cooke
MANAGED/FARMED BY: Patricia Green Cellars
Winemaking and Notes: The fermentations of the four blocks (1A, 2A, 2B and 3) were done with a variety of whole cluster percentages mostly ranging from 0-60% although the fruit from Block 2A was done as 100% whole cluster which is our normal method of fermentation with this block. All cuvees went through a standard cold soak of about 5-6 days, fermented in either 1.75 or 2.5-ton open-top fermenters and were pigeaged 1x/day until dry. It was then pressed and allowed to settle for 3 days at which point the wine went to barrel.
This wine saw just over 12% new barrels and another 50% came from once and twice used barrels of the 16 selected for this bottling. As mentioned earlier, there are five sections of the Balcombe Vineyard. Four of the sections are used to create the Balcombe Vineyard bottling. The section called 1B is separated out into a different bottling. The Balcombe Vineyard bottling is certainly the quintessential Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Ever since its first bottling in 2000 this wine has been about how the texture and the flavor co-mingle to deliver the EXPERIENCE. This has an irresistible silky texture without being soft or cloying. The manner in which the flavors are delivered are the key component to this wine’s complexity. This wine is consistently floral on the nose with subtle elements of red-fruit and smoked meat. Over the years the wine has become darker, denser and more complex upon release due to its vine age our experience with the site and the quality of equipment.
It has a sneaky ageability to it since it has an approachable-when-young nature to it, but it is age-worthy due to its balance of fruit intensity, structure and acidity. Drink it for its lovely, youthful nature or save it and it will be a delicious treat 10+ years into the future. Either way you cannot lose.