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2007 Vintage Debut Pinot Noir

Vintage Debut is the first Pinot Noir released from the vintage. This wine provides an introduction to the vintage and Amalie Robert Estate.

As is the case with all of our wines, this bottling is 100% Estate grown and hand harvested Pinot Noir. The wines were fermented with whole clusters and indigenous yeast from the vineyard. In the cellar, we aged the individual lots in French oak barrels for 12 months. The blend is a reflection of our soils, microclimates and stewardship of the land.

The Vintage: The 2007 vintage was another example of cool climate viticulture. Our measure of this is degree days, or how much warmth the vines received. We registered below 1,900 degree days, the coolest year we have ever seen at Amalie Robert Estate.

The vines however, did not seem overly concerned. Bud break and bloom came as we have come to expect. Fruit set was not overloaded as we saw in 2006.

This vintage brought considerable disease pressure to the Willamette Valley. We were fortunate to have been on top of the challenges for the year and had little incidence of compromised fruit. This in turn allowed us to let our fruit hang through the rains of early October. Harvest was “fast and furious” during the middle 2 weeks of October, and the Syrah and Viognier were picked on November 7^th.

Tasting Notes: Montmorency cherry red shows in the glass. Graceful aromas of crushed red raspberries, sandalwood, tilled soil, five spice and dried savory. The palate is elegant and provides an earthy core of sweetness encased by tart cherry compote, ripe red raspberries, and tea leaves. The finish lingers and is framed by integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Unfined and unfiltered.

Food Pairings: The 2007 Vintage Debut exhibits a wide range. Smoked Salmon Palmiers with cucumber dill sauce and sun-dried tomato pesto provide an elegant starter. For the mains, we suggest pairing this wine with roast quail stuffed with farro, wild mushrooms, and pancetta. Afters include locally farmed cheeses.

2007 Oregon Pinot Noir Vintage Primer

2007 Vintage Debut Accolades

Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/August 2010

Very light red. Spicy red fruit and herbs on the nose. Light-bodied, minerally raspberry and cherry flavors convey an ethereal quality and show a seamless texture. Graceful, precise and tangy on the finish, with the mineral and raspberry notes echoing. There's a weightless quality here that's intriguing. 90 points

Northwest Palate Magazine, July/August 2010: Two Clusters - Highly Recommended

Distinctly light in color, with clear red cherry fruit aromas that also offer a gentle sense of dried herbs. Tasty and clean flavors of cherry and red raspberry spill over the tongue with a juicy character, full of sweet/tart fruitiness. Notes of tea and dried herbs add a satisfying complexity. The forward fruit character belies the gentle coloration proving once again that you can't judge  Pinot's power (or a Pinot vintage) by color density. Excellent balance of fruit, acid, and a lush texture helps create a deep and long tasting experience. While fresh wild salmon is the obvious pairing, try it also with Pasta Primavera.

Oregon Wine Awards, May 2010: Double Gold