2009 Ribbon Springs Vineyard Pinot noir

2009 Adelsheim Ribbon Springs Vineyard Pinot noir

Lynn and Jack Loacker, co-owners of Adelsheim Vineyard, purchased this 120-acre site on Ribbon Ridge in 1995. With high-density plantings of Oregon's traditional clones - "Pommard" and "Wädenswil" - and the newer "Dijon" series, this 60-acre vineyard is now our largest source of Pinot noir grapes. Only the very best lots go into our single vineyard bottlings; this 2009 vintage Ribbon Springs is only our seventh such wine from this vineyard.

The 2009 growing season began with three months of above average temperatures coupled with lower than average rainfall. Bud break occurred around April 20th, giving the 2009 season a one week head start compared to 2008. Rainfall increased throughout the pre-bloom period and temperatures remained higher, resulting in gorgeous bloom conditions and bountiful fruit set. Temperatures spiked into triple digits in July, but cooled to normal levels for August as we eased into veraison.

Harvest began in mid-September for our lower elevation vineyards, which we had not seen since the 2006 vintage. Lack of rain around our picking schedule meant grapes could hang until they reached optimal ripeness. Our grapes were harvested on September 18, 22-28, and October 2.

After hand-harvesting, the grapes were gently destemmed into open top fermenters, followed by a four to six day cold soak for greater flavor and color extraction.

The grapes were then inoculated with a commercial yeast and punched down

two or three times per day during a 6 day alcoholic fermentation. After pressing,

the wine was transferred into traditional small French oak barrels (34% new)

where it was aged for approximately 10 months. This intensely red-fruited wine

was made from two separate blocks that were planted with the UCD 5 clone of

Pinot noir ("Pommard") between 1996 and 1998. This wine was bottled on August 12, 2010.

Appellation: Ribbon Ridge Alcohol: 14.2%

Elevation: 400-600 feet above sea level Composition: 100% Clone

(medium elevation) UCD 5 ("Pommard")

Orientation: southeast exposure 

pH: 3.55

Soils: sandstone-based, sedimentary in origin Production: 270 cases

THE PLACE

Ribbon Springs Vineyard is a 60-acre Adelsheim estate

vineyard which sits at 400-600 feet above sea level

in the Ribbon Ridge appellation of the Chehalem

Mountains. The soils are sandstone-based, sedimentary

in origin, and so would tend towards drought-stress

problems in our usual July & August dry spell if not

for the eponymous springs, and a reservoir, which can

serve as a source for light drip irrigation if necessary.

THE WINE

This single vineyard wine shows dusky red cherry and

raspberry aromas with a rich, almost sweet structure.

This complex wine exhibits layered aromas of

pomegranate, strawberries, and a hint of black tea,

supported by a plush, smooth mouthfeel. It would pair

wonderfully with grilled salmon, domestic and wild

fowl and other savory main dishes.

AGING

The 2009 vintage has great structure and tannins, so

the resulting wines can age from 2012 - 2024.

Adelsheim Vineyard

16800 NE Calkins Lane, Newberg, OR 97132

Tel: (503) 538-3652 www.adelsheim.com