vinification

   Hand-harvested. Grapes were destemmed followed by a 3-5 day soak before fermentation. Fermenters received twice-daily pump overs for 12-18 days. Gently pressed and settled before aging in French oak barrels for 12 months prior to bottling.

region

   Willakenzie Series, formed 8,000 feet below the ocean surface, is the best-known sedimentary soil in the Willamette Valley. Exposed when tectonic upheaval lifted the seabed and created the Cascade Mountains, these dusty, mustard-tinted soils are responsible for making powerful, complex wines. With very little water retention, vines are forced to establish extraordinarily deep roots systems in search of water. The resulting wines are inherently age-worthy with dense dark fruit, violet floral aromas and sweet spice and tobacco aromas common signature elements.

vintage

   The 2021 Oregon growing season and harvest will always be recalled with a sigh of relief. The year delivered an outstanding rebound vintage after the heartbreaking fires that impacted the region on so many levels the year before. 2021 was not without its challenges, though. Heavy rain in late June during the critical pollination period impacted yields in some areas by as much as 50%, and the hot and dry summer that followed was a tense reminder of the conditions that preceded the fires in 2020. But in the end, fruit came through the door beautifully ripe, balanced and perfectly positioned for minimal intervention on the part of winemakers. Across the board, the wines showed the intensity and richness of color one would expect from a warmer year, but perhaps the most striking characteristic was the nearly perfect retention of natural acidity.