2021 Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir

2021 was a prototypical Willamette Valley vintage. The goal of crafting the 2021 Looney Pinot Noir blend was to let the fruit and vineyard shine, create something that showcases the true essence of Ribbon Ridge AVA, and highlight the earthiness and balanced tannin along with the signature Ribbon Ridge cherry fruit on the back end. Similar to the 2020 Pinots, this is a wine that you could age for 20 years but can also consume now. Unlike the 2020 release, we used about 1/3 whole cluster fermentation. We also used a different clonal blend for the 21s that included the addition of both 667 and Pommard along with the 113 backbone that is a signature of the Looney Vineyard. Using a mixture of new oak barrels, one fill and two fill barrels, the older oak helps to balance the tension of the wine while supporting the natural charisma that Looney Vineyard offers. We intend to have a full release of this wine in fall of 2024, but it is already tasting amazing. This wine will continue to evolve and get better with age, and may be cellared for years, if not decades, should patience win out. Cheers!