Elevation: 280’–360’ Yrs Age: 14 –32 Acres: 5
This vineyard is named for the underlying outcrop of rock ridging perpendicularly to the hillside. Outcrop overlooks our original vineyard. The five acres of Pinot here were planted to Wadenswil clone between 1982 and 2000. The elevation runs from 280’ up to 360’ and faces north north-east. In spite of the northern exposure, reflected heat from the Original Vines planting warms the site.
Our five vineyards are all remarkable examples of Pinot noir in the Willamette Valley. Not only has each been farmed organically since inception, each vineyard contains ungrafted, pre-Phylloxera plantings that are vanishingly rare in the world of wine.
These five cuvées are produced identically, with the same fermentation regimes of wild yeast and small fermentation vessels, followed by aging in blends of cooperage with 12% new oak in each. The result is a fascinating journey up the Dundee Hills, from our lowest elevation Sisters vineyard at 220’ up to our highest elevation Daphne vineyard at 860’. Each wine reflects facets of soil, site, exposure, and vine age that together capture a precise portrait of how variations in place can influence Pinot noir.
2016 started off with a warm, wet March, and continued with warmer than
average temperatures throughout the spring and summer. Fortunately, the
extra water early in the year prevented the vines from experiencing
drought stress in the summer. As we coasted through a warm summer, we
prepared for a harvest more than a month ahead of what we’d consider
normal. In September, just as harvest started, moderate temperatures
moved in. With cooler weather, fruit ripened at a leisurely pace. This
provided winemakers an unhurried opportunity to choose their fruit for
perfect ripeness.
