Fall 2006
Buon giorno amici (friends),
Greetings from Oregon’s North Willamette Valley. It’s hard to believe our sixth crush is winding down and mother-nature has yielded yet another wonderful harvest – long days and cool nights with no rain in site. It must seem as if every new vintage is more heralded than the previous – we’re as skeptical as you might be. However, we have certainly had a run of quality vintages since our first release with the 2001 vintage. We are so thankful for those who have supported us in the past and for allowing us to experience another tremendous year! We also welcome those of you who have requested to join our mailing list over the last 6 months. Our wines continue to be received with tremendous enthusiasm and high praise! One can now enjoy Lachini Vineyards wines in many of the top restaurants and resorts in over 30 states throughout the US.
Marianne & I are pleased to offer the 2005 Lachini ‘Ana Vineyard’ and ‘S’ Pinot Noirs along with a limited amount of 2004 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir for those of you who missed our May release. Each of these wines is highly allocated and we will fill orders on a first-come, first-served basis. Total production for the Ana Pinot Noir was 260 cases; while only 294 cases of the ‘S’ Pinot Noir were produced. The Estate Pinot Noir has now been in the bottle for over one year and is coming around nicely; yet still very youthful.
In our opinion, vintage 2005 can be exemplified in many ways as a ‘tough love’ growing season. Could it be that somewhere in the midst of adversity something really good or even great might emerge? In our opinion, 2005 began and ended as a challenging vintage – and yet one of which we are extremely fortunate and proud. The growing season got off to a stressful start with a less than perfect bloom and yet through the dry summer all appeared well. Next rodents (vols) attacked some vineyards while those escaping were equally threatened by bird damage. September brought mild daytime temperatures and chilly nights followed by the first rain on September 30th. Those who exercised patience, while observing the color of the canopy change, were rewarded with grapes showing phenolic maturity and ultimately giving wines of great balance, purity and presence. Sugars were more modest in comparison to ’02-’04, revealing what some have labeled a more classical vintage. Perhaps the 2005 vintage can be best described as a combination of the racy 1999 and the opulent 2004 vintages with many wines in barrel showing great balance, complexity, depth and elegance.
| The Wine Spectator rates the 2005 vintage ~ 90-95 Drink or hold Well-balanced wines; limited yields |
The 2005 Lachini Vineyard ‘S’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley is Pinot Noir or la Sorella della famiglia (‘sister’ to the Family Estate Pinot Noir) is once again made by Peter Rosback of Sineann for us with 100% Estate fruit from our Estate vineyard.
294 cases produced
Alcohol – 13.8% | pH – 3.65
Harvested began on October 6th and concluded on October 13, 2005
50% Pommard clones + 50% Dijon clones from East, Middle and West Blocks
Aged for 12 months in 100% French Oak barrels (50% new and 50% one-year old)
The 2005 ‘S’ was harvested between 1.5-2 weeks later than our 2005 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir. Lighter in color than the full-throttled, fruit-forward ’04, it is richly extracted and offers concentrated heady aromas of ripe black cherries and a touch of toasted oak. Deep saturated ruby color with well-focused layers of wild blackberries, dark cherries and brambleberries. Finishes lively, with spicy and jammy tones and a lengthy finish. It should benefit from short-term cellaring and age for 2-7 years.
Wine Enthusiast, Nov. 15, 2005 – 2003 Lachini ‘S’ Pinot Noir rated 91 Points (Editors Choice!). “The S is made by Peter Rosback, who grabs the gold ring of extraction, weight and power without losing sight of varietal character or balance. Succulent, thick, toasty and laced with coffee and cherry tobacco, this wine is sheer enjoyment.”
The 2005 Lachini ‘Ana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills is an exceptional Pinot Noir from 27 year old Pommard clones in our 2-acre block on the Dundee Hills. It is the most approachable of our Pinot’s in its youth, yet offers finesse and complexity as a result of a mature and healthy vineyard, low yields (1.9 tons/acre), and years of experience with the site.
260 cases produced
Alcohol – 13.4% | pH – 3.60
Harvested on October 5th, 2005
100% own-rooted Pommard clones (27 years of age)
Aged for 12 months in 100% French Oak barrels (50% new and 50% one-year old)
Enters with bright fruit notes and a hint of foresty mushrooms in the nose. Ruby color, it is a delicious, full-bodied Pinot noir with loads of sweet Bing cherry fruit and subtle cinnamon flavors. Shows several layers, finishing with a hint of minerality followed by lovely soft palate underpinned by long, fine-grained tannins. It is already subtle and approachable, yet will benefit from cellaring 3-8 years.”
The Wine Spectator, May 15, 2006 rated the 2004 Lachini Dundee Hills, Ana Vineyard Pinot Noir 90 Points and had this to say… Firm and focused, with a spicy cinnamon edge to the solid blackberry, currant and mineral flavors, lingering on the slightly chewy finish. Needs time to soften. Best from 2008 through 2014. 250 cases made.” – H.S.
While Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, May/June 2006 offered… “Light red. Spicy red berries on the nose, with notes of white pepper, cardamom and mint. A fresh, racy wine, with crisp red fruit flavors and a tangy snap of blood orange providing focus and lift. Finishes with bright, mineral-tinged strawberry and pomegranate notes. 88 Points”
The 2004 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley is a blend from our three Estate blocks, each contributing unique expressions of their respective clones as well as subtle Willakenzie series soils differences. This is a wine for the discerning Pinot / Burgundy fan that will reward patience. We’ve come to learn that the Estate PN, styled in traditional Burgundy expression seeking ‘classic balance’, often comes around 1-2 years after bottling and we project it will be enjoyed most at 5-15 years. Can you say built for longevity, yet will compliment the most exquisite meal tomorrow – just ask some of the finest sommeliers in America! 100% Estate fruit from our vineyard on the footstep of the Chehalem Mountain range.
1140 cases produced
Alcohol – 14.3% | pH – 3.86
Harvested began on September 9th and concluded on September 21, 2004
50% Pommard clones + 50% Dijon clones from East, Middle and West Blocks
Aged for 12 months in 100% French Oak barrels (20% new and 80% one-year old)
Complex from the first sniff, where aromas of chocolate, cola and minerals meld with a hint of wild herbs, underbrush and packed ripe blackberries and black cherries. Full-bodied and deliciously supple now with fine and noble tannins bringing a silky roundness. It resonates on the palate and lasts on the finish. We suggest decanting for 30 minutes in its youth or cellaring for increased nuances.
Please join us at the vineyard this THANKSGIVING WEEKEND. November 24-25th, 2006 ~ 18225 Calkins Lane, Newberg (Fri. & Sat ONLY 10:30-5:30pm). We’ll be pouring the ’04 Lachini Family Estate, ‘05 Ana Vineyard & ‘S’ Pinot Noirs along with ’05 Lachini Family Estate futures. We will have a limited number of magnums – ’04 Estate + ’05 Ana.
SHIPPING: Please mail us your order along with payment in full (including shipping), at your earliest convenience in order to secure your desired wines. Orders should be received no later than November 15, 2006. We cannot guarantee wines will still be available up to the deadline, as we will honor all requests on first-come, first-served basis. We will confirm your order with deposit of your check or processing of your credit card payment and enclose your receipt in your shipment due to ship the 1st week in December (weather permitting). If you live in a state listed below the shipping rates box as PROHIBITED, you will need to provide an acceptable alternative shipping address. Please call us if you would like us to arrange for special storage/shipping – there are several options, including: 55 DEGREES which provides temperature controlled wine storage in St. Helena, CA. Inquiries should be directed to Neil Aldoroty, Owner at 707.963.5513 or www.fiftyfivedegrees.com. Alternatively, we can ship your wine to New Vine Logistics in American Canyon. Both are reputable establishments.
IMPORTANT: Those who purchased futures over the Memorial Weekend 2006 – we will have your 2005 Lachini ‘Ana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir available in wooden 6-pack boxes for pick up over the Thanksgiving Weekend at the vineyard. Should you be unable to drop by, please notify us of alternative plans for shipping and provide means for payment (see grid on order form). You may call with your credit card number or kindly complete and return your order form with the additional amount.
As our wines are limited in production, we must again respectfully inform that those who do not purchase wines from two subsequent offerings or notify us of your desire to receive future offerings will be removed from our mailing list. Fortunately, your allocation will be greatly received by another as our mailing list continues to grow tremendously.
NEWS: We’ve completed clearing the remaining portion of the West Block at our Estate vineyard and eagerly await Spring planting of six more acres to Pinot Noir and two small blocks of Riesling & Albariño ~ which we intend to offer exclusively to our mailing list customers! We continue to press forward toward breaking ground to construct our winery for 2007 harvest and will launch a new website by the end of the month.
We are grateful to be able to use our wines to support so many wonderful causes and enjoy sharing in the fruits of those who strive to make a better world for future generations. While we maintain our passionate affair for producing World Class Pinot Noir is a multigenerational effort, it is quite rewarding to know even in our infancy, many of you hold us amongst the top producers in OR! We hope that one day we will have our wines regarded alongside the world’s greatest - those rightfully recognized over centuries.
We leave you with this thought… How can humble grapes produce something so delicious with the cooperation of human alchemy? Drinking wine is beyond the vagaries of language and numbers and finds its essence, like sex, totally within the realm of the senses. Each wine, like each person, emerges from a local earth and yields its unique expression.
“The First Duty of wine is to be Red… the second is to be a Burgundy.” Harry Waugh
Salute!
Marianne, Ron, August, Gianluca and Giselle Lachini
