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wine of the month

2006 Soter North Valley Oregon Pinot Noir

THE WINE North Valley Pinot Noir is made from a handful of select sites here in the North end of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Close relationships with local growers, careful farming, and Tony Soter’s 30+ years winegrowing experience make this a truly superb and versatile Pinot Noir. Our goal is to produce a quintessential Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, typical of both the variety and our area in its charm, accessibility, and versatility at the table.

THE HARVEST 2006 was a terrific year in our corner of the Willamette Valley. A good fruit set and warm temperatures in the spring and summer put us ahead of schedule. The grapes came in under sunny skies and moderate temperatures in late September and early October. It is difficult to imagine better ripening conditions. All of these grapes were farmed without pesticides or residual herbicides, and were certified as sustainable by Oregon’s L.I.V.E. program.

WINEMAKING The wine was fermented in small open vats, and was aged in second- and third-season French oak barrels from the finest Burgundian coopers. It spent 10 months in barrel, and was gently racked only into the bottling tank, where it remained until bottling in November 2007.

TASTING NOTE 2006 North Valley Pinot Noir displays notes of red cherries, raspberries, and an exotic red fruit quality that reminds us of rose petals and guava. Even in this ripe vintage, Soter’s trademark balance and silken texture on the palate shine through. Pinot Noir should have delicacy and lilt and faraway spices; this one has them to spare.

Available at the Grove for $65/bottle

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