Antica Terra Pinot noir 08

Winery: Antica Terra

Antica Terra Pinot noir 08 - A delicate floral thread weaves through the aromas of red and blue fruits, licorice, and toast. The initial cherry and blue berry transition to a palate full of juicy plum and brambly loganberry. With time, the whole wine becomes plusher and sweeter which nicely complements the iron-mineral note. A thin veil of oak spice harmonizes with the dark fruits on the finish. Decant if you're drinking now, otherwise cellar for two or more years. - Marcus

50% Antica Terra, 35% Shea, 15% Cherry Grove Vineyards. Aged in 25% new oak.

Antica Terra Pinot noir 07 - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 92 Points

The 2007 Pinot Noir is medium ruby-colored with an alluring perfume of cinnamon, allspice, incense, cherry, and raspberry. This leads to a medium-bodied, elegant wine with excellent depth and concentration, a silky texture, and incipient complexity. This lengthy effort will provide pleasure from 2011 to 2019. Maggie Harrison learned her craft at Sine Qua Non from 1998 to 2006. This tiny boutique operation has come out of the gate impressively and there is not much wine to go around so interested parties are advised to get on the mailing list. I tasted a splendid 2008 Pinot Noir Rose at the winery which is certain to be gone by the time this goes to press (one more reason to get on the list). - Jay Miller

Mouthwatering aromas stop you in your tracks - a concoction of berries, anise, clove, and barrel spice. Layers of bright cherry, raspberry, and a subtle undercurrent of fresh blackberry show depth and roundness. A playful combination of herbs, minerals, and barrel toast dances on the vibrant finish. Very appealing right now, the Antica Terra 07will improve with 1-2 years of cellaring and is best when decanted.

Antica Terra's 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot noir is a blend of 53% Antica Terra Estate fruit, 28% Shea Vineyard (Wadenswil and Dijon 828 clones), 9% Croft Vineyard, and 9% Cherry Grove Vineyard.

The unique Antica Terra terroir speaks as a main note of a chord of flavors that Maggie blended to create the wine. The Antica Terra Vineyard's terroir, according to Maggie is just like the winery's name -- "old earth". "To my palate, the Antica Terra vineyard signature has this stony, earthy, soily, mushroom quality - whether you call it peat, soil, or whatever. And it's unique." Other qualities mentioned in reference to the Antica Terra terroir include umami, slate, and minerals.

The Shea Vineyard Wadenswil component adds black fruit (blueberry, blackberry) to the wine, and the Shea Dijon 828 provides red fruit components. Cherry Grove Vineyard fruit adds "pure cherry", says Maggie.

And whole cluster fermented Pommard fruit from Cherry Grove adds "spice cupboard, asian spice, star anise, and clove" to the blend.

Antica Terra Pinot noir 2007 is made by Maggie Harrison. She is co-owner, winemaker and vineyard manager at Antica Terra. Maggie was assistant winemaker at legendary California Syrah producer Sine Qua Non from 1995 to 2005.

Antica Terra is a rugged 40-acre parcel nestled in the Eola-Amity Hills of the Willamette Valley. The vineyard faces southwest, and sits on the crest of a hill whose soils were formed by glacial action during the Missoula floods. There is more rock than actual soil: a mixture of sandstone and alluvium filled with oyster shells. The vineyard was first planted to Pinot Noir in 1989. After purchasing the site in 2005, we planted an additional five acres in a steep south-facing bowl. We strive to farm the land in a way that establishes balance with the surrounding oak habitat, enlivens the soil, and supports the overall health of the vineyard.

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Previous Vintage tasting notes

2006 Vintage tasting Notes

The Antica Terra Pinot noir 06 received 91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley includes some contracted fruit. Medium ruby-colored, it has an attractive bouquet of spice box, wood smoke, and red fruit compote. This leads to a mouth-filling wine with layers of sweet fruit. It has excellent concentration and depth and a lengthy finish. Drink this tasty effort over the next eight years."

Antica Terra Pinot noir 06 is lovely - subtle floral notes mingle with scents of raspberry jam and a hint of toast. A beautifully ripe and rich palate of fruit unravels, showing succulent black cherry, plum, and mixed berry complemented a deep cinnamon stick accent that carries through the finish, picking up minerals, cream, a warm earth. Supple and totally delicious now, with integrated, silky tannins. Highly recommended by Avalon and an April Oregon Reserve Pinot Noir Club Selection.

Tanzer Rated 90 points May/June 08

"Dark red. Sexy raspberry and blueberry aromas are complicated by sandalwood, cinnamon, dried violet and white pepper. Supple in texture, offering ripe bery flavors, palate-numbing spiciness and impressive breadth. A rich, suave style that finihses with very good persistence and a strong echo of blackberry."