Brittan Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir 2022

This is showing beautifully out of the gate. A dark fruited nose of raspberry, blackberry and black currant is accented by dried herbs and barrel spice. Classically Brittan brambly dark fruited intensity joins tobacco, fennel, five-spice and a hint of coffee, making for delightful complexity. The whole thing coasts on a rounded, fleshy texture yet with excellent energy.

The Brittan Estate Vineyard lies just 12 miles southwest of McMinnville, tucked into the foothills of the Coast Range. The original 18 acres were planted in 2001, but due to the challenging nature of this site and limited topsoil, only eight acres survived. Since 2004 when Robert and Ellen purchased the vineyard, it has been an ongoing rehabilitation project: replanting, retraining, and learning the unique landscape that has become Brittan Vineyard.

2022 was a challenging but ultimately rewarding vintage. A cool, wet spring and late bud break left the Willamette Valley vulnerable to frost events in April. Brittan’s site is a little later than most, so the buds on their were just beginning to push when the frost hit. The Pinot noir and Syrah blocks, while not unscathed by the frost, fared much better than the lower elevation Chardonnay blocks. Late season sun, warmth, and a particularly long rain-free spell in October allowed the grapes to finish ripening–an ideal end to the growing season.