Illahe Estate Pinot Noir Project 1899 2021, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Our 1899 pinot noir was made without the use of modern winemaking equipment or electricity. We wanted to create a new-world wine with a true sense of place that wasn’t altered by technology. This wine was hand picked and brought up to the winery by horse. Once at the winery, it was hand de-stemmed and the wine was placed into wooden fermenters. We let it ferment on its own after covering it. It soaked for 10 days. It was hand pressed in a wooden basket press, hand pumped into barrel, and encouraged through malolactic fermentation without inoculation. We got it to the bottle with no gas, corked it by hand, and applied a letterpress label. The 1899 never touched dry ice, canned nitrogen, enzymes, stainless steel, forklifts, packaged yeast, electric pumps, or filters. We brought the wine from the winery to our distributor, Casa Bruno in Portland via stagecoach, cargo bike, and canoe. So, the first time it enters your car, it will be in a whole different time. Tasting notes: The old world methods used to produce this wine are reflected in its flavor, aroma, and texture. Aromas of burnt caramel, dried red fruits, blackberry jam, chocolate with brioche toast and earth with 5 spice and cinnamon.