Broadley News

Harvest 2011:

Weather extremes... While the East Coast baked all summer, Oregon struggled through yet another record cool spring and summer.  By the end of August, many in the wine business were openly talking about a harvest that might not happen.  But weather does seem to balance itself out.  The East Coast had a record early snow and Oregon was blessed with record heat in September and cool sunny weather all the way to November 2nd.  The latest harvest on record started on October 24th and has given us beautiful balanced wines, with excellent color, ripe aromas and soft tannins.  Wines to be grateful for...

Harvest 2010: Hang Time

Hang time was everything.  Hang time, the time from verasion until the grapes are harvested.  Every vintage is different.  Hot years, wet years & cold years.  The 2010 vintage will go down as the coldest, wettest vintage in memory.  But, as we pumped these beautiful wines into barrel, we asked ourselves; "why are they so good, considering what mother nature provided us with?"  Our answer, is of course, the skill of the winemaker and hang time.  2010 will be remembered as giving us great wines from this exceptionally long hang time.  The 2010 wines are surprisingly a cross between wines from 2007 to 2008.  Moderate alcohols, ripe, medium bodied flavors with low tannins and well balanced acidity.  Wines that will give immediate pleasure, and will age gracefully.

 

Barrel Room Report 2/19/2011
 
After two months in barrel the 2010 wines are starting to taste as good as it gets.  Better than the much touted 2008 vintage.  The darkest wines we have made with great weight -very ripe tannins and wonderful concentration and  length.  Wines that should give pleasure on release or hold for twenty years. Why this year? As we stated earlier, hang time and just as importantly the smallest crop since the great vintage of 1994 has given us these bench mark wines.

NEW TANZER SCORES!
Jul/Aug 2011 Wine Access/Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar by, Josh Raynolds

 http://www.wineaccess.com/tanzer

 

Broadley Vineyards By Josh Raynolds: 2009 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
($20) Bright ruby-red.  Raspberry and cola on the nose, with notes of mint and clove adding complexity.  Juicy and precise in the mouth, offering energetic red fruit flavors and showing no rough edges.  Finishes on a slightly dry note, with good grip and lingering spiciness.
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2009 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Willamette Valley
($30) Vivid red.  Fresh red berries, cola and herbs on the nose.  Bright and energetic on the palate, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors and a touch of anise.  Finishes smooth and gently sweet, with lingering red fruit notes.  This is drinking well now.
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2009 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve Willamette Valley
($38) Bright ruby.  Strawberry and raspberry aromas are complicated by notes of allspice and star anise, with a sexy note of vanilla in the background.  Smooth, focused and appealingly sweet, offering energetic red fruit and candied rose flavors lifted by bright acidity.  Shows a deeper blackberry note on the finish, which is spicy, focused and long.  This will be drinkable young but has the balance to age.
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2009 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Sunny Mountain Vineyard Willamette Valley
($38) Bright ruby-red.  Fresh red berry and floral aromas, along with notes of spicecake and herbs.  Dry and linear on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering spicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a deeper note of mocha.  Stretches out with aeration and finishes with very good, clinging spiciness and an echo of dried red fruits. 
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2009 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Zenith Willamette Valley
($38) Bright ruby-red.  Cherry compote and blackberry on the nose, with zesty mineral and spice notes adding energy.  Fleshy and nicely concentrated, with sappy dark berry and bitter cherry flavors picking up vivacity on the back half.  Shows good clarity and focus on the finish, which features a hint of peppery spice.  I like this wine's blend of depth and energy.
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2009 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley
($50) Vivid ruby-red.  Intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh red berries and potpourri, with a deeper mocha quality coming up with air.  Very fresh and precise on the palate, offering sappy red and dark berry flavors that show a liqueur-like intensity but no excess fat. Finishes nervy and intense, with notes of sweet black raspberry and cherry.  This energetic wine is approachable now with some air, but it has the balance to age. 
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2008 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Marcile Lorraine Willamette Valley
($50) Deep red.  Highly perfumed aromas of red and dark berries, musky herbs and potpourri, with an overlay of Indian spices.  Sappy, densely packed black raspberry and mulberry flavors show very good energy and lift, thanks to tangy acidity.  Gains flesh and heft with air and finishes on a darker berry note, with lingering notes of vanilla bean and candied flowers.  Very sexy now but has the concentration to age.
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2008 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Claudia's Choice Willamette Valley
($50) Vivid red.  High-pitched aromas of strawberry, raspberry and musky herbs, picking up a floral element with aeration.  Juicy, precise red berry flavors show very good depth but also possess a lithe character and good mineral spine.  A touch of sweet oak adds an exotic touch to the long, sappy, focused finish.  This is balanced to age.
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