Silice Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2022
-
Introduction
-
WINERY Bergström Wines, a first-generation American family business, is one of the most unique and lauded domaines in the Willamette Valley. Dr. John Bergström’s Swedish heritage and the love he developed for the Pacific Northwest are the roots of this estate. In 1999, John and his son, Josh, established Bergström Wines and today, Josh and Caroline, his wife and business partner, are celebrating more than 25 years as biodynamic growers of estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards on the finest appellations within Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
-
-
Vineyard Profile
-
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 a pretty floral lift.
- Appellation: Chehalem Mountains AVA
- Location: Oregon
- Cultivation: Biodynamic since inception
- Vine Age: 23 years
- Soil: Deep, Dupee class marine sedimentary sands
- Elevation: 470 feet of elevation
- Exposure: South and West
-
-
Vintage Report
-
After spring frost challenges that resulted in significant yield reduction, the 2022 vintage release is a testament to the resilience of the Willamette Valley. A serendipitous course to a triumphant harvest yielded a limited yet precious vintage of intensely aromatic, youthful and enticing Pinot Noirs with structured acidity and minerality, heightened concentration, and will unfurl to reveal veiled layers of depth.
-
-
Vinification
-
100% whole-cluster fermentation in open-top, stainless steel fermentation tanks. 100% malolactic and alcoholic fermentation (no residual sugars or malic acids.) No fining. Aged on natural lees in 10-15% new 228L French oak barrels.
- Barrel Aging: 10-15% new 228L French oak Barriques
-
-
Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
- Alcohol: 12.9%
- TA: 5.1 g/L
- p H: 3.72
-
Tasting Notes
-
Deep ruby in color. The nose boasts a flamboyant, perfumed, fruity, floral, and mineral bouquet. Generously spiced with five Chinese spices, black licorice, and wild fennel. There is also an immensely appealing and salivating beef broth or veal demi-glace/meaty mushroom note. This wine is full of blueberry and dark berry flavors and is silky with a suave oak influence and spices from the vineyard. It has a lovely long finish with sweet fruit concentration. It is one of the finest Silice Vineyard expressions we have .
-
Images
Reviews
-
Silice Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2022 – Decanter – 94 Points
"Effusively fruited the Silice is so named for the sandy silica soils, the hallmark of the hilly Chehalem Mountain vineyard source. Aromatics of red strawberries and candied raspberry with just a touch of wintergreen freshness provide lift. The palate shows mouthfuls of red bramble fruits, red plums spicy cola and clove and hints of chicory spice bring on the finish."
-
Silice Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2022 – Jeb Dunnuck – 96 Points
"Offers compact notes of black raspberries, baking spices, and tangerine and is highly perfumed with rocky earth. Medium-bodied, it has a more linear feel and is long on the palate, with ripe tannins, a more gravelly texture, and a great, savory finish. Elegant and compact at the same time."
-
Silice Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2022 – Vinous – 93+ Points
"Perfumed with a dusty array of spring flowers, chamomile, crushed stones, cola, and dried black cherries. It’s soothingly round and supple with depths of ripe wild berry fruit complicated by tactile mineral tones that amass toward the close."
-
Silice Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains — 2022 – Wine Spectator – 94 Points
"A precise and expressive version, whose well-knit flavors of raspberry and guava take on forest floor and black tea notes as this builds tension and richness toward medium-grained tannins."