Hard Promises 2021

The 2021 Hard Promises is precisely what we’re after when we make Pinot Blanc. Only two barrels were selected for this bottling, which will be the penultimate edition, and they have the raciness, minerality, and ageworthiness we’re after from the moment we pick the grapes. If any of our wines has a cult following, it’s this one—and a quick glance at cellartracker shows that it blossoms after time in the cellar.

It’s rare for a winery to devote the kind of attention and care that we do to Pinot Blanc. This isn’t immodesty—the reality is that most other producers see it as a “cash flow” grape and bottle it early and simple.

On the other hand, we let this wine ferment and age in old oak barrels for 18 months, long enough for the primary fruit to fuse with the inherent minerality and spice that lies latent in the wine’s youth. Texture emerges, balancing the bright acidity we seek in all our wines. The result is humble in name, but noble in other regards.

As with past vintages this comes from Twelve Oaks Vineyard, a cool, north-facing vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains, just off of Bell Road. Laurelwood soils give it a savoriness and drive that’s irresistible, and the site’s combination of exposure and elevation means we can pick early in the ripening curve of the grape without sacrificing flavor.

48 cases produced.