current release
2021 yamhill-carlton INCLINE pinot noir
winemaker notes
Another wine of immense concentration from our Yamhill-Carlton estate. Tantalizing sweet fruit on the nose is almost sappy in its intensity, showing ripe cherry, cooked blackberry, and black currant. It is complemented by pencil shavings and exhaust as the wine has time to open. The palate is brooding, with a dark, masculine profile. Round tannin, full body, and balanced acid promise a wine that will age elegantly for 10 years.
winemaking details
In 2021 we did a 100% whole cluster native ferment. The average fermentation time was 13 days in stainless steel vessels. This wine was aged on lees for 11 months in 50% new oak barrels, split between Taransaud French oak barrels and Kádár Hungarian oak barrels. Alcohol of 14.9%.
vintage notes
We kicked off harvest on August 30th and wrapped up Chardonnay the first week of September. By mid-September, we were well into picking out our Iron Filbert Vineyard. We started with the bottom section of the vineyard and made our way up the hill steadily. The last pick for our Dundee Hills estate was on September 29th. This year, we incorporated a small percentage of whole cluster into the ferments. In hot, riper vintages like we are working with now, the stems are lignified enough to benefit and add beautiful complexity to the ferments. We brought in our first fruit from the Quartz Acorn Vineyard on Friday, October 1st.
wine information
Fruit for this label is sourced from our organically farmed Quartz Acorn Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton. 1500 cases were produced in 2021.
reviews
2016 | 93 points Wine Advocate
The 2016 Incline Pinot Noir is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with delicate aromas of dried cranberries and red cherries with touches of crushed rock, violets and black tea leaves. Light to medium-bodied, it has lovely layers of red fruits, mineral notes and violets in the mouth, a good frame of soft, fine-grained tannins and great juicy acidity, finishing long and pretty. – Erin Brooks
2019 | 92 points James Suckling
Aromas of sour cherries, redcurrants and mushrooms with sweet-spice undertones. It’s medium-bodied with fine, chalky tannins. Fresh and pure with crunchy character and a vibrant finish.