WillaKenzie Estate
2009 Pinot Noir, Aliette, Willamette Valley
Fact Sheet
Vineyard Profile
The 2009 Aliette is a selection of our estate-grown Pommard clones from the Aliette vineyard, named after owner Bernard Lacroute’s mother, and small amounts of Dijon clones. Aliette was the first vineyard planted at WillaKenzie, in 1992. It is situated on a gentle hill that ranges in elevation from 560 to 600 feet. The ground has a deep layer of Willakenzie soil on top of harder-to-penetrate sandstone. As a result, the vines have spread their roots deeply and rarely need irrigation. Approximately half the fruit was dropped to assure low yields and maximize flavor and intensity.
Vintage Report
The 2009 vintage started with a slightly delayed budbreak in the third week of April. After swift canopy growth from mid-May to June, full bloom ensued by June 18, resulting in a healthy fruit set. By July, summer heat spells hastened fruit development and seed hardening. By executing a strategic leaf pulling program, we were able to delay exposing the fruit, despite the potential for sunburn damage, which was minimal compared to other sites in the valley where pulling was heavy and early. The growing season provided ample vegetative growth with a focus on maintaining a contained canopy, guiding the plant from green growth to fruit growth. Our clusters were abundant in number and plump with the start of veraison, from August 5 onward. With appropriate hedging and fruit thinning, we managed to keep our target yields. The fruit matured progressively with very little fruit rot and increasingly lower yield as dehydration set in. Harvest began on September 21 with Terres Basses and ended on October 12. The overall quality of the fruit was exceptional with full, heavy clusters, good color and an ideal balance of sugars and acids.
Vinification
In our gravity-fed winery, this 2009 Pinot Noir was handcrafted to achieve a fully extracted and complex style. During this process, a cool maceration preceded the open-top, Burgundian-style fermentation for a total of 28 days of skin contact and daily punch downs by Bigfoot, our pneumatic punch-down device. The wine was then gravity fed directly to barrels where it underwent 100 percent malolactic fermentation during the next six months. The wine spent a total of 15 months in 50 percent new French oak from a selection of four coopers. The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Notes
Soft cherry-garnet in color, with aromas of pink peppercorn and rose petals. On the palate, the fruit shows kirsch, cranberry, pie cherries and dried flowers with undercurrents of cinnamon. Medium to full bodied, soft velvety tannins carry into a long and elegant finish. This well-rounded wine will age gracefully for eight to 10 years, and should be cellared for one to two years. If opening sooner, decant at least one hour before serving. We recommend pairing the 2009 Aliette with something slightly salty like Greek dolmas, or a hard aged cheese, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano.
