2018 Fairsing Pinot noir
Harvested September 28, 2018, this wine was barrel fermented 10 months in 23% new French oak before bottling August 29, 2019.
The 2018 Fairsing Vineyard Pinot noir represents the entire 42-acre vineyard and contains fruit from across our cascading hillsides. Selections included in this bottling; Pommard, Wadenswil, Dijon 777, 115 and 114. Fiinal alcohol is 13.8%.
VINTAGE
The early month of the 2018 growing season were mild and drier than normal, followed by a cool and wet March. Bud break begn in mid-April with warm temperatures that accelerated growth.
We observed bloom in mid-June with véraison mid-August and the summer continued as one of the driest in recent history.
September cooled down nicely which allowed the sugars and acids to hold steady while flavors developed to their full potential.
HARVEST
Early fall weather proved ideal with rain waiting until October providing a prolonged harvest window. We harvested our Pinot Noir vines under clear skies on September 28, 2018.
ELEVAGE
This wine fermented in two-ton fermenters and before being moved to barrels, 23% of which were new French oak sourced from the Billon, Sirugue, and Cadus cooperages with emphasis on the Troncais and Allier forests.
Barrel-aged 10 months, bottling occurred August 29, 2019 with a final alcohol of 13.8%.
Case production 2,016
Beautiful now, this wine will cellar well through 2027.
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Varietal | Pinot noir |
| Varietal Composition | Pommard (50%), Wadensvil (20%), Dijon 777 (20%) Dijon 115 (7%) and Dijon 114 (3%) |
| Appellation | Yamhill-Carlton AVA |
| Vineyard | Fairsing Vineyard |
| Designation | Pinot noir |
| Harvest Date | 09/28/2018 |
| Acid | 6.1 |
| PH | 3.52 |
| Aging | 10 months, 23% new French oak |
| Alcohol | 13.80% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 08/29/2019 |
| Cases Produced | 2016 |
93 Points - JamesSuckling.com:
"Violets and blueberries define the nose with a handy sense of purity and rich, ripe dark berries. The palate has a fresh, lively feel with succulent dark cherries building long into the fine-tannin finish. Drink or hold."
- January 2020
Fairsing Vineyard is managed sustainably in Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton American Viticulture Area (AVA) with 38 acres of Pinot noir and two acres of Chardonnay in production. Fairsing Vineyard is a certified member of the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) Association, the Salmon Safe program and the American Tree Farm System.
No pesticides or persistent herbicides are utilized on our 170 acre site.
Our vineyard has a diverse ecosystem, including 80 acres dedicated to a Certified Family Forest. The site is a micro watershed with numerous streams supplying Chehalem Creek. Green reserves adjacent to the vineyard blocks are maintained to enhance biodiversity.
Robert Brittan completed his education at UC Davis and moved to Napa Valley, where he crafted wines for Far Niente, Saint Andrews and Stags’ Leap Winery. After a 16 year career with Stags’ Leap Winery as Winemaker and Estate Manager, Robert headed north to fulfill his dream of making Pinot noir and Syrah from unique sites in cooler climates.
With over 40 years experience tending grape vines and crafting wines, Robert is the consulting winemaker for select vineyards in the Northern Willamette Valley.
Since 2012 Robert and his team have been crafting wines for Fairsing that are distinctive and expressive of the property. Robert's enthusiasm for the varied exposures, geology, micro-climates, and selections across Fairsing Vineyard is reflected in his site-driven wines. Robert feels Pinot noir and Chardonnay lend themselves to many wonderful interpretations, depending on the soils and microclimates where they are grown.
