Vineyard Notes: Seven Springs Vineyard is owned by Raj Parr and Sashi Moorman of Evening Land Vineyards. I am grateful to lease two blocks of non-irrigated Dijon clones growing in volcanic basalt soils between 500′-550′ in the South Block. This portion of Seven Springs faces southeast and was planted in 2012. The oldest vines at Seven Springs date back to 1984 – it is easily one of the most iconic vineyards in the Willamette Valley, and for good reason. Seven Springs is farmed organically by Jessica Cortell’s Vitis Terra outfit.
Vinification Notes: Whole cluster pressed; the heart was allowed to brown for 12 hours before being sulfured. One press cut was made, and the hard press kept separate with no sulfur. After 24 hours of cold settling on organic yeast hulls, the heart was racked off all solids into a warming stainless tank with a fermenting pied de cuve. After primary fermentation started, the must was racked into oak and was bone dry in 10 days. Malolactic engaged and completed between late December and early February 2021. It aged for 11.5 months in 50% new oak from a 350L Damy Vosges Long Light + puncheon and 50% third fill 350L Damy Vosges Long Light puncheon before being racked off lees into steel for a second winter. Cold stabilized, bottled unfiltered on February 11, 2022. Closed with 49x24mm ‘Extra’ Aquitaine Liege punch cork.
Tasting Notes: Brilliant aromas are faintly flinty but bursting with lime curd, lemon oil, quinine, spearmint, white peach and ginger. Tensile, juicy and crisp, there is saline, stony minerality stretching out long with fine texture and a lingering finish of mixed citrus, green tea and a hint of evergreen.
Light, bright yellow. An expansive, complex bouquet evokes fresh citrus and orchard fruits, oyster shell, vanilla and white flowers, and a hint of fennel emerges with air. Sappy, penetrating and lively on the palate, offering nervy Meyer lemon, pear, ginger and toasted brioche flavors that deepen and spread out slowly on the back half. Powerful and well-concentrated yet lithe, finishing with superb energy and lingering floral and mineral flourishes. 95pts
— Josh Raynolds-VINOUS about 2019 Vintage