2019 Marine Sedimentary Pinot Noir

93 Points - Vinous

AVA: Chehalem Mountains

SOIL TYPE: Marine Sedimentary

PRODUCTION: 434 cases bottled

Site Characteristics:While this wine falls outside of our normal winemaking pattern since it is from an assemblage of vineyards as opposed to one specific vineyard site, it still retains the idea of place as important in the overall context. The approach to bottling certainly began with the same philosophical principles we apply to our vineyard designated wines. Ribbon Ridge is a small hillside stretch winding up against a steep, narrow valley that essentially winds its way out to the Oregon Coast. This valley was created thousands of years ago when a huge flood rolled through leaving this area under water for a considerable period of time. The eastern side of the valley’s hills generally face south and southwest at elevations of up to around 600 feet. With the Chehalem Mountains to our east, the Dundee Hills to the south and the Coast Range only a few miles to the west this is an isolated area where you can often times actually see the weather systems go around us in a variety of directions. This little area has its own microclimate. But what truly sets it apart is the soil. The years of being under water created a soil classification known as Marine Sedimentary of which there are several sub-classifications. This is a talc-y, dry soil set atop a sandstone sub-soil. Drainage is nearly instantaneous and special efforts have to be made to aerate, feed and nurture the soil so as to promote more moisture retention. Since we do not believe in irrigating our vineyards, we have needed to be very proactive in addressing the relationship between soil management and vine health that is an everyday part of farming in Ribbon Ridge.