720 Cellars Current Releases
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2005 Oregon Pinot Noir, "Croft Vineyards"
A wine of assertive volume, ripe fruit, deep soil minerals, and balanced vine maturity, this wine is worthy of time in the glass while you work on your list of favorite adjectives. Sourced exclusively from Croft Vineyards, on the skirts of the Eola Hills in the Willamette Valley, this wine was made from a select series of Pommard (~65%) and Wadenswil (35%) clones, planted in 1991 and 1985. These vines, and all vines at Croft for that matter, have been farmed following organic practices since inception, and we are pleased to announce that this is our first Pinot Noir having winegrapes following organically grown certification.
The harvested clusters were gently destemmed and fermented in open topped containers, holding about 1.1 tons, or 1/2 acre each. Fermentation was long, slow, cool, and quiet, and we followed with a light pressing and unification of the free run and press fractions. Pressing day was very reminicent of velvety blue-winged butterflies waving whiffs of lavender and blueberries thoughout the winery. Seriously. The fresh wine was then barreled down to 20% new (and 80% progressively older) French oak barrels from the Allier and Nevers forests for 20 months. The wine was bottled by hand on a nice, sunny day in late July 2007 in the company of good friends.
Availability: $40. 310 cases produced.
2005 Oregon Pinot Noir, "Willamette Valley"
In much the same way as the guy in the Bentley meets the other guy in the Chevy Nova at the stoplight to discuss their needs for mustard, this wine is made of nearly pure Dijon clones (777 & 115) from Temperance Hill and Croft Vineyards. Add to these bright and pleasing vines a splash of Pommard, a dash of Wadenswil, and 20 months of barrel age are you are given a lively wine that is sure to please...and go well with whatever you're eating in the posh dining area of that vintage Bentley or on the dashboard of that Nova (assuming no driving, of course).
The fundamentals of this wine center on the bright acidity, cherry and anise roundness, and rose/ bramble overtones. Each blending component provides a foundation that builds and fills to a well-rounded mouth feel to provide balanced structure that will complement, and not dominate, your favorite cuisine. The extended barrel age provides opportunities for this wine to achieve a sweetness and refinement in the nose. A lovely wine worthy of age, unless you can't wait.
Availability: $26. 371 cases produced.
2006 Oregon Pinot Gris, "Croft Vineyards"
Made as a vineyard designate with certified organically grown grapes, this wine shows the strengths of the site's ability to produce a deep mineral and stonefruit background, with a foundation of honey to support the bright aromatics of pineapple, pear and tropical fruits. In other words, it's like one of those groovy hats that Carmen Miranda once wore to show the world the samba, only it's a refreshingly dry and crisp white wine, and not a hat.
We gently press the whole clusters of Pinot gris to yield the finest of the juice run, and ferment it very slowly at cool temperatures to retain the delicate fruit balance. The wine is bottled in the Spring for Fall release. Like Pinot Noir, we find a little bit of time following bottling really improves the overall balance and expansion of this wine.
Availability: $18. 141 cases produced.
