not-So-Pretentious Wine Reviews...except merlot.

Wine Reviews - >> Read Now

Why No Merlot?: Learn why we do not drink merlot.
Wine Reviews
Reviews of wine of all types, except merlot.
Red
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, etc
White
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, etc.



Anne Amie Vineyard




About the Vineyard

Anne Amie wines come from diverse sites. Our estate vineyards at the winery include a 16 acre Pinot Noir vineyard and an 11 acre Riesling that was planted in 1979. The intitial 5.5 acres of Pinot Noir were planted in 2000 with the first harvest in 2003. The first fruit from the additional acreage is expected in 2006.

Along with these vineyards, Dr. Pamplin also commissioned Scott Huffman to oversee the planting of two separate Pinot Noir sites on his property west of Newberg, Oregon. The first site, at a 500-foot elevation, faces southeast. The second site, which rests on a south-facing slope at a higher elevation of 650 feet, boasts breathtaking views of the valley below and Mount Hood to the northeast. The sites are planted densely to yield several different clones of Pinot Noir, including 777, 115 & Pommard, as well as Pinot Gris. Both vineyard sites are composed of Jory soil and promise to make great contributions to the Anne Amie Vineyard Designate Pinot Noirs in years to come as well as our Winemaker Selection wines.

Early in Anne Amie’s evolution, winemaker Scott Huffman searched for additional sites that met his specific requirements for producing world-class Pinot Noir. His intention was to start a Vineyard Designate program and reflect the terroir of each site from vintage to vintage. Initially Scott settled on four primary vineyards: Doe Ridge, Hawk’s View, Yamhill Springs, and Laurel. We have since added La Colina and Deux Vert Vineyards.With optimal aspect, exposure, soil type and plant density, Scott knew that there was potential for truly intense fruit from these sites if the yields were kept low.

Doe Ridge Vineyard was planted in 1991 on Willakenzie soil with both Pommard and Wadenswil clones. Situated just three miles northwest of the winery, Doe Ridge is known for producing wines with intense cherry and black cherry flavors and a distinct forest floor-like earthiness. The 2002 marks the last vintage that Doe Ridge will be part of our Vineyard Designate program. The vineyard was cleared in 2004 due to phylloxera.

Hawk’s View Vineyard is an organically farmed 12-year-old vineyard composed of Laurel Series soils and is located on the west slope of the Chehalem Ridge. Hawk’s View Vineyard is a working study of organic viticulture. Sustainable viticulture is important to us and we are committed to researching the best farming practices for obtaining exceptional fruit naturally. Hawk’s View has earned a reputation for producing wines capable of long-term aging with great fruit, structure, and mouthwatering intensity.

Yamhill Springs Vineyard sits at a 550-foot elevation at the base of the foothills in the coast range. Its unusual Peavine soil is densely planted with over 2000 plants per acre. The vineyard has produced remarkably elegant, fruit-driven wines.

Sitting at nearly 1000 feet, Laurel Vineyard utilizes a unique high elevation and cool climate trellising system called the Geneva Double Curtain trellis. The trellis system exposes the fruit to direct sunlight, but, because of the vineyard’s high elevation, the grapes may not ripen enough some years to produce a wine worthy of a vineyard designation, even with extremely low yields. This extreme site will only be designated in outstanding years. However, extreme sites often produce the world’s best wines; the Pinot Noir produced from this site is exotic and fruit-driven with a distinct personality.

La Colina is our only site on Jory soil and has produced wines with great varietal character; “fruit bomb” is an appropriate description for wines produced from this site. The Pinot Noir from La Colina has a strong floral quality reminiscent of violets.

Deux Vert is a warm site on Willakenzie soil near the town of Yamhill. This site produces rich, intense wines redolent of black fruit with an underlying mineral and spice components. We expect the Pinot Noir produced from Deux Vert to be a great wine for the cellar.

Small lots of distinct wines other than Pinot Noir, Pint Gris and Riesling are also produced and sold exclusively at the winery. Look for a 2003 Syrah, 2004 Pinot Blanc, 2004 Viogner and a Cabernet based blend called “Belle Rouge” to be released at the winery in the spring of 2005.



Topics of this page of NoMerlot.com : Wine reviews winery search engine. Read wine reviews search wineries, wines.