AVA: Ribbon Ridge LOCATION: North Valley Rd.
ELEVATION: 450’ SOIL TYPE: Wellsdale
CLONAL MATERIAL: Pommard YEAR PLANTED:1990
VINEYARD SIZE: 30-acre vineyard, 1.0-acre block
VINIFICATION: 40% whole cluster fermentations in a 2.5 ton open top fermenter.
PICKING DATE:9/29/18 TONS/ACRE:1.95
OWNERS: Patricia Green Cellars PRODUCTION: 12 Bottles
*Wine Club Only
Winemaking and Notes:The Bonshaw Block is on the southwest-facing slope of the estate hillside, and its significance to the winery is now multifold. This was the block that produced the highest quality fruit off of the entire Estate Vineyard in our first year of production in 2000. Based on that alone this little 1.25ish acre block would be something that we hold as a significant place in our lives. However, as time has gone on and that block has entered full vine maturity the quality of the fruit and resulting wines have only continued to improve. Little did we realize that this improvement was on such a track that we would produce a wine from the 2016 vintage that would become the first Pinot Noir from Oregon to ever garner a perfect 100 score from a major, national wine publication. This isn’t why we do what we do, but a little positive affirmation that happens to be exclusive to our winery is nice.
This bottling has always stood out to us because it showcases the best aspects of all the best blocks, young vine and old vine alike, and show them off together. In this way this block is the nexus of our vineyard. Dark red fruit, earth, mineral, spice, suppleness, structure are all represented in this wine, especially as it changes and evolves both in the bottle over time and in the glass when poured out. The 2018 is a classic. It is, at least, the equal of the 2016 bottling. It combines the intensity and structure of the vintage with savage fruit and great structure. A completely unique and amazing wine. In short, this is one stunning and hedonistic bottle of Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir.