Dom Denise Pinot Noir
100 cases produced
Dom Alexandre Denise was the Cistercian Monk in charge of winemaking at Burgundy’s famed Chateau du Vougeot in the mid 1700s. He kept detailed notes and records of his work, and his memoire is one of the few remaining insights into the viticultural and winemaking practices of the era. We were inspired upon discovering and reading his book, and amazed at how much was already understood back in the days before our modern technology and the science of enology existed.
We decided to make an experimental lot in the 2008 vintage, taking 4 tons of fruit from Block D at Momtazi Vyd. and vinifying half of it following Dom Denise’s protocol from the 18th Century, and the other half following our regular practices. We ended up liking the Dom Denise version so much we decided to bottle it separately.
While there were many similarities in techniques, there were a few major differences. We normally de-stem all of our fruit, but used 25% whole clusters for this wine as was the custom at the Chateau. Instead of punching down or pumping-over once or twice per day as usual, we just left the tank to sit untouched for about 9 days, until the natural fermentation was starting to reach its peak. We then did a “human pigeage” – sliding into the tank to mix the skins up with the juice by foot – once per day until fermentation was nearly complete. Instead of letting the fermentation run its course in tank, we drained the juice into barrel and then let it finish in barrel, where it then sat untouched for 10 months prior to bottling.
The result is a vibrant, dynamic wine bursting with black fruits, spice and earth, joining together the best of New World fruit ripeness, the superb harmony of the Oregon 2008 vintage, and the best of very Old World winemaking techniques. A sincere “Santé!” and a huge “Grand Merci” to the very fascinating and insightful Dom Alexandre Denise!
As always, all fermentations were natural, with no cultured yeasts or additions of any kind. The wine was raised for 10 months in French Oak – 25% new – and was bottled un-fined and un- filtered at 13.1% alcohol in August, 2009.
The 2008 Dom Denise is priced at $40 per bottle, and is available only direct from the winery – either from our tasting room, via our website, or by phone order. A limited number of Magnums are also available.
Label for 2008 Dom Denise Pinot Noir
Winenote for 2008 Dom Denise Pinot Noir
