WillaKenzie Estate
2010 Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Fact Sheet
Vineyard Profile
WillaKenzie Estate has a total of 68 acres of Pinot Noir. The vines are planted at 1,200 to 1,800 vines per acre, running north to south, allowing for maximum sun exposure. All of the vineyards are planted on Willakenzie soil, a type known for its excellent drainage. The plants are grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock and trained into an upright, double guyot trellising system. This wine is a selection of different Pinot Noir clones, including 113, 114 and 115, sourced from several different locations.
Vintage Report
Despite the relatively warm weather, especially in February, the 2010 vintage caused much anxiety in Oregon. Spring was cold and wet, with May and June temperatures eight to 10 degrees below average on most days. Budbreak occurred the third week of April, but very little growth took place in the following weeks. Veraison was one of the latest on record, beginning at the end of August and completing in mid-September. The vintage was saved by a sunny and fairly dry October, contributing to good phenolic maturity, albeit at a lower than usual Brix level. Harvest started on October 19 with Terres Basses and finished on November 1 just before the rainy season.
The 2010 wines are balanced with a lower level of alcohol, typically around 13.8 percent, and they exhibit an excellent fruit profile.
Vinification
We made the 2010 Estate Cuvée in our gravity-flow winery with the goal of achieving a rich and elegant style. A cool maceration preceded the open-top, Burgundian-style fermentation that averaged 20 days of skin contact with daily punch downs. Following fermentation, the wine was blended with the press wine in a tank where it settled for several days before being racked to barrels. After aging for a total of 10 months in 20 percent new French oak from a variety of coopers, the individual lots were blended to obtain a wine that is fresh and approachable when young. All of the 2010 Estate Cuvée was bottled with screwcap closures.
Tasting Notes
The 2010 Estate Cuvée has a beautiful garnet color. The aromas are bright and floral with hints of sweet vanilla, forest floor and petunia. The flavors follow the aromas with a smooth, sweet entry of cherry cobbler, juicy strawberries and Asian spices. The red fruit and spice transform into a slate-like, herbal finish that lingers on the tongue. This wine is very approachable when young. The aging potential is five-plus years. We recommend pairing with steamed Chinese chicken dumplings or a simple filet of sole or roast chicken.
