2021 Kill Hill pinot noir
There is no sales tax on orders shipped to Oregon addresses.
Kill Hill is the name we gave the upper northeast quadrant of the Lenné vineyard back in 2004, when 99% of the newly planted vines died off in a hot, dry, spring. The section was replanted in 2005, and 2006, with huge numbers of the young vines dying each year. Not until 2008 was the whole block growing, but very grudgingly; trunks near the top of the hill are still as thin as five-year old vines in more fertile soil.
This wine blends the Dijon 114 and 667 clones in a roughly 50/50 blend, melding the dark, black-fruited, spicy, peppery 667 clone with the lighter, red-fruited, brightly acidic 114 clone. The combination is like a perfect mixed cocktail, with contrasting and compimenting notes of red and black, heavy and light, spicy and earthy. We generally barrel the Kill Hill fruit in a higher % of new French Oak to give it more tannic backbone, and a natural cocoa aromatic can be discerned in this wine after a few years in the bottle, stemming from the terribly rocky soil from which it springs.
The 2021 vintage was long and hot, with a larger than average fruit set that paired beautifully with the lengthy ripening season. Our 2021 pinots are bold and fruit-forward, but even young, they show excellent balance with tannic structure and acidity on the finish courtesy of the longer than usual hang time.
One of our bolder offersings, Kill Hill pairs beautifully with duck, lamb, hearty cheeses, and various red meats and sauces. We strongly recommend at least four years cellar aging, and this wine will evolve and improve for at least ten years in the bottle.
