It's never too early to taste wine! That is, our 2015 Pinot Noir has only been in barrel for two months and we're already smelling and tasting fantastic aromas and flavors. I took the opportunity this past weekend to decant our two 2015 Pinot Noir's and am very ecstatic about their progress!
Decanting is the method of pouring wine from one container into another in order to aerate and/or separate naturally occurring sediment. Aeration helps form esters (aromas) that would otherwise be hidden from sensory perception.
However not all wines should be decanted; aged wines can be close to their oxygen saturation limit and should only be decanted to remove sediment. But we're drinking young 2015 Oregon Pinot Noir! So needless to say, these wines need a lot of oxygen in order to "open up".
Barrel tasting is more than simply enjoying the fruits of our labor; it is an important part of the maturation process that hints of what's to come. We look for predominant aromas, including those that indicate trouble inside the barrel. Taking detailed tasting notes is critical because the sensory analysis can help us decide if adjustments need to be made.
When tasting, it's important to remember the 5S system: Sight, Swirl, Smell, Sip, Savor. Wine can show you the condition it is in simply on the color. A redder wine typically has more acid and will be fresher, fruitier, slower to age, less complex, and lighter bodied. Darker red wines (purple to brown) will be more complex, have more body, but will not age as well (Port being the exception).
Swirling, smelling, and sipping go hand in hand since taste is related to smell. The slight aeration helps release aromas so we can dissect the nose of wine. How is the after taste? You're tasting acid if you are salivating, and tannin if your mouth is drying.
Finally the savor - how long does it last? Do you want to take another sip, or does the flavor linger for more than 5 minutes?
Our Wädenswil came from young three year old vines, which seem to be quite expressive early in their life! They were harvested at 24 °Brix, 3.5 pH, and 6 TA.
Conclusion: An excellent start for a young wine. Strong aromas of honey and cherry to start, followed by artificial candies by hours three and four. No faults detected, crisp clear ruby color, on track to become a very palatable wine.
This Willamette Valley 2015 Pinot Noir blend is coming out of the gate with a high ABV, smooth acid, deep color, and a lot of complex aromas!
Conclusion: On track to become a bold and complex wine - no faults detected. Will need more time in barrel than the Wädenswil. Sweet and sultry aromas are contrast with a smooth and cool cherry sip - could be party favorite!
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It's been awhile since we've put out an update, things have been busy! We hope everyone is beating the heat right now! Although oppressive, this warm weather is treating the grapes just right. The vines over at Jesse Estate Vineyards recently showed the first signs of veraison - which is when the clusters turn color and the vine pumps them full of sugar. Veraison is the last major step before harvest, based on averages harvest comes 30-45 days after veraison hits. That said, it looks like the 2018 harvest will come in at the end of September! We're looking forward to working with more great fruit from Jesse Estate!
With that, we're happy to share that we are crushing this year at Laurel Ridge winery. We are fortunate that they had space open up at the last second for us to move in to. Interested in participating in a crush? We may need help processing fruit, so if you'd like to get your hands dirty then let us know! Reply back to this email with your contact info and we'll stay in touch!
However - we are not pouring out of their tasting room, instead we are working with Urban Decanter in Forest Grove to pour our wines on Sunday and by appointment. The details have to be finalized with the OLCC, but we should be cleared hot come October.
In keeping with our slogan "wine with a mission" we are donating 15% of our sales from the Memorial Day weekend to the Returning Veterans Project!
The Returning Veterans Project is a non-profit based out of Portland, OR with a mission to provide free, confidential mental and physical health services to post-9/11 war zone veterans, service members, and their families in Oregon and Southwest Washington. RVP also hosts regular events for Veterans as well as clinics and other services. They are a fantastic organization that deserve recognition for their efforts. We are proud to support them and their mission!