Vertical Collection: Menefee Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noirs, Vintages 2017-2019
Located in our home appellation of Yamhill-Carlton, Menefee Vineyard could not be more different than our own. This is why working with this site is so exciting for us. Our Estate which we fondly refer to has Finn Hill, is on the eastern-most edge of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. We are directly on the boundary between the Yamhill-Carlton and Dundee Hills AVAs. Our site produces dark, brooding Pinot noirs with robust tannin. They often look more like Syrah when they are young. Menefee Vineyards however is on the western edge of our AVA, a 30-minute drive from our winery and vineyard. The vineyard is tucked far into the foothills of the coast range mountains and has a very different terroir (set of growing characteristics) than our own vineyard. This site is what we consider the exact opposite of our own, they usually showcase elegant red fruit, are more plush than angular, with refined tannin.
Much of these differences can be attributed to the difference in soil type with Menefee being rich in ancient, weathered basalt. This ancient volcanic soil usually allows for a little more water access and helps create a tannin structure that is softer and a wine that has more delicate characteristics. Despite this softer structure we are usually harvesting this vineyard later in the season and on average lower in Brix which means the natural acidity in the grapes is preserved and they are beuatiully balanced. We usually find our Menefee Vineyard Pinot noirs enjoyable far younger than our Estate Pinot noirs, although they both age beautifully.
