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2008 Big Tree Block Pinot Noir
$70.00

  • This wine shows subtle licorice, mocha and earth aromas and flavors.
  • Pairs well with grilled meats and mushroom dishes.
  • 93 from Wine Spectator; 92 from Wine Advocate
The 2008 growing season began in typically wild Pacific Northwest fashion.  After a cold, wet January, we had a relatively dry and pleasant February.  March was about average for rainfall but we had a surprising dusting of snow right at the end of the month.  April began gently with a few showers and even some 80 degree weather early on, then it got wild - the second half of the month was very cold, with snow, impressive hailstorms, and one day with gale force winds!  May was much calmer and fairly dry, with mild weather except for one four-day heat spike in the middle when we hit 100 degrees.  June, July, and the first half of August were typically dry, with four periods of extremely hot weather before things cooled off in the second half of August, when we had some heavy fall-like rainstorms.  September was very dry and, except for a couple of hot days, was mostly cool and crisp, with mild days and cold nights.  Harvest began slowly with a bit of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris on September 30 and October 1 then we had to stop for a week of showers and even one heavy downpour of about an inch in 24 hours.  We got going again on October 8 and had a nice leisurely three weeks of harvest under mostly clear skies with mild days and cold nights.  Overall an exceptional harvest, with perfect maturity and sugars right at the ideal 22.5 to 23.0 brix level that allow us to make wines of elegance and structure with alcohols under 14%.
 
This is the third year we've produced a single-block bottling from this section of our vineyard.  A small section in the middle of the block was planted in 1998 (at the same time as our Goosepen Block), and the east and west sections planted two years later in 2000.  Though Goosepen and Big Tree are right next to each other, the wines are very different.  Big Tree is more structured and focused - a little leaner and less showy.  Flavors and aromas are subtle and elusive - hints of licorice, blackberry, mocha, minerality, and forest floor earthiness.  The texture is tightly knit, and the tannins are fine and polished.