Franchere Pinot Noir 2019

100% Pinot Noir. Franchere Wine Company is an exciting project helmed by Mike Hinds. An Oregon native, Mike got his start working in wine shops in Chicago. After catching the wine bug from a bottle of Vouvray, he returned to his home state where he started taking viticulture classes, working in the cellar at Illahe Vineyards, farming grapes, and finally producing his own wines. Launched with the 2013 vintage, Mike named his project Franchere after his great great grandfather, Gabriel Franchère. Mike works with small, family-owned, responsibly worked, and dry-farmed vineyards. In the cellar he utilizes native fermentations, neutral aging vessels, and no adjustments, allowing the wines to speak for themselves. The fruit comes from Zenith Vineyard which is farmed sustainably and is centrally located in the Eola-Amity Hills on marine sedimentary soils at just over 200 feet elevation. The gentle south-facing slope receives plenty of sun, although the cooling Van Duzer winds can drop temperatures dramatically. Fermentation is with 20% whole cluster and then spends 13 months in neutral French oak barrels afterward it is unfined and unfiltered with a tiny bit of sulfur at bottling. This Pinot is extroverted and an absolute pleasure. Full of mixed berries, cherries, brown spices, and a dash of black pepper this wine has tons of energy from the fruit and acidity. This is a lovely wine that shows why the new talent in Oregon gives hope to us and that Mike is one of the leading young vignerons in the state.