The Cliff Notes: Clean, serious and vibrant, this translucent violet Pinot noir delivers high-tone cherry, pepper and grilled meat on the nose. The palate is sour cherry, fresh raspberry, cherry PEZ and watermelon Jolly Rancher with just a hint of rare grilled steak and white pepper. Insanely mineral with very fine front of mouth tannins, this lip smacker will amp your appetite and ultimately remind you that there is no way to eat enough mountain strawberries.

Cases Produced: 777

Vintage: 2007 was a cooler year, diametrically opposed to the heat of 2006, and the wines reflect that linear nuance. Challenging and familiar, like an Oregon vintage out of the 90s, the only way to be rewarded was to be on your game both in the vineyard and in the winery. Those that were up to the task made classically beautiful and non-syrah-esque wines. We were glad that we work with growers who’ve been around that block, and to have seen some of those tricky vintages firsthand.

The building of: Small-lot wild yeast fermentations, 100% barrel aged for 18 months, 21% new/25% one year/11% two year/43% neutral. Bottled, unfined and unfiltered in February of 2008.

Ageability: This wine is balanced, but linear. It has acid and minerality at it’s core, which bodes well for ageing.  We absolutely recommend that you consider decanting to get it some air within its first three years. We expect it to climb in complexity through a minimum of five years, and because of its lithe frame, you will be more likely to readily experience those changes.

Alcohol: 13%

pH: 3.52

Vineyards: Shea Vineyard (10 years) brought ripe dark fruit, Temperance Hill (28 years) old-vine complexity, Eola Hills (9 years) centrist cherry, Gemini Vineyard (16 years) moving red, Momtazi (9 years) hi-tone and spice, Black Walnut (5 years) earth, Anderson Family Vineyard (17 years) savory and structure.