Youngberg Hill Jordan Block Pinot noir 05
Youngberg Hill's Jordan Block Pinot noir 04 received 91 points from Wine Spectator, who said: "Round, velvety and generous with its root beer-accented black cherry and pepper flavors, lingering enticingly on the open-textured finish. Best from 2008 through 2015. 125 cases made. Release price $45." Harvey Steiman - Laurent Montalieu is the winemaker.
Backed up against the Coast Foothills, the Youngberg Hill is only 25 miles from the Pacific; providing cooler temperatures, more sunny days, and more rain. The Jordan Block is at a higher elevation of 750 to 800 feet, sloping southeasterly, on thin layers of Stiewer soils dusting a base of Basalt rock. That terroir combined with 60% Pommard and 40% Wadenswil own-root clones, provides fruit intense in black fruit flavors, minerals and spices, and higher acidity. The 2004 Jordan Block has layers of spice, eucalyptus, and mushrooms. It has broad complex flavors of blackberry, currant, vanilla, and plum. There is a wonderful finish of light oak and smoke. The tannins are firm, big and silky smooth which invite depth and complexity. It was aged for fourteen months in 10% new and 90% neutral French oak barrels to let the fruits qualities shine through. The 2004 Jordan Block is best paired with grilled red meats, game, and anything using truffles. It is extremely drinkable now best through 2016.
Youngberg Hill is primarily a Bed and Breakfast outside McMinnville, Oregon. A small vineyard was planted there in the 1989 to 60% Pommard and 40% Wadensville clones by the original owners, and Pinot noir is made from it in some vintages. The 2004 Natasha's Block is one of the last 2004 Pinot noirs to be released in Oregon.
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Backed up against the Coast Foothills, the Youngberg Hill is only 25 miles from the Pacific; providing cooler temperatures, more sunny days, and more rain. The Jordan Block is at a higher elevation of 750 to 800 feet, sloping southeasterly, on thin layers of Stiewer soils dusting a base of Basalt rock. That terroir combined with 60% Pommard and 40% Wadenswil own-root clones, provides fruit intense in black fruit flavors, minerals and spices, and higher acidity. The Jordan Block has layers of spice, eucalyptus, and mushrooms. It has broad complex flavors of blackberry, currant, vanilla, and plum. There is a wonderful finish of light oak and smoke. The tannins are firm, big and silky smooth which invite depth and complexity. It was aged for fourteen months in 10% new and 90% neutral French oak barrels to let the fruits qualities shine through. The Jordan Block is best paired with grilled red meats, game, and anything using truffles. It is extremely drinkable now best through 2016.
Youngberg Hill's vineyard is 12 acres of Pinot Noir planted in 1989 and 5 acres of Pinot Gris. The pinot noir is own-root, 60% Pommard clone and 40% Wadenswil, and the pinot gris is on 3309 root stock of 146 & 152 clones. Natasha Block is the larger of the two at an altitude of approximately 650 feet on Willakenzie soil. The Jordan Block is on a steeper slope at an altitude of approximately 750 feet on predominately Steiwer soil. The Aspen Block is at 600 feet on Steiwer soil. They do not irrigate.
