Ruby Vineyard Pinot Noir Laurelwood

Ruby Vineyard Laurelwood Pinot Noir Blend

WHY WE LOVE IT

The intent with the Ruby Vineyard Laurelwood Blend Pinot Noir is to make a wine that expresses the unique characteristics derived from Laurelwood soils of the east face of the Chehalem Mountains AVA in the Northern Willamette Valley.
The fruit for the wine comes from south facing vineyards – Tuenge and Tre Figli – at up to 800 feet of elevation, farmed for us on the same ridgeline as our estate vineyard. The mix of clones includes 115, 777, 828 and Pommard.

Varietal Composition: Pinot Noir

Elaboration: Fermented using indigenous yeast because we believe this allows the wine to best express it’s place. We then utilize gentle extraction with all of our lots spending a minimum of 18 days of skin contact. The wine then stays ten months in thirty percent new, but mostly neutral French oak before bottling. The finished blend contains 25 percent whole cluster fruit.

Tasting Notes: Aromas and flavors of fresh black cherry, brambly thistle and peppery herbs darkened by baking spice, peppercorns and dust. Soft tannins and balanced acidity highlight the mouth-filling dark red fruit of cherries and berries.

PRESS

2018 – 91 Wine Spectator | 91 Wine Enthusiast

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

Ruby Vineyard is a small, vineyard and winery in the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon’s Willamette Valley region. It is owned by the Hendricks family and is located in the Laurelwood District AVA, just west of Portland.

The Hendricks family has deep roots in Oregon. In 1843, Steve Hendricks’ great-great-grandfather, Abijah Hendricks, arrived in Oregon on the first wagon train to brave the Oregon Trail. Abijah’s adventurist spirit lives on in Steve and his wife Flora. Sharing a dream of owning a vineyard and making wine, they have explored every aspect of the winemaking process, from driving a tractor to pouring for guests in the tasting room.

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PRINT REVIEW SHELF TALKER (2018 – 91 Wine Spectator)