2015 Wirtz Vineyard Pinot noir

368 cases
unfined and unfiltered
$100 (sold out)
label - Flat, Friendly Fir from Wirtz

The 40 plus year old vines give us their signature spice again this year. The Coury clone is fully expressed in the complex range of flavors of this earth driven wine that we have made since 2010.


tasting notes— Delicate but evocative color, the nose shows reserved fruit with exotic spice, rose hip, and mint aromatics, playing at more to come.  Offsetting the decadence of the Yamhill-Carlton bottling, this shows perfume over power, complexity before fruit, tension despite its richness, and Europe vs. America. The compelling old vine fruit of this vineyard, one of the valleys oldest, has proven that place is expressed over cellar and vintage as this is truly a site driven wine and an outlier in the best possible way.  Recommend drinking this wine in the near term as the fruit is quite delicate and the wine already showing so much character is fun to drink now.

scores—
94 points — International Wine Report
93 points — Josh Raynolds — Vinous
92 points — Wine Spectator
9.0 — Vinography
90 points — purely domestic wine report

2014 Wirtz Vineyard Pinot noir

367 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$100 (sold out)
label - maple samaras from Wirtz trees

These 40 plus year old vines seems to hold a strong signature regardless of vintage. The resulting wine is beautiful – heady fruit and spice and earth aromas lead to more of the same on the palate with a satisfying finish that begs you to take another sip, or another bite. The Coury clone is fully expressed in the complex range of flavors of this earth driven wine.

tasting notes-
Coffee grounds, dark chocolate, autumn leaves, forest floor, sanguine, potpourri. Its attitude is more about its tertiary complexity than its fruit freshness. Ruby red grapefruit, cherry, orange, and has a spice dominated finish of clove and sandalwood.

scores—
92 points — The Pinot File
92 points — Wine & Spirits
91 points — Wine Spectator

2013 Wirtz Vineyard Pinot noir

157 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$125 (sold out)
label - hazelnuts

This was the first year we were entrusted with the farming of the entire Wirtz vineyard by brother and sister Ben Hawes and Megan Lockheart. With new ventures comes excitement and enthusiasm as well as learning by experience – fortunately the 40 plus year old vines knew exactly what to do and we picked our first fruit of the vintage from the vineyard September 18.

I was duly impressed with what came into the winery and harvest began in earnest from all our other sites, allowing us to avoid the downpour of late September. The resulting wine is beautiful – heady fruit and spice aromas lead to more of the same on the palate with a satisfying finish that begs you to take another sip, or another bite.

tasting notes—
Jumps from the glass very expressive. Great combination of expressiveness and age worthy structure with concentration. Rum spice cake, plums, prunes, blueberry, cedar box, black licorice, juniper berry, cocoa powder, forest floor, mushroom. This should age beautifully and will be even more of a stunning wine.

scores—
92 points — Wine Enthusiast
92 points — The Pinot File

2012 Wirtz Vineyard Pinot noir

232 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$125 (sold out)
label - oak leaves and acorns

The fermentations were flawless and the resulting wine has a great spice to accompany the fruit. Even with a warmer vintage this wine still shows sour cherry acid with perfect tannin balance allowing flavors to build without becoming heavy. Balance and depth of earth, fruit and acidity are hallmarks of the Wirtz vineyard.

scores-
93 points- Stephen Tanzer's IWC
92 points- The Pinot File
92 points- Wine Spectator

2011 Wirtz Vineyard Pinot noir

119 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$125 (sold out)
label - walnuts from the vineyard

Planted in the early 70's by the Wirtz family, this vineyard is old by Oregon standards. Older vineyards tend to produce wines that have greater depth and character in ways that are perceptible but indescribable.

Their deep roots allow them to produce consistent wines, reaching water in dry years and uninterested in the first rains in a wet year. They naturally produce less fruit and so are balanced without excessive manipulation. We feel honored to be trusted with the fruit from such pieces of history.

The fruit produces wine with spicy aromatics even without the inclusion of stems that persist throughout the palette to the finish. This wine reminds one of Campari and soda. High toned citrus combined with pine needles, black tea, potpourri, and bitters. Flavors mimic the nose with additional mushroom and umami savory qualities.

Such an intense wine surprises with a delicate pretty frame. A sour cherry acid with perfect tannin balance dries the palate pleasantly allowing flavors to build without becoming heavy. Balance and depth of earth, fruit and acidity are hallmarks of the Wirtz vineyard.

scores-
94 points- The Pinot File
93 points- Wine & Spirits
93 points- Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
91 points- Josh Raynolds- Stephen Tanzer's IWC

2010 Wirtz Vineyard Pinot noir

90 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$150 (sold out)
label - filberts from neighboring orchard

These vines are on average about 40 yrs old - this is a multi generational site in the northern part of the Willamette Valley. One of our favorites of the vintage, very complex: spicy, fruity, cola and perfectly balanced.

scores-
92 points- Josh Raynolds- Stephen Tanzer's IWC
91 points- Robert Parker- Wine Advocate