Loop de Loop Pinot Gris 'Borderline Red' 2022

In 2021 we explored the potential behind pinot gris and made several wines from this varietal. We look at it as an offspring of pinot noir. A light red varietal that has the elegance and complexity of wines from the Jura. From the old Acadia Vineyard, about a mile from our own vineyard, on an ancient shield volcano, Underwood Mountain. Here we are at the westernmost edge of the Columbia Gorge AVA - the wettest and coldest part at 1300-1500 feet & sub alpine climate. At 15 yrs-old this site has been organically farmed since inception. From this vineyard we are looking across to the peak of Mt Hood and down to the Columbia River. This 12-acre vineyard is planted within an 80-acre pear orchard with blocks of grape  varietals interplanted alongside blocks of different pear varieties. It is dry farmed and not tilled – it feels wild and of the natural: full of life. There are unruly shoots from vines intermingling with birds’ nests, wildflowers and wild carrot while the native and honey bees alike dance around. The volcanic soil here has  been well cared for and this site consistently produces lovely site-specific wines. 

In the cellar: Pinot Gris from 1400 = in elevation, organically farmed without tilling or irrigation, was allowed to ripen late into October. We picked it at 22 brx and divided it into 2 (1.5 ton) fermenters. Both were allowed to ferment on the skins for 21 days seeing only gentle pigéage. At this time, one fermenter was pressed - and the other underwent post fermentation maceration for an additional 63 days on the skins prior to pressing. They were both aged on their lees in neutral oak prior to bottling, unfined and  unfiltered, with the addition of less than 20 ppm SO2.