Amalie Robert Estate Vintage Update: Pinot Noir In Flagrante 2020 and 2015 Vintage Retrospective Weekend!
Hello and Welcome,
This is an Amalie Robert Estate Vintage Update: Pinot Noir In Flagrante 2020 and 2015 Vintage Retrospective Weekend! We do declare, on August 2 at 2:00 pm, block 2 Pinot Noir clone 777 grafted onto 44-53 rootstock, Julian calendar day 215! (Note: this is a leap year.) A FLOG communication@AmalieRobert from Dena and Ernie. Amalie Robert Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
It is with great joy and some trepidation, that we present to you our first blushing wine berries. While this has been a very moderate growing season to date, those little rascals have gone and gotten ahead of themselves. We typically see this sort of behavior toward the middle of August, not at the start of the month. And that means buckle up Dorothy, we are on our way to harvest - vintage 2020.
The timing is actually very fortuitous. The delivery of Ernie’s new crystal ball that is. This free shipping and not having to drive 45 minutes to adhere to a COVID-19 protocol in a retail environment (with unfamiliar humans) is a pretty strong incentive for on-line shopping. We expect this trend to accelerate in the on-line world of wine buying, hence the reappearance of The Big Blue Button.
Press the Big Blue Button to go to Amalie Robert Direct.
And what say this new crystal ball? It say, we will have moderate temperatures for the remainder of the growing season. Mostly in the 80’s, nothing much over 90, or maybe 92. Evenings will be cooling more and more as we trail off into September. The jet stream is predicted to stay to our south, allowing the cooling forces from the Gulf of Alaska to keep a nice acid balance in our wine berries. None of that California Central Valley heat and wildfire smoke to contend with. Harvest might not actually start until October. Wouldn’t that be something? I remember when…
We are not the only ones who have noticed. Last month it was the cedar waxwings and this week we had the Chief Inspector from the Venison troop checking us out. Everybody, it seems, is making plans to do some cluster plucking.
Caught buck naked in the vines.
Fortunately, the Murder Hornets (Vespa mandarinia) are confined to Washington State – for now. This is yet another gift from the far east. In the slide below, you can see the very large exemplar pinned to the center. Forewarned is forearmed, check out his link:
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-murder-hornets
Just to the right of Vespa mandarinia, you will see one of our Oregon species of yellow jacket, Vespula pennsylvanica. And to the right of that, our mitigation strategy. We also have the Bald-faced hornet in Oregon. She is the one in the lower left corner caught busting a move. So, this new insect presents a paradigm shift. In response, we are upgrading from the full body condom to Kevlar tactical body armor. And backpack flamethrowers, with free shipping! Oddly enough, these are legal in all 50 states. And unlike wine, can be shipped to all 50 states.
While there are still a million things that could go wrong, this just might turn out to be a very typical Oregon Pinot Noir vintage. It certainly has been awhile since we have seen that. You know, a little lower in alcohol and lighter bodied with intense perfume and teasing acidity. What a little tart this vintage 2020 could turn out to be.
We have started an Instagram feed where we will be posting a cluster as it transitions from drab green to Stunning Pinot Noir! Check out the link here: https://www.instagram.com/amalierobert/
Make the journey to see Dena and Ernie Saturday & Sunday, August 15 & 16 from 10 am to 3 pm by appointment. While offering a 2020 prospective, we are tasting a 2015 retrospective with the following selections in our shaded open-air tasting space, starting with a palate teasing Pinot Noir from the cool 2011 vintage.
2011 iPinot Pinot Noir
2015 iPinot Pinot Noir
2015 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir
2015 Wadenswil Clone Pinot Noir
2015 The Reserve Pinot Noir
2015 Heirloom Cameo Chardonnay
The tasting fee is $15 with a new Riedel tasting glass and $10 is refundable on any two bottle purchase per person. You may also opt for a new Riedel Burgundy glass for $25 and $10 is refundable on any two bottle purchase per person. The now christened Amalie Robert Riedel glass is yours to keep. You may also opt to bring your own glasses and the glass purchase will be waived.
You can reach Dena by email at Cuvee@amalierobert.com and by phone at 503-88-CUVEE (503-882-8833) to schedule your appointment, or to place an order if you cannot join us.
Kindest Regards,
Dena & Ernie