2022 Balcombe Vineyard, Block 1B Pinot Noir 3L
96 Points
Winemaker's Notes: Balcombe Vineyard, Block 1B: It has been 20 consecutive years where we have bottled this wine and offered it on futures. I hardly need to say a thing about it. Insanely consistent and still the single most popular wine we make. Get in while the getting is good.
AVA: Dundee Hills
LOCATION: Breyman Orchards Rd.
ELEVATION: 600-650’
SOIL TYPE: Jory
YEAR PLANTED: 1990
CLONAL MATERIAL: 100% Pommard
VINEYARD SIZE: 7.25-acre vineyard
OWNER: Joyce Cooke
MANAGED/FARMED BY: Patricia Green Cellars
Soils: Dundee Hills is known for its rich, red volcanic Jory soil, which was formed from ancient volcanic basalt and consists of silt, clay and loam soils. They typically reach a depth of 4 to 6 feet and provide excellent drainage for superior quality wine grapes.
Topography: The Dundee Hills viticulture region consists of a single, continuous landmass that rises above the surrounding Willamette Valley floors and is defined by the 200-foot contour line to the AVA's highest peak of 1,067 feet. The area comprises a north-south spine with ridges, as well as small valleys on its east, south and west sides. Dundee Hills is part of a North Willamette Valley hill chain that developed as a result of intense volcanic activity and the collision of the Pacific and North American plates. Dundee Hills is typically volcanic over sedimentary sandstone.
Site Characteristics: Balcombe Vineyard is located toward the top of the Dundee Hills on Breyman Orchards Rd. at the southern end of the Dundee Hills. Adjacent vineyards would include White Rose, Domaine Drouhin, Daphne (Eyrie) and some Domaine Serene sites. It was planted in 1990 to Pommard clone. In 1997, while at Torii Mor, we began farming this vineyard and getting all the fruit from the 7.25 acres and we have worked with the fruit every year since 1997 so we have become pretty accustom to how the grapes grow, ripen and ferment into wine. The vineyard sits at about 600-700’ elevation.
