KATHY’S CORNER

After four years of unusually warm growing seasons, Oregon experienced what winemakers called a classically styled vintage, with wines that were crisp, lower in alcohol and elegantly fruit-forward. In spite of erratic rain patterns, our fruit proved to express its classic Oregon roots. The trip from Oregon to our Lompoc winery in a refrigerated truck was the perfect “trick” to dry out the trapped cluster moisture from pre-harvest rains. Concentrated juice was immediately expressed at early stages of winemaking. And in the Fiddlehead tradition, this wine was held an additional year in the bottle to show preferred suppleness at your dining table. So Cheers!

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THE VINEYARDS & THE VINTAGE

• 64% Alloro Vineyard located in the Chehalem Mts.

• 36% Elton Vineyard located in the Eola Hills

• A more classic Oregon Vintage. One of the driest winters and most saturated springs on record. A cool, wet growing season led to delayed bloom and uneven set.

• The 70 acre Alloro Vineyard, planted in 1999, is situated on a southwest facing slope on Laurel Ridge, perched at a 700 foot elevation. Its Laurelwood soil is comprised of decomposed volcanic material below a top layer of ancient sedimentary soil. Blocks of Pommard, 114 and 777 are reserved for Fiddlehead.

• The 60 acre Elton Vineyard is located in the Eola Hills and sits on Jory series, clay-loam soil. Fiddlehead proudly nurtures the grapes from its oldest 1983 block.

• Harvested October 7, 2005

THE WINE

• Superb aromas make this wine immediately pleasurable. Dried cranberries, dried cherries, rose hips tea, and hints of chocolate spice satisfy the senses.

• Persistent on the palate, rewarding every sip with a long memorable finish.

• The classic weather patterns lead to spectacularly elegant, fruit forward wines with bright acidity and tamed alcohol. These wines proved to have more finesse and are fabulously food friendly.

• Aged Aged 15 months in tight-grain French oak, 35% new.

• 300 cases produced. And all indicators predict this wine to have long life in your cellar.