Oregon 2008: Keep

Fresh, elegant, balanced Pinot Noir with fully developed flavours from those winemakers who reduced yields and harvested latest. Good ageing potential.

Weather Conditions

Cold, late winter, then the coolest spring weather for quarter of a century – March and April were both several degrees below normal. Bud-break was delayed, up to four weeks in places, and flowering late and fragile.

Summer was cool too. Anticipating a struggle for ripeness many growers dramatically reduced yield, dropping bunches, to ensure remaining fruit gained sufficient concentration and flavours. Rainfall wasn’t excessive and mildew posed little problem, but as September arrived progress was still three weeks behind schedule.

Alarmed by early September rain, some growers panic-picked the vineyards, bringing in under-ripe berries. The more daring held out, and were rewarded with warm, dry October days and chilly nights, the perfect combination for full Pinot Noir ripening. Winemakers could pick when they wanted, typically starting early October.

An historic frosty spell 9-12 October had variable impact since most wineries had picking covered. Overall Pinot Noir yield was down 10-20% on normal.

Best Appellations

When ripening at last took off, the coolish daytime temperatures kept sugar levels from shooting up too quickly. It meant the fruit could hang for longer than otherwise, all the while gaining complex flavours and retaining acidity.

The best wines (from right across Willamette Valley and high-elevation sites within Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley) are fresh, well-balanced, elegant, with moderate alcohol and firm structure. Age will improve them, when they’ll become more complex and exciting, though you may have to wait a year or two longer than usual.

Quality across the AVAs is pretty much uniform, and it will be those producers who reduced yield early and dared to delay their harvesting who will have produced the most harmonious Pinots.

Best Producers

So far: Penner-Ash, Elk Cove, Shea, Trisaetum, Beaux Frères, Drouhin Oregon, Hamacher, Andrew Rich, Domaine Patton Valley, MacMurray Ranch, Bergstrom, Adelsheim, Lange, Ayoub, Owen Roe, Firesteed, Rex Hill, Westrey Wines, Ayres, Criston, J Christopher, Amity, Holloran, Montinore, Brooks, Benton Lane, Lemelson, Soter.

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Oregon 2008: Drink soon

Some great Pinot Noir from the best managed vineyards, combining the prettiness of the 2001s with some of the concentration of the 2005s.

3/5

Weather Conditions

A warmish spring – with ideal fruit set – was followed by cool to moderate conditions throughout summer, with no major heat spikes to cause problems to the thin-skinned Pinot Noir. Healthy, plentiful grapes were able to mature steadily and evenly, although sugars were slower to accumulate.

However, disaster struck just as the grapes were beginning to reach full maturity. The rains came, turning an expected easy harvest into an expensive, labour-intensive one. Between late September and late October up to 20cm of rain fell on and off, causing some growers to panic pick, while others sat it out. Fortunately, cool weather between the downpours helped ward off rot, and the grapes came in mostly sound.

Best Appellations

Although the vintage is likely to favour red fruit flavours over the intense black fruit flavours of the 2006 vintage, producers say many wines have surprising levels of intensity and concentration, as well as finesse from good physiological ripeness and relatively low sugars. These are lively, fragrant wines with higher than usual acid levels and lower alcohol – more cool-climate in character.

The Willamette Valley suffered most from harvest rains and growers here had to make difficult picking decisions. Not everyone got it right, but the results vary from good to very good. In Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys results are more consistent.

Best Producers

Insufficiently tasted as yet, but standouts so far include Beaux Frères, Lachini Vineyards, Domaine Drouhin, Daedalus Cellars, Chehalem, Elk Cove, Evening Land, Et Fille, Pali, Ponzi, Siduri, Hamacher.

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Oregon 2006: Keep

Best wines will be on the lean side with good acidity, very structured flavour profiles – with moderate alcohol and excellent balance

4/5

Weather Conditions

Oregon had the right weather at the right time: a cool-to-warm spring, warm but not searing summer (with brief hot spells in June and September) and cooler, damper weahter in late September staved off excessive alcohol levels.

Best Appellations

Willamette Valley

Best Producers

Ken Wright, Domaine Serene

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Oregon 2005: Keep

Producers in the Willamette Valley say this vintage will be a return to finesse and elegance

3/5

Weather Conditions

After recent vintages that brought warmer weather, early ripeness and higher alcohol, this year’s Oregon wine harvest occurred later than most expected, resulting in cooler temperatures that many winemakers throughout the state say will lead to lower alcohol levels, structured acidity and ideal flavour development.

After one of the driest winters and wettest springs on record in Oregon, the growing season carried on with a warm—not hot—growing season and chilly autumn. Pinot noir producers in the Willamette Valley say this vintage will be a return to finesse and elegance, which has long characterized classic Oregon Pinot noir.

Autumn rains, particularly in the Willamette Valley where Pinot Noir plays the prominent role, were a defining factor of the vintage. In the southern part of the Willamette Valley, some vineyards were able to finish picking before the major rains set in.

Best Appellations

Willamette Valley

Best Producers

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Oregon 2004: Drink soon

Ripe style of Pinot Noir

4/5

Weather Conditions

The year started with a short crop load due to poor weather at set, extreme temperatures the prior vintage, and vineyard growth irregularities in the Willamette Valley, which is the center of Oregon’s Pinot Noir country. Then, growing season heat made 2004 plump and extracted, but with restraint with the average Brix down 1%. Rains in late August and then again in mid-September before most vineyards’ final ripening phase helped the Pinot Noir develop well, assuring nutrient mobility in the vines.

Best Appellations

Willamette Valley

Best Producers

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Oregon 2003: Drink soon

Richly ripe but structured wines

4/5

Weather Conditions

Another dry and another early harvest for Oregon. With 10-13 fewer inches of rain, the winter and spring continued the streak of three low rainfall years. There were a few threats of spring frost but little damage was recorded. Typical July rain showers did not arrive. August turned out to be an unusually warm month, with several hot days by Oregon standards. A few heat spikes ripened the fruit quickly. Harvest was underway by mid-September. As the warm spell continued, wineries had to scramble to pick the fruit before it became over-ripe. Light showers occurred, but most fruit was safely in the cellars by mid-October.

Best Appellations

Willamette Valley, especially mature vineyards at higher elevation sites; Rogue Valley

Best Producers

Domaine Drouhin, Beaux Freres, Rex Hill, Broadley, Ken Wright, Cristom, Ponzi, Erath, Shea, King Estate Reserve

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Oregon 2002: Keep

A particularly good year for Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley—ripe and fruity with balancing acidity

4/5

Weather Conditions

Winter and spring were unusually dry in Oregon resulting in 10-15 inches less than normal rainfall. However, there were no problems during bloom and set, and throughout most of the summer the routine was one of warm days and cool nights. A high pressure pattern which kept rains far off shore also allowed daily temperatures ranging between 40-80o F. In early September, some shriveling of the fruit was observed, causing a few growers to harvest early. Those who waited for rain to perk up the grapes were rewarded when light rains were followed by dry cool weather. Those harvesting in mid to late October produced the better balanced, riper wines. For many, the harvest stretched out over 4-5 weeks.

Best Appellations

Consistent throughout the entire Willamette Valley, also a good vintage in the Rogue Valley

Best Producers

Domaine Serene, Domaine Drouhin, Ken Wright Cellars, Argyle, Ponzi, Sokol Blosser, Torii Mor, Brick House, Elk Cove, Chehalem

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drink soon

Oregon 2001: Drink soon

Soft, fleshy wines that are approachable early

4/5

Weather Conditions

The year started out fairly warm with budbreak in the Willamette Valley on April 10 & 11, right on time. There was no significant rainfall prior to or immediately after budbreak. Bloom was also right on schedule occurring from June 15 – 25. During the remainder of the growing season, temperatures remained moderate. There was 1″ of rainfall recorded 3-4 weeks before harvest which actually provided a welcome drink for the vines and allowing them to go into the final stretch without any problems. Overall, it was almost an ideal growing and ripening weather. With less than an inch of rain during harvest, the fruit came in looking healthy. Yields were slightly above average.

Best Appellations

See best producers below

Best Producers

Best Producers: Chehalem Rion Vineyard, Domaine Drouhin, De Ponte, Ken Wright Cellars, Beaux Freres, Argyle, Ponzi Reserve, Erath Reserve, Elk Cove Reserve, Eyrie, Archery Summit, Domaine Serene

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Oregon 2000: Keep

The 2000 Pinot Noirs may represent Oregon at its typical best. Excellent aging ability.

4/5

Weather Conditions

Usually it is rain either in the spring or during the harvest or both that determines the quality of an Oregon vintage, but 2000 will go down in history as a relatively dry vintage. The critical summer weeks during July and August remained dry and cool and the fruit ripened evenly and unusually well.

Best Appellations

This is the kind of benign year that enables winemakers to act rather than react and gives no advantage to one sub-region over another of the Willamette Valley. The best Pinots show fine color and combine some of the lush forward fruit and suppleness of 1998 with the structure and restraint that ran through the better 1999s. While 1998 begged to be compared to California Pinot and 1999 to Burgundy, the 2000 Pinot Noirs may represent Oregon at its typical best. Excellent aging ability.

Best Producers

Brick House, Beaux Freres, Archery Summit, Torii Mor, Willakenzie

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