Oregon Vine Density?

[Marcus_Goodfellow]

I don’t think it’s so much intentional double-talk as a bit of confusion. In fact, the Passetemps cuvée from Vincent contains both recently planted high density Pinot Fin, and some older vines of less good genetic quality (back in the day, very little high quality Pinot Noir genetics was planted in Santenay).

That’s really interesting William. The only Santenay I own, I bought based on your review. This is what you said:

The 2019 Elodie Roy Santenay 1er Cru Les Gravières derives from a parcel at the southern end of this large climat, which was > planted in the early 1950s and where missing vines have never been replaced> . Delivering aromas of sweet red berries, orange rind, rose petals and spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and perfumed, with lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the saline finish.

As I wrote last year, Elodie Roy worked for more than a decade at Domaine Anne Gros in Vosne-Romanée before establishing her own nine-hectare estate in 2018, working with vineyards planted by her father and grandfather. Sustainable farming has been an emphasis from the start, and Roy has begun working the soil, moving away from herbicides. Reds are vinified in cement tanks, retaining some stems and pumping over rather than punching down. For reds and whites alike, maturation takes place in a mix of barrels and tank. The 2019 vintage has turned out nicely, though some cuvées did show their comparatively lofty alcoholic degree. (drink 2022-2038)

How does Elodie Roy’s vineyard fit in with that reality about genetics in old Santenay PN you pointed out (was it one of the few good ones)?

(On a side note, I was worried about the “comparatively lofty alcoholic degree” you mentioned as to her 2019 collection as a whole, but my note on CT says I shouldn’t have, as it’s well balanced.)

Poor genetics are mitigated by age, as yields diminish and virus changes cluster morphology. If anything, vine age is especially beneficial when genetics are sub-optimal.

Tasting the 2015 Cameron Clos Electrique Rouge I was struck by its modest alcohols for such a warm vintage. Clos Electrique is a lower elevation, West facing vineyard. John Paul, the vineyard owner and winemaker at Cameron told me that the vines at CE have leaf roll virus and he feels that it helps moderate sugar accumulation in hot years keeping the wines in balance.

[Matt_Perry]

I would argue that a lot of Oregon vineyards are planted at too high of a density. This creates overly vigorous vines which can lead to fruit quality problems with low phenolic ripeness, low sugar accumulation, and high malic acid ratios. Here is a pretty good resource from Oregon State University talking about vine balance and planting density. Another great resource is “Sunlight into Wine” by Dr. Richard Smart.

https://grapes.extension.org/vine-balance-and-the-role-of-vineyard-design/

[Saul_Mutchnick]

I would argue that a lot of Oregon vineyards are planted at too high of a density. This creates overly vigorous vines which can lead to fruit quality problems with low phenolic ripeness, low sugar accumulation, and high malic acid ratios. Here is a pretty good resource from Oregon State University talking about vine balance and planting density. Another great resource is “Sunlight into Wine” by Dr. Richard Smart.

Vine Balance and the Role of Vineyard Design – Grapes

My own picking decisions aside, I wasn’t aware that we had problems with low phenolic ripeness and low sugar accumulation here in Oregon.

[David_Patte]

I would argue that a lot of Oregon vineyards are planted at too high of a density. This creates overly vigorous vines which can lead to fruit quality problems with low phenolic ripeness, low sugar accumulation, and high malic acid ratios. Here is a pretty good resource from Oregon State University talking about vine balance and planting density. Another great resource is “Sunlight into Wine” by Dr. Richard Smart.

Vine Balance and the Role of Vineyard Design – Grapes

My own picking decisions aside, I wasn’t aware that we had problems with low phenolic ripeness and low sugar accumulation here in Oregon.

Oh I think this is a throw back to the 70s/80s/90s. The climate has changed a lot since then. We focus on temps. and growing season quite a bit, but I also recently read a climate study that shows less cloud cover in the past 20 years (remember the “marine layer” that used to blanket the Valley until midday? more and more a rare occurrence in the summer months)….