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2017 The Reserve Pinot Noir

Tue, 5 Dec 2023 15:43:03 GMT

2017 The Reserve Pinot Noir
Buy Now: $100.00

The Reserve is an exclusive less than 50 case selection of Pinot Noir representing our most intriguing wine in the cellar. The final blend represents countless hours of tasting wine from barrel. Only with such in-depth knowledge of our subject, were we able to select these 2 barrels of Pinot Noir.

Every block of Pinot Noir within our 35 acre vineyard is individually hand harvested at its peak of flavor maturity and intensity. Block by block, the fruit is fermented in small 1.5 ton lots and matured for over 18 months in French oak barrels.

Every vineyard block and clone/rootstock combination showcases something unique and special from the vineyard. After fermentation is complete, the wine is placed into a selection of barrels to mature. We source French oak barrels from several coopers. The wine takes a different path to maturity in each barrel, developing its own nuances.

We taste all of our barrels of wine many times throughout the year. We experience the evolution of flavors and aromas and remember the significant events in our vineyard. The excitement of an early bloom, the mystery of a very light fruit set, the discovery of color change at veraison, and the rapture of harvest. Tasting each barrel of wine provides us a snapshot in time. We experience the wine’s development.

As we taste wine through the cellar, we can usually agree on when we have found the best barrel or two of Pinot Noir. When that happens, we find that we disagree on whose blend it is going into. And when we find that we agree to disagree, we have just found The Reserve.

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2017 Top Barrel Syrah

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:32:02 GMT

2017 Top Barrel Syrah
Buy Now: $100.00

Top Barrel Syrah is 100% Amalie Robert Estate grown Syrah. Among our 35 acres of Pinot Noir, we have planted 0.80 acres (1,188 vines to be exact) of Syrah. This bottling is from the single best barrel of Syrah from the vintage - The Top Barrel.

We grow Syrah right along side Pinot Noir, and most of the vineyard work is very similar. The primary difference is that we have to wait until November to harvest. We think it is worth the wait.

Syrah is a very adaptive variety, and much like Pinot Noir, reflects its growing conditions. Syrah is grown in the hottest parts of the southern Hemisphere where it is known as "Shiraz" and a bit farther south into the cool climate of New Zealand as well. The entire west coast of the United States grows Syrah from California, to the warm areas of eastern Washington and now very small plantings in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

However, the birthplace of Syrah seems to be the Northern Rhône Valley. Recent DNA research shows Syrah to be a cross between Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche. Both of these varieties are indigenous to France. Syrah is planted from the cool regions of the Northern Rhône where it is bottled as a single varietal, to the tip of the Southern Rhône where it is often blended with other varietals.

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2017 Wadenswil Clone Pinot Noir

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:29:22 GMT

2017 Wadenswil Clone Pinot Noir
Buy Now: $65.00

Wadenswil Clone is a 2 barrel selection of Estate grown Wadenswil clone Pinot Noir.

The pioneers who began planting Pinot Noir in the North Willamette Valley began primarily with 2 clones of Pinot Noir – Pommard (French, of course) and Wadenswil (Swiss.) As the vines matured, high quality wines from both clones were grown in the valley, but the Pommard clone was gaining wide spread acclaim and notoriety.

It seems that the Wadenswil clone was not well suited to the land it was being planted to. Most of the early plantings were done on basalt based soils such as Jory. However success leaves clues, and we did discover something others may have missed.

When planning our vineyard, we were particularly intrigued with the Wadenswil clone wines we had experienced from sedimentary soil vineyards. The fragrant, intense, laser focused fruit aromas were relentless. It is no accident, but a strategic choice that we have several of our sedimentary soil vineyard blocks planted to the Wadenswil clone.

Further to the point, it seems that every year one of these Wadenswil blocks is a cellar favorite and a component of “The Reserve.”

It may seem that we go to a good deal of trouble to explain an inconsequential event, but it is not so. Wadenswil clone Pinot Noir grown on our sedimentary soils is, for us, what Pinot Noir is all about. The full range of Pinot Noir aromas and flavors along with a dizzying array of mid-palate textures and reverberating acidity define the Wadenswil clone.

As the wine maturates in barrel, we are continually “thieving” and evaluating each barrel. While written records are very important, especially as we age, our mental and physical impression of each wine drives us. As each sample is tasted and re-tasted, we begin to better understand what each blend represents and the promise it holds for future development.

While The Reserve is a blend of our very favorite barrels from the vintage, the Wadenswil clone blend represents our best expression of this pioneering clone.

As is the case with all of our Pinot Noirs, this bottling is 100% Estate grown and hand harvested fruit. The individual blocks were fermented with whole clusters and indigenous yeast from the vineyard. In the cellar, we aged the individual lots in French oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months. The blend is a reflection of our soils, microclimates and stewardship of the land.

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2017 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:27:18 GMT

2017 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir
Buy Now: $65.00

Pommard Clone is a 2 barrelselection of Estate grown Pommard clone Pinot Noir.

The pioneers who began planting PinotNoir in the North Willamette Valleybegan primarily with 2 clones of Pinot Noir - Pommard (French, of course) andWadenswil (Swiss.) As the vines matured, high quality wines from both cloneswere grown in the valley, but the Pommard clone was gaining widespread acclaimand notoriety.

There is a very good reason the Pommardclone was catching on. The Pommard clone represents all that is inherentlybeautiful in Pinot Noir. It is grown on all types of soils and is unique in itsability to reflect vineyard specific splendor, nuances and vintage conditions.While the eyes are the window into the soul, the Pommard clone expresses theinherent beauty of our vineyard through the lens of the vintage.

As the wine maturates in barrel, we arecontinually "thieving" and evaluating each barrel. While written records arevery important, especially as we age, our mental and physical impression ofeach wine drives us. As each sample istasted and re-tasted, we begin to better understand what each blend representsand the promise it holds for future development.

While The Reserve is a blend of ourvery favorite barrels from the vintage, the Pommard clone blend represents ourvery best expression of vintage and vigneron.

As is the case withall of our Pinot Noirs, this bottling is 100% Estate grown and hand harvestedfruit. The individual blocks were fermented with whole clusters and indigenousyeast from the vineyard. In the cellar, we aged the individual lots in Frenchoak barrels for a minimum of 18 months. The blend is a reflection of our soils,microclimates and stewardship of the land.

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2017 Satisfaction Syrah

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 08:51:21 GMT

2017 Satisfaction Syrah
Buy Now: $40.00

Satisfaction Syrah is 100% Amalie Robert Estate grown Syrah. Among our 35 acres of Pinot Noir, we have planted 0.80 acres (1,188 vines to be exact) of Syrah. This planting represents 4 clones selected for the cool Northern Rhône area of Côte Rôtie, and now Dallas, Oregon.

We grow Syrah right alongside Pinot Noir, and most of the vineyard work is very similar. The primary difference is that we have to wait until November to harvest. We think it is worth the wait.

Syrah is a very adaptive variety, and much like Pinot Noir, reflects its growing conditions. Syrah is grown in the hottest parts of the southern Hemisphere where it is known as “Shiraz” and a bit farther south into the cool climate of New Zealand as well. The entire west coast of the United States grows Syrah from California, to the warm areas of eastern Washington and now very small plantings in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

The Vintage: The 2017 has begun to reveal itself as one of the most balanced and moderate vintages of the past decade. The wines are showing an elegant transparency without excessive baggage and are a welcome return to the old normal, indeed. Read all about it on the FLOG: http://amalierobert.blogspot.com/2018/01/amalie-robert-estate-vintage-update.html

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2017 Heirloom Cameo Chardonnay

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 17:23:40 GMT

2017 Heirloom Cameo Chardonnay
Buy Now: $50.00

Heirloom Cameo is our barrel fermented Chardonnay. Or as Dena would explain it: “This wine wraps you in an elegant silk scarf and instantly makes you feel really good - about being you.”

The wine was fermented in a single large format French oak barrel or “puncheon.” The goal of this fermentation is to enhance the breadth and depth of the wine through contact with oak and extended yeast or “lees” aging.

Stylistically, this wine is made to be enjoyed throughout its time in bottle. Upon release the wine is fresh with pungent aromas and a broad mouth feel, followed by a crisp and satisfying finish. We expect this wine to age gracefully for several years and will reward a laddered approach to monitoring its development.

The Chardonnay for this wine is estate grown in 1 small block. The blend is about half Dijon clone 76 and half Dijon clone 95.

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