Colene Clemens Vineyards Margo Pinot Noir 2021 Red Wine

Colene Clemens Vineyards Margo Pinot Noir 2021 

Willamette Valley, OR

94 pts. Wine Spectator: 

"A wine of depth and presence, this Pinot slowly unfolds with an elegant intensity that highlights blueberry and raspberry flavors, laced by crushed stone and savory tarragon as this builds toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032. 2,142 cases made."

94 pts. Jeb Dunnuck:

"A medium ruby color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Margo is spicy and floral with ripe raspberry, potpourri, fresh rose petal, woodsy spice, and moss-covered earth. The palate takes on a more savory profile, with iron-rich earth, orange peel, and energetic citrus oils through the palate, and it has a more coiled feel in its youthful state, with a long finish. Drink 2025-2035."

 93 pts. James Suckling:

"This has aromas of raspberries, cranberries, watermelon rind, lavender and rosemary stems. Some green olive. It’s medium-bodied, mineral and sleek with a delicious sweet and salty character. Seamless tannins. Persistent. Drink or hold."

The quality of the wines coming out of Colene Clemens is just mind-boggling. Their Pinot Noirs consistently bring in high scores, and deservedly so. The “Margo” is always a crowd-pleaser – it’s very easy to love this wine! Talented winemaker Stephen Goff predicts his 2021 Pinots will age gracefully for many years, so stock up!  – Wine Factor

FROM THE WINERY

Margo, named after Colene’s great granddaughter, is comprised of selected vineyard blocks and barrels from our Estate. The 2021 Margo has a lovely nose of bright medium red fruit with a hint of plum. Velvety tannins support a broad and intense impression on the palate, mingling raspberry and cherry tones with a subtle note of rosemary and thyme. With a persistent finish that echoes the fruit and herb notes, this pretty pinot noir is incredibly compelling and keeps you coming back for more. This wine drinks fantastically right now, and will age gorgeously over the next five to eight years.

Winemaking: 

The 2021 growing season was another warm and dry one, but certainly not the warmest of recent memory. Harvest began on September 13 and continued through the 17, after which we took almost a week off due to a small shot of rain, and resumed picking the 23 through the 26. Once in the winery, the fruit was 100% destemmed into small stainless steel tanks and began a 4—5 day cold soak. Following this, tanks were gently warmed, and fermentation by indigenous yeast began and continued for 10-14 days. 

Throughout primary fermentation, the tanks were gently punched down by hand twice daily. Once fermentation was complete, the wine remained in tank for 5-7 days of extended maceration, after which it was drained, and the skins and seeds went to press to very gently to procure the remaining juice. Both the free-run juice and pressed juice went directly to barrel without settling. After aging for 11 months in 28% new, 21% 1 year, 29% 2 year, 18% 3 year, and 4% 4 year old French oak barrels, the wine was blended in September and bottled in December of 2022. 

Clonal composition: 46% Pommard, 25% Dijon 115, 16% Wädenswil, 13% Dijon 77

The 2021 wines show good concentration and power with a surprising amount of restraint and elegance given the overall warmer nature of the vintage. Despite the heat we were able to achieve a nice level of physiological maturity without being over ripe. These finely balanced wines exhibit a generous fruit character with a sturdy and supple underlying structure. Expect the wines to bring both good near-term accessibility as well as a solid longer term ageability.