KATHY’S CORNER

What an amazing year in Oregon! A long growing season with warm days and cool nights led to “Indian Summer” during a harvest with little rain; all of which resulted in an almost unprecedented leisurely pace. And the wine! It’s complex, spicy, silky, dark, intriguing, aromatic, seductive, delicious...in a word, superb! 2002 is being lauded as one of the all time great vintages in Oregon, but that’s just one part of what makes our single vineyard designated 2002 Elton so sublime.

The attention and care to this mature 60-acre vineyard by owners Dick and Betty O’Brien is the reason I love it so much, and why Wine & Spirits Magazine named it “one of Oregon’s top vineyards.” Enjoy this very limited, single barrel release, and “taste the place that is Elton!”

printable notes

THE VINEYARD & THE VINTAGE

• The Elton Vineyard has always been a Fiddlehead favorite, not only because of the quality of the fruit, but also because of the dedication and care provided by owners Betty and Dick O’Brien. Their joint passion to produce the highest quality grapes, our by-the-acre farming requirements and an exceptional vintage
combine to warrant this single vineyard designated
bottling.

• Fiddlehead’s designated block is from the oldest part of the vineyard, planted in 1983. The combination of vine age, Jory clay-loam soils on south-eastern slopes and the cool Eola Hills climate is an equation that can’t be beat.

• Considered by many to be one of the all time great vintages in Oregon. Warm sunny days, cool to cold nights and dry days during harvest produced perfectly ripe and balanced fruit.

THE WINE

• Handmade from start to finish with individual attention paid to each perfect cluster.

• Picked: October 14-October 20, 2002

• Aged in 100% tight-grain French oak, 40% new, for one
year.

• Opulent aromatics jump out of the glass. Extraordinary balance and pure flavors of concentrated blueberry, blackberry and raspberry crisp., and a silky, enticing texture that glides around the palate. Spicy notes of allspice and cedar linger and linger.

• A one-barrel selection. Just 25 cases produced!