94 POINTS - "The 2006 Pinot Noir Winery Hill Vineyard is sourced from Dijon clones planted in 2000 and 2001. It was fermented with 3.5% stems for additional spiciness. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a spicy, cigar box perfume along with expressive blue and black fruits. On the palate it is quite dense and weighty with layers of savory dark fruit flavors bordering on opulence. This rich wine has a finish lasting for nearly a minute. Drink it from 2012 to 2020." - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
VINEYARD
The beautiful Winery Hill Estate is one of Domaine Serene’s three vineyard estates. Located in the Dundee Hills of Oregon, one mile north of the Evenstad Estate, it is home to Domaine Serene’s winery and to the 20 acre Winery Hill Vineyard. The dry-farmed vineyard is planted to Dijon clones 114, 115, and 777 of Pinot Noir on yield-limiting rootstocks. At 800-850 feet in elevation, the vineyard soil is Jory type.
CROP YIELD & AGING
2.10 tons/acre.
Aged 14 months in French oak barrels of which 96% were new.
VINTAGE NOTES
2006 is destined to be a classic. Nearly perfect conditions at bloom and a long warm growing season led to a warm harvest producing fully ripened and mature fruit of exceptional quality. A relatively mild spring, followed by warm and dry months and small heat spikes in June and September, allowed for additional hang-time and promoted flavor development and concentration. Continued warmth in September and October, despite a few periods of rain, resulted in a fast and furious harvest. The mild, late rains cooled the fruit, tempering the hot days and slowing sugar development. This resulted in optimal ripeness and maturity. Truly a “vintage made in the vineyard”, our regimen of thinning to one cluster per shoot allowed us to achieve our average crop yield of 2 tons per acre, producing wines with rich, concentrated flavors and balance while maintaining the elegance and lush varietal character that Domaine Serene is famous for. |
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