By Patricia Green Cellars
2022 Volcanic Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

Wine Background
In 2005, we began bottling a small amount of wine from a few barrels from several vineyards we had planted in the volcanic (Jory) soil of the Dundee Hills. At the time, we were receiving fruit from Balcombe, Eason, Weber, and Goldschmidt Vineyards and wanted to show a singular wine from these sites. Over time, we added vineyards like Durant, Arcus, and Anderson Family Vineyards (while losing Eason and Goldschmidt). We began producing larger quantities of the wine so we could show it to a larger audience. As we grew the number of bottlings of Pinot Noir and the volume of those wines, it made sense to increase the production of our two 'Soil Series' bottlings. At routinely over 30 bottlings of Pinot Noir that are nearly entirely composed of volcanic or marine soils, these wines serve the purpose of, aside from being excellent in their own right, showing the root of all the wines we make that spring from these two general soil classifications. Over the years, this wine has seen a distinct evolution. Part of it is the inclusion of more vineyards and blocks, which, at a very fundamental level, would create a different nature for the finished wine. However, the real changes are far more important. The vine age in this AVA is significant. Only 3 barrels in the blend are less than 30 years old, and over 70% of the volume comes from barrels aged 40-50 years. In addition, the quality of farming in Oregon, specifically in the Dundee Hills, has increased dramatically over the past 15 years. Nothing could be better for a winery than excellent, unique sites that are well-farmed and have significant vine age. This wine definitely reflects the entire ecosystem that the Jory soil in the Dundee Hills famously brings to wines. There is a lot of history here, both of vineyards and geology.

Terroir
The Dundee Hills are located in a largely south-facing, somewhat circular pattern about 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Protected from coastal winds and from weather coming out of the north, the Dundee Hills are surprisingly warm in relation to adjacent areas during summer and early fall. These hills are a result of the Pacific Rim's "Ring of Fire," and the soil is lava-based, containing silt, loam, and clay. The result is a dense, ultra-rich soil that, with even minimal oversight, supports healthy vegetative growth. In the hands of professional vineyard managers, the soil allows vineyards to flourish and the fruit to take on the richness the land has to offer. As much as possible, we here at Patricia Green Cellars view our wines not only individually, but within the context of the continuum in which they exist at the winery. This wine is an important component, as it reflects the roots of our Dundee vineyards planted in volcanic (Jory) soil. This bottling combines barrels from each of these sites to show how the soil impacts how the plant grows and ripens fruit, and how that ripe fruit develops into the final product.

Vineyards
We receive fruit from 6 vineyards in the Dundee Hills AVA. We selected barrels from 5 of them. Two different clones spread across 5 vineyards, with vine ages ranging from 23 to 50 years. This is a wide-ranging wine within a tight geographical and geological area. All Patricia Green Cellars sites are dry-farmed.

Vineyard Composition
Balcombe Vineyard: 1 barrel of Pommard (1990)
Durant Vineyard: 7 barrels of Bishop Block Pommard (1973) and 3 barrels of Madrone Block Dijon 115 (2000)
Anderson Family Vineyard: 3 barrels of Dijon 115 (1992)
Arcus Vineyard: 2 barrels of Pommard (1990)
Weber Vineyard: 16 barrels of Pommard (1983)

Harvest
Showing the diversity that even this small area can have (all of these sites are within 4 miles of each other), the picking dates range from as early as October 7th to as late as October 20th (the second-to-last day we picked Pinot Noir in 2022). Tonnages were generally abundant, with a top end of around 3.3 tons/acre for Weber Vineyard to a low of 1.6 tons for Anderson Family Vineyard.

Production
Anderson Family, Arcus, and Durant Madrone Block grapes were destemmed. Balcombe, Durant Bishop Block, and part of the Weber grapes were 50% whole-cluster fermented. A portion of the Weber grapes was 100% whole-cluster fermented. A combination of pumpovers early in the process, exclusively prior to fermentation, as well as pigeages to ensure gentle handling, extraction, and delicate tannin construction. Cold soaks for 3-5 days. Full fermentation from beginning to pressing was 16-20 days. 48 to 72 hour settling prior to being racked to barrel. All wines are aged on full lees until assemblage for bottling. Bottled without fining or filtration. This 32-barrel bottling consists entirely of neutral barrels.

Tasting Notes
From the Dundee Hills, one should expect mid-palate sweetness, along with a variety of spices common to Pinot Noir. Perhaps most importantly, the wines from this region have a remarkable texture - silky with satiny tannins that allow the fruit to linger. This bottling is a true representation of volcanic soils, demonstrating all these elements in spades and serving as the baseline for all our Dundee Hill bottlings. The 2022 vintage's surprising brightness and high-toned nature mesh nicely with its inherent lush fruitiness, silky texture, and deliciousness from the get-go.
[Information provided by Matador Vino]