2021 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir
2021 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir
HIBISCUS | CINNAMON BARK | ELEGANT
‘What a lovely expression of Breaking Ground! This wine is sleek and elegant, redolent of hibiscus tea, fresh cherry, cinnamon bark, and nutmeg. These aromas are echoed on the palate and framed by finessed, fine-grained tannins. I will drink this wine with everything.’
-Gina Hennen, Winemaker
Appellation: Chehalem Mountains
Farming: LIVE certified
Composition: 100% Pinot noir
93 POINTS, Jeb Dunnuck
“Pretty and inviting, the medium-bodied 2021 Pinot Noir Breaking Ground pours a ripe ruby color and has a perfume of rose petal, wild raspberry, and wet stone. It moves seamlessly to the palate with a weightless feel, fine tannins, and a clean, freshness of lift on the finish. It is elegant and easy-drinking, though it will have some longevity for sure.”
91 POINTS, Wine Enthusiast
“The wine's earthy aromas of loam and wild mushrooms are joined by a sweet blackberry and lilac note that is perfume-like. Vigorous acidity and silky tannins back flavors of tangy red raspberries, cacao nibs, and a trace of spicy Ligurian olive oil. Such a lively Pinot Noir.”
Vineyards
Grapes for this wine come from 8 select hillside sites within the Chehalem Mountains AVA, 77% of which are estate. These vineyards showcase the complexity of this AVA, covering a diversity of clones and rootstocks, and are planted on all three major soil types found in this region: 27% loess, 26% sedimentary, and 47% volcanic
FERMENTATION
The grapes were hand-harvested and destemmed into stainless steel tanks (around 4% were left as whole cluster) for 2-3 weeks of fermentation. Once fermentation was complete the grapes were gently pressed and settled, then racked to barrel.
The 2021 vintage
The 2021 Vintage was one for the books, and not just because we were celebrating our 50th Anniversary! The growing season got an early jump start thanks to the warmer than normal temperatures and one of the driest March and April’s ever recorded. One of the only rain events we saw came right at bloom, with 1.5” of rain falling during f lower pollination resulting in a reduced crop load, ideal for vine balance and optimal ripening. The end of June surprised us all with a recording breaking heat event; 3 consecutive days of over 115 degrees. Fortunately, the vineyards endured remarkably well and the developing clusters continued to show promise. After concerns of low soil moisture and high temperatures, mother nature graced us with quite literally a perfect harvest and truly incredible fruit quality that we are beyond excited about.
Learn about
The Chehalem Mountains
“As storied and complex as the wine it produces — The Chehalem Mountains is a wild, elegant mix of soils, elevations, and exposures. Together these varied aspects produce complex and beautiful wines that are wholly unique to the place from which they thrive. And this is the true magic of the Chehalem Mountains.”
