2005 Vintage Select Pinot Gris

Wine Statistics

2005: The Vintage

The 2005 growing season constituted the farming equivalent of a roller coaster ride. February and March were warmer and dryer than usual, stimulating the vines into an early bud break, and leaving us with an abnormally long period to worry about a late frost. While we escaped any frost, April, May and June turned wetter and colder than usual, slowing the vines down and adversely affecting fruit set on many vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. The wet and cool conditions extended into early July, when summer finally began in earnest. Delightfully warm and dry conditions throughout most of July, August, and September eventually brought the growing cycle back to something resembling normal and left us with the prospects of another fine harvest. A major rain storm on the last day of September was the harbinger of a wet fall, and growers had to watch weather patterns closely throughout the harvest period. Fortunately, we found several windows of dry weather throughout October that allowed for good picking conditions. In the end, though yields were down, fruit quality was excellent, and we look forward to serving you a delicious range of wines from the 2005 vintage.

2005 Vintage Select Pinot Gris

The fruit for this wine was whole-cluster pressed, settled for 24 hours, and racked into stainless steel tanks for fermentation. After fermentation was complete, the wine was allowed to “sit” on the lees for an extended period, a step in the winemaking process which rounds out the flavors and softens the natural acidity of the grape. After a gentle fining and cold stabilization in late April, the wine was bottled on May 4, 2006.

Our 2005 Vintage Select Pinot Gris presents a fruit-forward nose with aromas of pear and melon. This distinctly refreshing wine exhibits rich varietal character, with a finish that hints of tropical fruit. A natural complement to Northwest cuisine, take it along for your summer picnics. It also pairs nicely with salads, fresh fruit, or seafood and chicken dishes.

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