Vercingetorix Pinot Noir Reserve 2008

100 % Pinot Noir
Vineyard Source: Willamette Farms/ Hall Family Vineyard
Harvest Dates: October 22, 2008 Brix at Harvest: 23.9
Alcohol: 13.5% TA: 6.1gjL pH: 3.65
54 cases produced: $25.00 per bottle.
Silver Medal Award: 3rd Annual Oregon Wine Awards

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Winemaking: Destemmed without crushing into one-ton open top fermentors. Cold soaked for seven days at 50F, followed by direct innoculation of must. Punched down by hand two to three times a day during fermentation which reached a maximum temperature of 90F. Total extraction time of 21 days on the skins. Lots were pressed off at between 0 and 2 brix then settled for 3 days before transfering to oak barrels where primary fermentation completed. A small amount of clean lees from the settling tank were added to each barrel. Secondary fermentation occured naturally with resident flora the following Spring. The barrels were racked once in August 2009, once during Spring 2010 and again before bottling in Sept. 2010. Total barrel aging time of 22 months in 50% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in Sept. 2010.

Tasting Notes: This limited production reserve is the result of hand selecting two premium barrels of wine from an already exceptional 2008 vintage. The fermented wine was held an additional year on oak to extract more intense and complex flavors with integrated tannins. Look for bright cherry aromas up front with mid-palate flavors of raspberries, baked apples and boysenberries, and a lingering, silky finish. This is an elegant bodied Pinot Noir with a garnet color. There are spicy, complex aromas of eucalyptus, kirsch liqueur and raspberry. Upon tasting, undertones smoke, plum, newly turned earth, black cherry and boysenberry. There are firm structured tannins, but the finish is smooth with hints of molasses, baked apples and butterscotch. The wine is built for long aging potential, and will be at it's best in 5-10 years.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with salmon, game, roasted meats.