ROCO Winery - 2006 Vintage Notes
We're riding on the wave of a sun drenched 2006 vintage. We've not experienced such a great growing season in Oregon since 1992. As early as May the temperatures crept up into the 90's and remained in the 80's and 90's through much of September. Phenomenal! Of course at ROCO we're lucky to catch the cool evening ocean breezes that flow into the valley and offer relief from the days' heat. Great weather tricked the vines into setting a big crop. Not to be fooled, we removed 50% of the crop in early August to further concentrate the finished wine.
While there was a short week of rain and drizzle in early September that threatened to ruin a perfect crop – we were fortunate enough to harvest the grapes at their perfection the day before the rains fell. ROCO was picked on September 26 at peak flavor ripeness and in bright sunshine conditions.
The 2006 vintage was the warmest growing season Oregon had experienced since 1992. By mid May the temperatures were already creeping up into the 90's and remained in the 80's-90 through much of September. Phenomenal! ROCO's Wits' End Vineyard sits on the SW facing slope of the Chehalem Mountains and catches the cool evening breezes coming in from the Oregon coast, offering relief from the hot days. Great weather tricked the vines into setting a big crop. Not to be fooled, we removed 50% of the crop in early August to further concentrate the finished wine. While there was a short week of drizzle in early September that threatened to ruin a perfect crop - we were fortunate enough to harvest the grapes at their perfection the day before the rains fell. ROCO was picked on September 16 at peak flavor ripeness and in bright sunshine conditions.
In the Cellar
The grapes are hand harvested and chilled to 35°F before they are destemmed and placed in small open topped fermenters. Whole berries are cold macerated prior to vigorous fermentation and post ferment maceration. Wine is pressed into French oak barrels for malo-lactic fermentation. Eighteen months of barrel age later, the wine is bottled, packaged and sent off to light up your palate.