2017 Phelps Creek Vineyards “Calamity" Columbia Gorge Pinot Noir

13.4% alc., 1281 cases, $65. In September of 2017, a firecracker spark on the Eagle Creek trail located some 30 miles west of the Phelps Creek Estate soon brought calamity to the winery door. The howling winds of the Columbia Gorge caused flames to race 13 miles within the first 48 hours. Nothing stood between Phelps Creek Vineyards and the fire, but tinder dry forest and hundreds of valiant firefighters. As the frontline of the fire approached a mile from the estate, the first raindrops in months began to fall and the Estate was spared. However, throughout the blaze, the estate wines were immersed in tick smoke causing an irreversible effect on the ripe fruit. Only the best blocks were picked and the most intriguing barrels bottled. The resultant wine is intensely smoky. A normal vintage yields 3,000 cases of Pinot Noir from the Estate Vineyard, but only 181 cases of the 2017 vintage were bottled due to the effect of the smoke. $3 of every bottle will be donated to the National Forest Foundation to rebuild the hiking trails lost in the fire. Pommard clone. Harvest Brix 23.4º. · Light ruby red color in the glass. Red cherry and berry fruit aromas overlain with guaiacol (smoke). Light in wet and rather gossamer, featuring a core of red fruits with noticeable smoky undertones. Forward drinking and juicy with minimal tannins. Best with BBQ. The smoke taint may or may not be averse to the drinker depending on their sensitivity to it. In any case, the wine should be drunk now (the smoke taint may become more evident as the fruit fades over time). Drinking the wine is not harmful Score: NR. Reviewed February 17, 2020

Winery: Phelps Creek Vineyards
From article: Recently Reviewed Wines