Bachelder, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Country: USA Region: Oregon Vintage: 2017
Category: Red Wine Color: Red Varietal: Pinot Noir and Gamay
Producer: Bachelder
"Thomas Bachelder will be known to many of our customers as the first winemaker at Le Clos Jordanne. He has now gone out on his own together with his wife Mary Delaney.
Their first vintage was in 2009. They make three Chardonnays from three different regions: Burgundy, Niagara and Oregon. Using the same winemaking techniques in each region (wild yeasts, minimal intervention and the same barrel makers), the difference in the wines is solely down to the vineyard which makes for some very interesting blind tasting results.
The Oregon Chardonnay shows a more robust, honeyed character compared to the Niagara Chardonnay which is particularly fresh and lifted with aromas of white stone fruits. Oregon is producing world class wines with Pinot Noir and Thomas' Willamette Valley is no exception."
Winemaker: "Thomas Bachelder "
Vineyards:
The grapes for this wine are sourced predominantly from organic vineyards in the Willamette Valley, essentially from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The soils here are a combination of sedimentary sandstone and volcanic soils which have their own sea-salty minerality that makes for very interesting comparisons with limestone soils such as Niagara and Burgundy.
Vinification:
Years of winemaking - in Meursault and Corton-Charlemagne in Burgundy, in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and in Canada's Niagara - have taught Thomas to be as natural as possible. Pressing of the grapes was therefore very gentle and fermentation was carried out only with wild yeasts. Handled gently, the wine was aged in 25% new French oak barrels, the rest in one to five year-old barrels, for 18 months in a cool cellar before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Distinctly Oregon, yet almost Burgundian in its suppleness and finesse, this 2013 Pinot has perfumed red wild forest berries mingled with nuanced blackberry fruit, distinctive soft, ripe tannins and a silky mineral finish. This Pinot Noir is a wine of perfumed elegance and finesse that will age with grace.
Food Suggestion: A perfect wine for the autumn and winter months. Serve with roast game in fruity sauces and venison casseroles.
Closure: Natural Cork ABV:13% Acidity [g/l]: 5.8
