Hamilton Russell Oregon ‘Bramble Hill’ Pinot Noir 2018

Hamilton Russell Vineyards in South Africa has developed an international reputation over 40 vintages for unusually restrained, classically styled Pinot noir, with deep structure and spice balancing fruit opulence. Hamilton Russell Oregon aims to express this stylistic philosophy with the very best Willamette Valley fruit – showcasing the restrained, structured classicism of great European Pinot noir and the bright purity of Oregon fruit. The celebrated Bramble Hill vineyard in Ribbon Ridge, delivers a particularly bright, pure, lively minerality to complement the complex lifted fruit the best Oregon Pinot noir is known for.

While it was a warmer than average vintage, temperatures stayed in the low to mid 90s with few heat spikes, making for a balanced year with less widespread heat stress than in prior years, especially 2017. Low rainfall during late September and into October allowed winemakers to manage harvest easily, picking grapes when they wanted to, instead of dodging rain or having to harvest fruit early. When moderately warm days occur along with cool nights, vines rest in the evening and concentrate efforts on developing more fruit complexity and flavor. Ideal conditions like this occurred throughout Oregon in 2018. Late bud break was due to a slightly wetter and cooler April. Harvest was slow and steady in 2018 resulting in truly excellent fruit composition, with sugar levels, acidity, and pH all close to average. The 2018 vintage in the Willamette Valley has made some exceptional wines.