2021 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills AVA
Tasting Notes
Any release of our Temperance Hill Pinot Noir is a special one! Its spicy cherry and floral-laden aromas hint at what’s to come on the palate. Layers of bright red fruits with subtle hints of something savory show off great complexity with fruit, earth, mineral, and spice mingled together in a seamless, elegant expression of Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir. 100 cases produced!
About Temperance Hill Vineyard
This second-generation vineyard was first planted in 1981 on what is believed to be the remnants of an ancient volcano. Exposed to the cold Van Duzer winds at an elevation between 660 and 860 feet, Temperance Hill is one of the cooler sites in the Willamette Valley. Soil types are Nekia, Rittner, and Jory with varying slopes and exposures making it a very complex vineyard site. Temperance Hill is an organically farmed vineyard that uses certified Salmon-Safe methods.
2021 Vintage
The 2021 vintage was an exceptional year. The timing of weather events was key to our success in 2021. We experienced a bit of rainfall during bloom which helped to lower yields by producing some hens and chicks (variable-sized berries). Then a historic heat event happened during late-June which brought worrisome temperatures at a time that luckily did not result in any damage to our grape crop. Growth resumed normally once temperatures cooled with average heat from July through September bringing even ripening to the plentiful small, loose clusters. For Pinot Noirs, expect intense color and flavors bursting out of the glass, while white wines and rosés are fruit-forward with great acidity and balance.