2007 Bergström Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard (Old Vine Series)

The fruit for the 2007 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard was picked on November 1, more than a month after the rains which caused many wineries to pick early. This is the first year that the Durant fruit has been bottled as a vineyard designate; previously it had gone into the Cumberland Reserve. Dark crimson-colored, it offers up a nose of toast, spicy red fruits, and earth notes. On the palate this medium-bodied effort exhibits layered, sweet red fruit flavors which add an extra dimension to the wine. Velvety-textured and suave, this medium-long Pinot will evolve for 1-2 years and drink well from 2010 to 2017. If you want an unvarnished opinion about the state of affairs in Willamette Valley, Josh Bergstrom is someone who will tell it straight. His 2007s are uniformly successful as well as reflective of what the vintage provided.