Vineyard: Ridgecrest

OwnersBill Stoller, Harry Peterson-Nedry
AppellationChehalem Mountains
StoryThis vineyard was purchased in 1980 by Harry Peterson-Nedry and first planted in 1982. This site pioneered grape growing in the Ribbon Ridge region on the western side of the Chehalem Mountains. The vineyard is now jointly owned by Bill Stoller and Harry Peterson-Nedry.
Dates PlantedInitially 1982
Acres48 acre (Bill Stoller owned) and 29 acres (Peterson-Nedry owned). 55 acres under vine.
LocationRibbon Ridge AVA
Aspect589' to 673' elevation.
SoilsWellsdale loam
VarietiesPinot Noir

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2012 CHEHALEM Ridgecrest Vineyards Ribbon Ridge Willamette Valley Reserve Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.65, 463 cases, $80, screwcap. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 42% new and 42% once used. This is the winery’s top-of-the-line wine and is the first vintage Wynne was responsible making in total. Ridgecrest’s 28th harvest. A rare hailstorm in the spring on Ribbon Ridge clipped the crop short to half normal and helped to concentrate the wine even more. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Penetrating aromas of black cherry syrup with a compliment of nutty oak. A robust mid weight plus wine that offers both power and elegance. Very soft in the mouth, with an intense charge of well-ripened boysenberry, blueberry and pomegranate fruits and a touch of cedary oak in the background. The finish has impressive staying power and there is enough structural tannin to predict a long life ahead. Score: 92. Reviewed September 29, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Chehalem 3 Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.8% alc.,4,053 cases, $32 screw cap. Chehalem (Chuh-hay-lum) is a local Calapooia Indian word best translated as “gentle land” or “valley of flowers.” Chehalem has 260 planted acres on 600 total acres in three AVAS (Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge). Chehalem was launched in 1990 by Harry Peterson-Nedry along with Bill and Cathy Stoller. This wine is the first release of the vintage and is ready to drink. It is sourced from three estate vineyards: Ridgecrest (25%), Stoller (60%), and Corral Creek (15%). Aged 9 months in 25% new, 27% one-use, and 48% multiple-use French barrels. DE filtrated. · Bright confected strawberry and cherry scents similar to a Beaujolais wine. A pleasing core of earth-kissed red fruit which is lightly weighted with a short, dry finish that leaves a little heat in its wake. Reviewed September 15, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Chehalem Ridgecrest Vineyards Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir

15.2% alc., 587 cases, $44. Chehalem has had this bottling since its first release in 1990. Ridgecrest is a 55-acre vineyard on a 176-acre property. This site pioneered grape growing on Ribbon Ridge and dates to 1980. The soils are Willakenzie. Native yeast fermentation, 30% whole cluster, 6-10 days premaceration, aged 10 months, racking twice, with 50% new French oak barrels. · A powerhouse of a wine with intense aromas of crushed black cherries, spice, soy and roasted nuts. Mouth-coating with copious sweet, tangy black fruit that grabs a hold and persists on the finish. The racy acidity predicts a long life ahead. Reviewed December 17, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 RR (Ribbon Ridge) Ridgecrest Vineyards Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., 594 cases, $69. This bottling represents the best wines sourced from the Ridgecrest Vineyards estate. Harry Peterson-Nedry, one of the founding partners of Chehalem, is the sole owner of this label. This wine is crafted in a masculine style in counterpart to the more feminine Chehalem Reserve sourced from this vineyard. · A powerful and charming nose of roasted black cherry fruit and nuts with a rose petal flourish. On the palate the fruit is thin and closed with plentiful acidity and notable oak on the finish. Right now this wine smells considerably better than it tastes and it needs more time in the bottle to unravel. Reviewed December 17, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »