2015 J. Christopher Sandra Adele Pinot Noir

Named for Jay’s mother Sandy, this cuvee is a blend of two special sites in the Dundee Hills AVA: Abbey Ridge and Charlie’s Vineyard. The Dundee Hills AVA is defined by a chain of hills created by a combination of volcanic activity and tectonic shifts. The area is noted for its red volcanic Jory soils, which provide optimal drainage for grapes. Located about 45km southwest of Portland and 65km inland from the Oregon coast, this growing area is protected from severe weather by the Coast Range. It gets about 760-1140mm of rain per year, most of which falls outside the growing season. This wine tends to combine the elegant, floral character of the high-elevation Abbey Ridge vineyard with the deeper, earthier facets of Charlie’s Vineyard. Some 90% of the fruit came from Abbey Ridge in 2015, with the balance from Charlie’s Vineyard. Soils are volcanic and the clones are Pommard, Wadenswil and Coury. These dry-grown vines are between 17 and 35 years of age, and were harvested between September 17th and 24th with a yield of 2.5 tonnes per acre. The bunches were 100% destemmed and fermented with native yeasts, with unforced malolactic conversion to follow. The wine spent 18 months in barriques (25% new) and was bottled without fining or filtration.