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WINES & TASTING NOTES
As always, we do not fine or filter our wines. Our two small vineyards of estate fruit produced a mere 275 cases.
2003 Toluca Lane Pinot Noir (Sold Out)
The nose is redolent of aromatic black fruit with a floral hint in the background. The mid-palate is full of black currants with a subtle smoky flavor that fades into soft tones of lavender. The aftertaste has a long finish layered with bright cassis and a nuance of earth and black pepper. Overall, this is an elegant Pinot with round, smooth tannins that lend to it's pleasant mouth feel.
We produced only 200 cases of Toluca Lane .
2003 Three Trees Lane (Sold Out)
Three Trees Lane was created from a blind tasting of all of the barrels. We selected the two favorite barrels. We blind tasted in early 2004 and then again several months later. Each time we came up with the same two barrels. After revealing the source of the two barrels, they turned out to be the estate grapes from our tiny South vineyard. The two barrels yielded 50 cases of Pinot Noir. The harvested grapes were very ripe and produced a huge, dark fruit and earthy wine. My husband has lovingly branded it “a Pinot on steroids!”
Three Trees Lane is not produced every year, only when we both agree on our two favorite barrels. Like our Toluca Lane , this wine is unfined and unfiltered, so some sediment may develop over time.
2004 Toluca Lane Pinot Noir (Sold Out)
We tasted the 2004 in four intervals over a three hour span. What we discovered is an amazing evolution in this wine's life. The subtle nose begins with red raspberries and red cherries and gives way to red fruit and a classic burgundian "cheese" aroma.
The mid-palate taste starts with red cherries and an earthy quality with good, solid, balanced acid coupled with some mineral and spice. It is flushed out with a round, pleasant mouth feel. At the end of three hours of being opened some black fruit emerges with caramel overtones.
The structured finish is beautifully big and long with some Aslan spices and a bit of floral redolent of cherry blossoms. The aftertaste changes into a light star anise flavor and finishes very creamy.
The soft tannin structure in our 2004 gives it the backbone for seamless aging. This sophisticated wine exudes classic Oregon Pinot Noir characteristics. We produced 260 cases of Toluca Lane.
2005 Toluca Lane Pinot Noir (Sold Out)
We produced only 264 cases of the 2005. Our 2005 Pinot Noir carries a
pervasive red cherry theme throughout the nose, mid-palate and
aftertaste. This is our most “Burgundian” effort thus far. The terroir
(soil) plays a major role in this wine. We are surrounded with thyme,
savory, lavender, and cherry tree blossoms and they have all found
their way into influencing the grapes as they grow and ripen.
The weather greatly influenced the style of the 2005 vintage. Bud break
was early and harvest was in October. We had a long, cool growing
season that led to fully developed acids and low sugar. A growing
season much like Burgundy. The first in Oregon in nearly ten years.
2006 Toluca Lane Pinot Noir (Sold Out)
The nose begins with a soft floral quality redolent of roses -- pink roses, soft vanilla aromas and a suggestion of caramel. The mid-palate flavors have hints of black raspberries, followed by chocolate and caramel. The structured finish is balanced and long with a delicate array of allspice, cassis, caramel and a nuance of white pepper.
We produced only 275 cases of the Toluca Lane 2006. Our Pinot Noir is unfined and unfiltered. The wine is drinking very well now and will continue to evolve for several years.
2006 three trees lane (Sold Out)
As many of you know, Three Trees Lane is not produced every year, only when we both agree on our two favorite barrels. The first production was in 2003.
Our process: We blind taste all of the barrels. Making our own separate notes, we then discuss and analyze what our palate dictates to be the two best barrels. This is done in three separate tastings each a month or two apart.
For the 2006, on each occasion we agreed on the same two barrels! After looking up our harvest notes to discern the source of the fruit. Again, as in 2003, it turned out to be the estate grapes from our tiny South vineyard. The two barrels yielded 49 cases of Pinot Noir.
The nose is lush with ripe black cherries, vanilla and a light floral scent. The mid-palate has flavors of blackberries, and explodes into violets, then segues into soft caramel with chocolate overtones. The finish is smooth and viscous with an unctuous caramel-port aftertaste.
As always, this wine is unfiltered and unfined.
