2016 Brittan Vineyards Pinot Noir Gestalt Block McMinnville

WINERY NOTES

VINEYARD NOTES The Brittan Vineyard lies just 12 miles southwest of McMinnville, tucked into the foothills of the Coastal Range. The original 18 acres were planted in 2001, but due to the challenging nature of this site and limited topsoil, only eight acres survived. Since 2004 when Robert and Ellen Brittan purchased the vineyard, it has been an ongoing rehabilitation project: replating, retraining and learning the unique landscape that has become the Brittan Vineyard. The Gestalt Block Pinot noir comes from the part of the vineyard that is more southwest facing and atop younger, more compact intrusion basalts. It takes the brunt of the wine that blows across the vineyard, resulting in a wine with structure and fine acidity. The selections of Pinot noir planted in this block include 777, 667 and 115.

VINTAGE NOTES The 2016 vintage was one of the earliest in Oregon history. A warm winter and spring led to early budbreak, earlier bloom, veraison, and harvest. A brief period of heat during flowering resulted in a smaller than normal fruit set, with smaller clusters and berries. Unlike the previous warm vintages, the summer temperatures were milder, which yielded perfectly ripe, intense, and concentrated fruit.

TASTING NOTES The 2016 Gestalt Block is rich on the palate, with a core of bright acidity and a firm structure that will carry the wine into a long and graceful aging period. Brilliantly garnet in color, the Gestalt block leads with aromas of pomegranate, coffee, black cherry, forest spice and fennel and true to its site, mineral and ash. In the palate, Brambleberry and orange zest combine with a warm blend of baking spice and black tea. CASES PRODUCED:450

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