2023 Pinot Noir Lower Long Tom

Established in 2021, the Lower Long Tom AVA sits within the west side of the Lower Long Tom Watershed between Corvallis and Eugene. This is the home of our estate vineyard and here we blend fruit from our own vines with that of our neighbors in pursuit of a wine that captures the region. With Bellpine soils being marine sedimentary, the shallow topsoils force the roots of the grapevine to penetrae through sandstone in order to reach nutrients and water below. Thus creating a smaller canopy on the vine, a bit more sun exposure to the fruit, and a wine with a bit more structure when young. 

To the west, the region is flanked by significantly higher elevations of the coast range, which serve to slightly redirect storms, reduce precipitation and, combined with the prevailing winds, create a macroclimate with less disease pressure during the growing season and consisitent fruit maturity, even in more difficult vintages. Our winemaker, Matt, cites his morning commute around harvest from Eugene, leaving a bit of misty early morning rain and arriving to the winery to find that the vineyard is dry -- these subtle variations don't necessarily prevent big storms from hitting, but can help with picking decisions as they will often give us a slightly larger window for harvest dates.