2007 Pinot Noir, cellar update

Jon and I sampled the ’07 Sophie and Kelsey Pinots this weekend and thought it would be a good idea to share the findings with you….

First, some background about the climatic differences between the ‘07 and ’06 vintages - the '06 harvest being one that resulted in the multiple award-winning ’06 Sophie and Kelsey Edition Pinots.

’06 was about as good as it gets in the northern Willamette Valley.  The middle weeks of September were unusually warm with the grapes picking up almost one Brix (roughly equivalent to a percent) sugar every other day - unusually fast maturation.  Our structured sampling and assaying program resulted in Purple Cow being among the first to harvest in the Forest Grove area with harvest taking place between the 24th and the 26th of September. The grapes were harvested at 24.7 Brix and a pH of 3.19 –a perfect combination of high sugars and high acidity.

’07 was the coldest summer since we have been keeping records at the vineyard. Harvest was delayed until the second week of October with the grapes at 21.5 Brix and a pH of 3.5 –much lower sugars and acidity; a result of the constant rain. Our winemaking knowledge was tested with this vintage, requiring the use of techniques such as concentration of must, the addition of small amounts of sugars prior to fermentation (chaptalization) and a reassessing of our cooperage choices. Even then, we were worried, knowing full well that a few winemakers turned some of their ’07 Pinot Noir into Rosé –that’s how ‘soft’ the ’07 vintage could be.

We’re happy to report that our ’07 is progressing beautifully…..our efforts paid off and we’re very, very pleased with how it’s tasting right now, even before the last three months of barrel aging and the warm days of summer which will result in additional concentration as water evaporates from the barrels.

The Kelsey in particular was quite the revelation, with the wonderful dark berry, plum and licorice nose and palate that characterizes our Pinots along with a surprisingly spicy finish –a much more structured, complex and refined wine than we thought we could get from the ’07 grapes.

We increased the % of new oak on the Sophie Edition as it tasted a bit more ‘citrusy’ than we liked, though again, were very favorably impressed with it.

We definitely look forward to bringing these wines to you….Galo.