CARLTON HILL
2007 ESTATE RESERVE PINOT NOIR

Growing Conditions

As you may have gathered from my notes regarding the 2007 Carlton Hill Estate vintage, it was a challenging year to bring great grapes to the table. Given the early fall rains and the relatively cool summer, the Oregon 2007 vintage is now presenting consumers a wide range of flavors and concentration. I was among a small minority of winemakers who chose (and were able) to pick grapes before the onset of the rains, thereby avoiding the dilution of fruit juices. I’m very happy to have done so, but then again, this remarkable vineyard managed to deliver--just in time!--grapes with sugar level reaching 24 brix.

Winemaking Process

As was the case for the 2006 Carlton Hill Estate Reserve vintage, this wine comes from five barrels which I felt displayed unique, and/or perhaps, more intense favor qualities than the other barrels. Of course, in the end, this is quite subjective, so you're just going to have to trust me. However, there is one feature about this wine which differs greatly from the 06 Estate Reserve. One of the five barrels came from a whole cluster ferment. 

"Whole Cluster" means just that: grapes are left to remain on the stems when placed into the fermenter. Usually a complete “de-stem” is performed, which gives a nice juicy flavor profile since you're only fermenting the grapes. When you have a portion of the fermentation left with the stems intact, however, you gain a few additional elements: flavor of cinnamon and baking spices, some additional weightiness on the tongue and on the palate, and most notably, added wood tannin and reduced seed tannin. While I know of only a few winemakers who chose to utilize whole cluster ferments in 2007 due to green stems and the like, I believe the risk is yielding some nice rewards.

The majority of the juice for this wine derives from the 777 Dijon grape where flavors of raspberry, red cherry, and cranberry prevail. And, like the 2007 Estate Pinot Noir, the intriguing aspect of the 07 vintage is that there is a heightened minerality or soil characteristic to the wine.

When first opened, aromas of cedar wood and box spices emerge on the nose which soon combine with floral notes of dried red fruits and rose. The extensive barrel aging (18 months in 50% new French oak) evolves the wine and gives it a more round, supple texture with good body. Dusty ripe tannins and bright acidity give the 2007 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir a lingering finish which, once again, speaks to the character of the fruit from this incredible vineyard.

110 cases are available for purchase.

Buy the 2007 Carlton Hill Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

I look forward to your impressions.

David C. Polite
Carlton Hill Wine Company