Spring 2007
Buon giorno amici (friends),
Greetings from Oregon’s North Willamette Valley! Welcome to those of you who have recently joined our mailing list over the last 6 months – we will be closing our list soon and are excited to offer you exclusive wines and opportunities. We are grateful for your support, as we are for the number of quality vintages since our inaugural release of the 2001. This past year we continued to receive tremendous accolades from the wine critics including recognition in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100 Wines of 2006 as the only producer from Oregon with two wines selected. In addition, we’ve been invited to participate in some exclusive wine venues including Decanter’s Fine Wine New World Encounter in London and our wines can now be found in over 30 states and foreign markets along with exclusive Pinot Noir glass-pours at such esteemed restaurants as TRU in Chicago.
Marianne & I are pleased to offer our 2005 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir, Cuvée Giselle Pinot Noir and 2006 Pinot Gris. We also have a limited amount of 2004 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir in vertical and magnum sets for those of you who missed last May’s release. Again, each of these wines were produced in limited quantities.
Neither very warm nor too cool, the 2005 vintage produced wines with remarkably pure, focused fruit, without excessive weight. As true in legendary Burgundy vintages, a ‘classic’ balance reveals age-worthy wines with good acidity, fruit and tannin. The vintage has a less upfront opulence than the hot and ripe ’02-’04 vintages, as a result of more modest sugars and alcohol content. The Lachini Vineyards 2005 vintage is one in 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. As we approached harvest while observing the color of the canopy change, we were threatened by bird damage – with our Waidenswil block revealing nearly 60% loss of fruit. September brought mild daytime temperatures and chilly nights and we were fortunate to pick a large portion of fruit prior to the first rain on September 30th. Our patience was rewarded with more phenolic maturity (ripeness) upon final pick-through on Oct. 13th.. Ultimately, Mother Nature gave us wine of great balance, purity and presence. Perhaps the 2005 vintage will best be remembered as a combination of the racy 1999 and the opulent 2004 vintages - showing great balance, complexity and depth, yet requiring some aging.
| The Wine Spectator rates the 2005 vintage ~ 90-95 Drink or hold. Well-balanced wines; limited yields |
2005 Lachini Cuvée Giselle Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley is a selection of the finest eight barrels of our entire production and in 2005 was comprised of 86% Dijon clones from our Estate Upper & Lower Middle Blocks with the balance of 14% from our Pommard block. A reflection of the independence and beauty of our daughter, Giselle – essentially our ‘reserve’ Pinot Noir.
193 cases produced
Alcohol – 14.4% | pH – 3.71
Harvest began on October 6th and concluded October 13, 2005
Aged for 12 months in 100% French Oak barrels (75% new and 25% one-year old)
Deep ruby in color, it enters with forest floor, mushrooms and a complex mineral nose – ultimately, opening up after 30-60 minutes of decanting to reveal notes of violets, smoked bacon, cassis and black cherries.On the mouth, a highly concentrated, full-bodied Pinot with loads of structured pomegranate fruit and subtle cinnamon flavors. Reveals several layers on the mid-palate; finishing with complex exotic spice notes into a bold and lingering finish. Will benefit from cellaring 3-15 years.
The Wine Spectator, Dec. 31, 2006 – ‘04 Cuvée Giselle Pinot Noir 90 PTS Smooth and velvety, offering distinctive sassafras-scented cherry and blackberry flavors, fine-grained tannins and appealing clarity as the finish lingers well. Best from 2008 through 2014. 100 cases made. –HS
Wine Enthusiast, Feb. 2007 – ‘04 Cuvée Giselle Pinot Noir 90 PTS
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, May/June 2006 – ‘04 Cuvée Giselle Pinot Noir 90 PTS – Ruby-red. Spicy, vibrant bouquet of raspberry, kirsch, white pepper, rose pastille and mocha. Sweet and silky, with good heft to the sweet red berry flavors. Complicating exotic spice notes carry into the tangy, sweet, persistent finish, which also features a lingering note of licorice.
The Wine Advocate - Issue 165, 6-30-06 89 PTS – 'Notes of smoked bacon are intermingled with cassis and black cherries in the aromatics of the 2004 Pinot Noir Cuvée Giselle. A highly concentrated and structured wine, this medium to full-bodied effort is jam-packed with blackberries, black currants, and dark cherries. Projected maturity: now-2012'
2005 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Once again, our winemaker, Laurent Montalieu crafts a beautiful 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 and will reward patience. Over the last 5 vintages, 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 after proper cellaring of 5-15 years. 100% Estate fruit from our vineyard on the footstep of the Chehalem Mountain range.
1099 cases produced
Alcohol – 14.3% | pH – 3.84
Harvest began on October 6th and concluded on October 13, 2005
53% Pommard clone, 26% Dijon clone 777, 17% Dijon clones 667, 113-115 and 4% Wadensvil from our Estate’s East, Middle and West Blocks.
Aged for 12 months in 100% French Oak barrels (25% new and 75% one-year old)
Complex from the first sniff, where aromas of mushroom, chocolate and cola meld with hints of wild herbs, minerals and underbrush – all supporting gobs of ripe black cherries and raspberries. This is a bold Pinot with full-bodied fruit that will reward patience to bring around the underlying acidity and tannins. It resonates on the palate and lasts on the finish. We suggest decanting for a minimum of 30 minutes in its youth or cellaring for3-5 years for increased nuances. We believe the 2005 Estate will age well for 5-15+ years.
Wine Enthusiast, February 2007 – ‘04 Estate Pinot Noir 91PTS (Cellar Selection)
Quite young and tight, with snappy flavors of bright raspberry and pomegranate. Sharp, etched, almost laser-like in clarity, this beautifully structured and focused effort opens into aromas of wild berry, gravel and earth. Definitely a wine to put away for a few years.
San Francisco Chronicle, December 2006 – Top 100 Wines for 2006 (3 Stars)
2006 Lachini Vineyards Pinot Gris, Oregon is a blend from eight vineyards in 5 AVA’s throughout Oregon. The predominant vineyards – Croft (28%), Quail Run (24%), Stone Ridge (18%), Del Rio (13%) and Ana (6%) provide depth of fruit while retaining acidity and varietal character. Alcohol – 14.2% | pH – 3.65. Aged for 7 months in 100% stainless steel.
500 cases produced
Crisp and appealing it reveals aromas of pear, melon and citrus fruits with subtle floral nuances and flint. It is once again rich, seductive and full-bodied in style, with a velvety mouth feel of vivacious with creamy flavors intertwining perfectly with the lively acidity .Concludes with a texture of ephemeral qualities and a hint of minerality on the lingering and clean finish. Quoting Paul Gregutt from the Wine Enthusiast, Feb.’07 – the ’05 showed ‘Excellent definition and pure pleasure in the mouth.’ 90 PTS
We’re opening exclusively for our mailing list customers and friends! Please join us at the vineyard on SATURDAY, May 19, 2007 ~ 18225 Calkins Lane, Newberg (10:00-5:00pm). There is no charge for you and your guests. However, kindly RSVP you and your guests by May 7th via email or phone. We’ll be pouring a vertical of our Estate Pinot Noirs – ‘03-‘05, ‘05 Cuvée Giselle PN along with ’06 Pinot Gris and futures of ’05 Klipsun Cab and ’06 Ana Vineyard Pinot Noir. We’ll also have a limited number of large format bottles for sale. Come enjoy some tasty foods, relax at our new stone patio in the vineyard and spend some quality time without the crowds. WE WILL ALSO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OVER THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND, SAT & SUN ONLY FROM 10:00AM – 5:00PM, with a nominal charge of $10/pp.
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 May 11, 2007. 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 June (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 Thanksgiving Weekend 2006 – we will have your futures of 2005 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir available in wooden 6-pack boxes for pick up either 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 may be removed from our mailing list.
NEWS: Please provide your email address along with your order. We’ll be rolling out new exclusive offers (including a LVIP membership). The Chehalem Mountain A.V.A. (American Viticultural Area) was approved by the TTB November of 2006 – our labels will be changing to better reflect our sub-region of the Willamette Valley with the 2006 vintage.
We leave you with a quote by Liliane Bollinger of the famed Champagne family, “I drink it when I am happy, and when I am sad. I drink it when I am alone, and I find it indispensable for any social gathering… Otherwise I never touch it, except when I am thirsty.”
Saluté!
Marianne, Ron, August, Gianluca and Giselle Lachini
