Division Méthode Carbonique Pinot Noir 2023

Division Méthode Carbonique Pinot Noir 2023

For the first time, we have featured Pinot noir grapes grown outside of the Willamette Valley in the Division Méthode Carbonique Pinot Noir bottling. Why, you ask? Well, for a few important reasons. Firstly, when fermenting wines with carbonic maceration, there is a greater drop in acidity than with traditional fermentations, and as the climate in our region has trended warmer recently, we began looking at ways to find ripe phenolic Pinot noir at higher acidity levels than we had been seeing in many of our Pinot noir sites in the Willamette Valley.

We found what we were looking for, farmed organically, in the Elkton AVA in the far western Umpqua Valley in Central Oregon. Believe it or not, the Elkton AVA region is cooler than the Willamette Valley and also, for our second reason, grapes tend to be obtainable at a more reasonable price so that we can keep the price to value ratio as attractive as possible on this bottling.

WINEMAKING + FERMENTATION
The Division Méthode Carbonique Pinot Noir is made entirely from the whole cluster carbonic maceration approach, most commonly associated with Gamay winemaking in the Beaujolais. “Cold boiling Pinot” is Kate’s go-to phrase when describing this wine, and that just might be the simplest and best way to explain this explosion of yumminess. We find this style works wonderfully with some of our Pinot noir sites and makes a wine that is perfectly approachable, fun, and purely Pinot. We age the carbonic wines mostly in stainless steel, but also in old barrels for textural pick up and to elevate the structure of the wine.

TASTING NOTES
Perfect for summer and even great for a chill, we are longtime fans of carbonic maceration, AKA “Méthode Carbonique”, and have been working hard to hone this amplifier for red berry deliciousness that just screams PINOT NOIR for over a decade. The 2023 wine hits a perfect spot with its roasted strawberries, sarsaparilla, and a hint of forest floor. This vintage is a pleasure for fans of carbonic wines, or really anyone who appreciates lighter and juicier Pinot noir with the perfect hint of savory finish.

VARIETY
PINOT NOIR 100%

AGEING
6 MONTHS IN NEUTRAL FRENCH OAK BARRELS AND STAINLESS STEEL TANKS

APPELLATION
OREGON

ALC
12.2%

PRODUCTION
628 CASES