2020 Harvest Notes, Plus all 2020 varietals are now shipping

All of the 2020 harvest is in and available for shipment

We are very excited to announce that we have started shipping all of the 2020 grapes. While the harvest conditions were difficult with a pandemic and fires, the quality of the fruit has been stunning. Here are some quick notes and thoughts on our 2020 inventory:

2020 Eola-Amity Hills AVA Chardonnay - Somehow we keep finding ourselves invited into the most prestigious Chardonnay vineyards in the nation. This time we had to sign an NDA, so we can’t share the vineyard name. This Chardonnay has a lower brix and pH than our 2018 RRV California Chardonnay and will produce a complex but decidedly fresh Oregon style Chardonnay.

2020 Lodi Malbec Rosé - Check out the color on this one! This Rosé juice is mostly free run right out of the press, which resulted in wonderful Rosé color and great acidity. We are really looking forward to having sparkling and still Rosé to enjoy all summer.

2020 Willamette Valley Riesling - We are still in love with this consistently rich-flavored old vine Riesling. The Riesling this year is particularly aromatic with hints of honey and apricot. 20.5 brix and 3.2 pH, the numbers are perfect.

2020 Yakima Valley Sauvignon Blanc - Another one of our favorites that we can’t say no to. The vineyard produced a smaller amount of grapes than usual, which resulted in even more concentrated flavors. This Sauv Blanc vineyard produces aromatic juice with rich citrus and gooseberry flavors every year. Blend this with the 2020 Sémillon to craft your very own Bordeaux Blanc style blend. But do it soon, as we expect the Sauvignon Blanc to sell out fast.

2020 Willamette Valley Gewürztraminer - Just like with the Riesling from the same vineyard, we are still in love with this consistently rich-flavored old vine Gewürztraminer. Last year’s Gewürztraminer was perfect in every way, and 2020’s is nearly as good. While slightly less aromatic, 2020 offers more full-bodied flavors.

2020 Walla Walla Valley Sémillon - Grown on one of the elite estates in Walla Walla from their Two Rivers Vineyard, these grapes had always gone into the estate’s wine program until this year. No expense was spared in the care of this vineyard, and the stunning juice that resulted will impress you (especially once you turn that juice into wine). We strongly advise you treat yourself to this Sémillon, and perhaps some Sauvignon Blanc, to craft a Bordeaux Blanc style blend.

2020 Walla Walla Valley Merlot and Syrah - Both of these grapes come from the Pheasant Run Vineyard, which is a part of the same elite estate as the Sémillon. Just as with the Sémillon, the vineyard saw no expense spared. These grapes have also never been available before and have only been used in the estate’s own winemaking program until this point. We expect big color and tannin from both the Merlot and Syrah, while being complimented by rich fruit flavors. Syrah is one of the Walla Walla AVA’s most prized varietals, but the Merlot is equally delicious. Insider tip: The Syrah is selling quite fast and will be sold out very soon.

2020 Rattlesnake Hills Cabernet Franc - Do you like your fruit to have perfect numbers? Then you’ll love this Cabernet Franc! Brix: 24.5, pH: 3.65, TA: .5 Plan for a tiny addition of tartaric to account for a rise in pH after MLF and you’ll be all set. While the numbers are great, the grapes are also showing potent Cabernet Franc varietal expression.

2020 Chehalem Mountains Organic Pinot Noir - Once again, the numbers are perfect, and the Pinot Noir flavors are rich and deep! Brix: 23.5, pH:3.40, TA: 6.9 g/L. These grapes produced the only micro-fermentation test that showed some smoke flavor. It’s very light and we had to tell friends/test subjects the smoke flavor was there for them to taste it. You can also pick your clone (777 or Wädenswil). Both clones will produce a well-structured and delicious Pinot Noir.

2020 Sonoma Petite Sirah, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon - All three of these varietals come from the same vineyard in the Knights Valley. Only a four-minute drive east of this vineyard is the famed Napa Valley - Calistoga AVA. The vineyard itself was originally planted to be crafted as a single estate production. The small blocks of Shiraz and Petite Sirah nestled where the valley meets the hills were intended to be used as blending options to darken and round out wines from the larger planting of Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit showed zero smoke flavor in our micro-fermentations, and tested negative for smoke taint in September. All of the fruit from this vineyard produces huge wines with concentrated flavors. If you like big wines, you’ll love this fruit. You’ll also notice that all three varietals have great pH numbers! We advise that winemakers make an acidulated water addition to bring the brix down to at least 25. Just ask us how to do this, as we are happy to help. You can also use our acidulated water addition calculator. Just click the picture to the right.