Robert Parker - 97
The 2019 Pinot Noir Hyland Vineyard comes from self-rooted vines planted in 1989. It was vinified with about 15% whole clusters and matured for 14 months. It has layered aromas of kirsch, pipe tobacco, tea leaves and Angostura bitters, offering something new with each return to the glass. Detailed and silky, the palate is bursting with waves of concentrated, nuanced fruit, energized by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a compellingly long finish with a fan of spicy accents.
Published: Sep 29, 2023
tasting notes
sweet cranberry, red rose, ponderosa bark, mulling spice—fresh, mouth-watering acidity & gentle, fine-grain tannin structure—medium frame, lithe and wonderfully elegant
ava McMinnville
elevation 600 ft
soils Volcanic Basalt (Jory series)
planted 1989, Self-Rooted Coury Selection from Alsace
farming Dry-Farmed, Organic management
harvest October 2, 2019 whole cluster: 30%
elevage 13 months in 228L, Average Barrel Age 4-5 years (8% new)
bottled Dec. 4, 2020, Unfined & Unfiltered, 13.2% Alc.
cases produced 296 (750ml x 12)
the Terroir
Hyland vineyard is one of the Willamette Valley's historic vineyards, planted in the early 1970s with clonal selections of Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot noir that originated in Alsace. These vines are now referred to as "Coury" selections‒named for Charles Coury who sourced the cuttings. This block of Coury Pinot noir was planted selfrooted in 1989 in weathered volcanic soil overlying hard basalt. The vineyard is farmed organically and without irrigation. Hyland is situated on the shoulder of the van duzer gap, the "air-conditioning" pathway through the Coast Range where marine air enters from the west and cools the Willamette Valley. Persistent wind spills over this neighborhood, moderating temperatures and allowing for patient ripening and retention of fresh acidity. We find there is always a distinct textural elegance and freshness to this wine that delights us year after year.
