Patton Valley Rose 2018

The wine is, unsurprisingly, lively and brisk with fresh citrus, red fruit, and the snap of cool watermelon. Almost addictively compelling, a single sip is impossible. The wine pairing here is easy: anything and everything... or nothing but good times.
The crown cap holds in the fizz, and the wax finish helps us keep bottle variation to a minimum (looks cool, too).
This special bottling, done entirely by hand, should be opened and enjoyed cold, in one sitting, and with friends, as its charms are many but, alas, ephemeral.

We made a tiny little 66 cases of this special wine last year as a reckless, insouciant, and scientific experiment and, suffice to say, it was an unexpected hit. This year we’ve quadrupled our production so, you know, we hope you all like this one as much as the last. Our rosé is always a special thing to us, and when conjured up in this old, fun way, it takes on something altogether otherworldly. 
Producing these wild, delicious, and unique wines always has inherent risks, but the payoff is well worth it. After halting primary fermentation, we brought the wine down to a very cool temperature and let it settle off of its primary lees. Adding 13g/l dosage of sugar and yeast to the wine in bottle provides the sparkle and lees-y feel as it gets turned into alcohol and CO2, and not disgorging makes it hazy, creating broader palate weight, pleasing textures, and balance throughout.

Vineyards: 100% Patton Valley Estate Vineyard, Gaston, OR
Harvest dates: August 29th-31st 2016
Dijon Clones: 113, 115, 667 and 777
pH: 3.30

SALE!

Patton Valley Lorna Marie Pinot Noir is 100 percent Pinot Noir.

Each year since 2002 we have crafted a reserve wine intended to exemplify the best the vintage has to offer.  Selected from a handful of barrels that are deemed to be the very finest in the cellar, we designate the wine “Lorna-Marie” in honor of the mothers of Monte and Sherie Pitt –two of the owners of Patton Valley Vineyard.

Our 2011 Lorna-Marie Pinot Noir appears to laugh at the cool, wet growing season that gave this wine its start.  Unlike many of its 2011 counterparts, this barrel selection has the structure and fruit of a much warmer vintage.  Leading with boysenberry, cigar-box, smoke, rose petals, and plum, the nose is as rich and concentrated as you would expect from this classic blend.  The dark aromatics in the nose are overtaken by mouthwatering, bright flavors of Bing cherry and zesty lemon.  The back of the palate is textured by bright acidity and soft tannins that push out the long and lingering finish.  Drink now or cellar for 10-12 years.

The contrast between our 10 Acre and West Block Pinot noirs exemplifies how slight geographical differences can have significant influence on the flavor profile of a wine. Planted in 1997, The 10 Acre block of Pinot noir is the oldest planting on the Patton Valley Estate Vineyard. Located on the east-facing slope of our vineyard, this area gets full sun in the cool morning hours, leading to a slower, more gradual ripening process and a wine that is typically elegant and lighter in body with prevailing red fruit character.

The 2011 10 Acre Pinot noir shows abundant aromatics, immediately woodsy but overwhelmingly fresh with lavender and red plum, sweet caramel and malt. The palate is lush and broad with sweet cherry, cigar box, and the faintest hint of peat smoke. Soft and very subtle tannins give this wine a solid backbone. A great acid profile makes this wine likely to offer boundless enjoyment when consumed in the short term, or if given some time to rest, the distinct potential of becoming something much more profound. Drink now or cellar 5-8 years.

 Winemaker's Notes

The Patton Valley Estate Pinot Noir is the most comprehensive expression of our vineyard site. Bright red cherry cola, watermelon rind, dusty earth, and caramelized almonds grace the nose of this pretty and sumptuous wine. The palate is immediately broad, but has less alcohol sweetness than you might expect from a warmer vintage. Provincial herbs, spice, and milk chocolate flavor the mid-palate, with great acidity providing length, and silky tannins rounding out the mouthfeel.

Patton Valley Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.

A bit of classic Oregon Pinot noir potpourri here with a nose of classic Rainier cherry, cola nut, fresh Summer berries, cocoa powder and a dash of savory spice. The palate is expressive and lively, with fresh fruits like boysenberry and raspberry, pipe tobacco, fines herbs, and a strain of tannin woven throughout that dashes and dances. Deceptive in its heft, this lingers and lolls on the palate gracefully.

Review:

"Light lurid red. Fresh, energetic and incisive on the highly perfumed, spice- and mineral-accented nose. In a nervy, graceful style, offering gently sweet raspberry and floral pastille flavors that show very good concentration yet no obvious weight. Silky tannins sneak in late on the clinging finish, which leaves hints of white pepper and red fruit preserves behind. This graceful, entry-level Pinot delivers outstanding value. (aged for 10 months in 10% new French oak). - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (June 2019), 91 pts

This wine keeps the Lorna-Marie tradition going strong. Reminiscent of the multitude of aromas from a fruit stand, the Lorna-Marie abounds with scents of fresh-picked strawberries, Bing cherries, rose petals, and spiced plum, with a touch of salty sea air and black pepper. On the palate, the wine shows great weight with a viscous, velvet-like texture, and layer upon layer of ripe red and black fruit flavors. This wine possesses a striking backbone of acidity, yet marries beautifully with the soft, creamy tannins, lingering with astounding length. Enjoy now or save for 5-12 years.

Review:

"Open-textured, inviting and focused, layering ripe currant, blueberry and spice flavors on a well-mannered frame, coming together harmoniously on the long and expressive finish. Stylish and impressive. Best from 2016 through 2022. 200 cases made.-HS." 94 Points Wine Spectator