Unmistakably pure aromatic profile of dark cherry and crushed berries, the power and focus of the aromatic tone is captivating. The “Sojeauness” is all there; the density and drive producing positive and mouthwatering energy across the palate. The persistence and integration of tannin in 2019 is simply astonishing—the pull of the wines goes endlessly, with a plush and generous weight perfectly matched by the strength of the frame. Tension in wine is hard to describe, but I think we have captured it here.
The string of special wines from Sojeau Vineyard continues with this epic single vineyard Pinot noir. Perched high in the Eola-Amity Hills, staring into the gap in the Coast Range known as the Van Duzer Corridor, Sojourner Vineyard is a truly special place and Will has captures the essence of it perfectly. -Marcus
Sojeau crests a boulder strewn outcropping of volcanic soil on the high Western flank of the Eola-Hills, leering down from 700 feet toward his former property Eola-Springs and the famed Van Duzer Corridor. Planted in 2007 to three clones of Pinot Noir, Violin sources rows from each of the sections of Dijon 115, Wadensville, and Pommard that co-ferment together. Sojeau has a unique balance of tannin and concentration, producing textures that approach supple, velvety, and seamless. The wines lean toward a red fruit profile, with an enticing aromatic quality that is unmistakably Pinot Noir, but on the classic side of the scale.
Sojeau Pinot noir brought us the ultimate in balanced chemistry and concentration. Our yields were down almost 20% from 2018, but the cool finish to harvest meant we hit our mark perfectly with respect to ripeness. I fermented two lots, the larger of the two with 18% as whole cluster, and a “sans stems” lot of 100% destemmed berries. The final blend came from three barrels of the 18% whole cluster lot and one barrel from the all destemmed lot, racked in early January after almost 16 total months in oak, 25% new, and bottled on the 20th of the month with the other 19s.