TASTING NOTES - Tony Rynders, Winemaker
Enticing aromas of yellow apple, spicy pear, lemon grass, vanilla and caramelized sugar. The palate shows wonderfully intense flavors of meyer lemon, citrus flower, mineral, slight pineapple and quince with good structure and a long, lively finish.

VINEYARD
The Etoile Vineyard, situated high on the west slope on the Evenstad Estate in the Dundee Hills, is planted to Dijon clones 95 and 76 with elevation ranging from 740-780 feet.

VINTAGE NOTES
After a warm and relatively dry winter, bud break arrived in early March. Spring weather was cool and relatively wet, thus creating a broad range in bloom from site to site. The resulting crop loads were relatively small. Moderate summer temperatures were followed by mild yet dry fall conditions. Because we dry farm, our one late season rain event sparked the arrival of intense flavors and a great degree of individual site expression. The wines from 2005 display a wonderful array of red, blue and black fruits and display impeccable balance and incredible length. One of the best vintages to date.

AGING - 18 months sur lees with frequent battonage (lees stirring) in French oak barrels - none of which none were new.

CROP YIELD - 2.0 tons/acre