Winemaker Robert Brittan, a wine industry veteran with the experience of over 45 harvests, has always had a passion for Pinot noir; a love affair that began in the 1980’s when he made several vintages under his Britt Hill label with fruit from Carneros. In 2004, Robert decided to leave Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa and start a Pinot noir project in the cool climate of the northern Willamette Valley.
Block notes
The 3.5 acre Heritage Block, situated on the small southeast facing ridge above Gestalt, is planted to the Calera, Mt. Eden, Swan, Pommard and Wadenswil selections of Pinot noir, the ‘heritage’ selections of California and Oregon. Shallow volcanic soils sit atop ancient basalts and, at higher elevations, a thin layer of compacted marine sediments. The vines are more protected from the Van Duzer winds than Basalt and should enjoy additional hours of ripening as well. While still early in the block’s evolution, we expect profound, generous wines full of rich, dark fruit.
Vintage notes
The 2021 vintage, despite some challenges, produced wines with intensity and richness. A mild winter was followed by a warm and dry spring. Summer brought warm temperatures with occasional heat spikes, including the June heat dome that caused some stress in the vineyard. Yields were significantly lower than normal, with some blocks producing less than one ton per acre. Harvest began on September 17 and continued into early October, resulting in wines with good balance and acidity.
