Silice Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2021
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Introduction
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The French word for “Silica,” the shiny quartz in sand, Silice has the deepest sandy soils of any of our estate vineyards. This 18-acre vineyard sprawls over four different rolling sandy hillsides in the Chehalem Mountains AVA and most probably is a 60 million-year-old sand dune or beach. Silice sees all-day, unrelenting sun exposure, and strong winds that give the Pinot Noirs spicy powerful notes of gingerbread, cola and sassafras,with a mild savory and pretty floral lift.
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Vineyard Profile
- Appellation: Chehalem Mountains
- Cultivation: Biodynamic since inception
- Vine Age: 20 years
- Clones: 13 clonal blocks of Pinot Noir Including Pommard, Wadenwil, and Dijon 777, 667, & 115
- Soil: Deep, Dupee class marine sedimentary sands. 12-15 feet of 85% sand on sandstone and siltstone
- Exposure: Rolling hills primarily facing South and West at 470 feet of elevation
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Vintage Report
- Harvest Date(s): September 1-10, 2021
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Vinification
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100% whole-cluster fermentation in open-top, temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation tanks
- Fermentation: 100% whole-cluster fermentation in open-top, stainless steel fermentation tanks. Native fermentation where possible. Inoculation with selected native Burgundian strains of yeast where needed.
- Malolactic: 100% malolactic and alcoholic fermentation (no residual sugars or malic acids)
- Aging: 10-month élevage in barre
- Barrel Aging: 10-15% new 228L French oak Barriques
- Filtration: Polishing filtration when needed
- Fining: No Fining
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
- Alcohol: 13%
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Tasting Notes
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Delicate red in color. The bouquet offers floral notes of lavender, magnolias, and freshly ground white pepper balanced with bright fruits. On the palate, freshly picked red huckleberries provide tart and lasting succulence. The sandy soils of the Chehalem
Mountains offer salinity and minerality on the finish that is complemented with red pomegranate and rhubarb. Extremely textural. Continues to evolve in the glass.
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Images
Reviews
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Pinot Noir, Silice Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains — 2021 – Vinous – 94 Points
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Silice lifts from the glass, delicate and wonderfully fresh, casting dusty dried flowers and hints of star anise, cinnamon, and wild strawberries to form its darkly alluring bouquet. Cool-toned and wickedly fresh, it cascades across the palate with crunchy wild berries propelled by zesty acidity as salty florals come forward. It finishes tannic, yet sweet and round, tapering off quickly to leave touches of licorice and inner rose."
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Silice Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2021 – Decanter – 96 Points
“Elegance is personified in this bottling of Bergström's renowned Silice. Beautiful bright fruit aromas are further framed by touches of tomato leaf, pine bough and mossy forest floor. The palate is marked by fleshy red raspberries, early season blackberry and fine grain tannin that provides a structure that shows this wine's longevity.”
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Pinot Noir, Silice Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains — 2021 – Wine Spectator – 95 Points
“Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with forest floor, brown baking spices and a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins.”
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Pinot Noir, Silice Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains — 2021 – Wine Advocate – 94 Points
“Blossoms slowly to pomegranate, blackberry, watermelon, dried herbs & aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with wild berry fruit. Combining power and elegance, it's silky and seamless in the mouth, & a flourish of spicy accents across the finish”