Colene Clemens Vineyards Dopp Creek Pinot Noir 2021 Red Wine

Colene Clemens Vineyards Dopp Creek Pinot Noir 2021 Red Wine

Chehalam Mountains, Willamette Valley, OR

94 pts. Wine Spectator:

"This expressive red is dynamic, yet retains a sense of elegance and refinement, showing pomegranate and blueberry flavors underscored by river stone and dusky spice accents. Builds tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2032". - T.F.

93 pts. James Suckling:

"A juicy and tasty pinot with aromas of dark cherries, sliced mushrooms, chocolate strawberries, cardamom and nutmeg. Medium-bodied, creamy and well-balanced, with fine-grained tannins and a bright finish. Drink now or hold."

The grapes in this delicious Willamette Valley Pinot Noir are sourced from vineyards grown in both volcanic and sedimentary soils. The result is a complex wine, with layers of enticing flavors - definitely not a boring, one-dimensional wine! A crazy good value for such an impressive Pinot.  – Wine Factor

FROM THE WINERY

Dopp Creek represents the broadest combined expression of our Estate, and embodies our most approachable and versatile wine. The 2021 Dopp Creek opens with a bright, red-fruited nose, like a sun-warmed ripe raspberry. On the palate this wine is focused and bright, with a supple texture and soft tannins that showcase flavors of red fruit, a dash of warm spice, and hints of dark chocolate and coffee beans towards the finish. Drink now, or if you can wait, watch this wine age gorgeously over the next five 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 32% new, 20% 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: 29% Pommard, 21% Dijon 115, 20% Dijon 777, 18% Wädenswil, 6% Dijon 667, 6% Dijon 114

Cases produced: 4,843