Patricia Greene Durant Vineyard Madrone/2021
Blend
Pinot Noir
Geographical Attributes
This block is on a long, gently sloping stretch of hill that faces due south overlooking southern Yamhill County. The rows run opposite the normal north-south which is, especially in this day and age, not necessarily a bad thing. Dijon 115 is known for its early ripening and deeply concentrated fruit character and the Dundee Hills soil and warm growing conditions can enhance these attributes. This section of the vineyard is fortunate to be bounded on one side by trees which provide both shade and a cooling effect. This old vineyard is the home to the Durants and is a significant historic Oregon site. While this block took nearly 30 years to be planted the journey from laying fallow for years to the type of wines it is capable of putting out now assuredly was worth the wait.
Vintner Notes
The Madrone Block from Durant Vineyard has been somewhat of a crowd-pleaser sort of wine in its youth. Over the past couple/three vintages the wine has solidified itself in the upper echelons of our bottlings. The vines have aged into maturity, the quality of the farming is far greater than it was a decade ago and we have figured out ways to coax out the more subtle qualities in the grapes while still leaving a bit of the more hedonistic side of things for a wine that is deep, rich and satisfying. The Dundee Hills Pinot Noirs can be plush and they can be too much of a good thing if allowed to be. This wine now brings to the table a wealth of red fruit, an amazing texture, but a greater sense of underlying tannin that pulls the largesse of this wine into great balance. This is a delicious wine in the here and now but promises for development in the future.