Purple Hands Haakon/Lenai Pinot Noir 2023
Purple Hands Haakon/Lenai Pinot Noir 2023
95 pts Wine Advocate
96+ pts Jeb Dunnuck
The Haakon/Lenai Vineyard was planted in 1998, from certified organic estate fruit (777, Pommard, Wadenswil, 115, and 114 Dijon clones) on a deep pan of Jory soils. In the glass, the 2023 Pinot Noir Haakon/Lenai offers a bright ruby red hue and has more nervous tension compared to the Latchkey Vineyard, initially revealing focused notes of bright spices before starting to unravel more complex aromas of compact wild berries, dark berries, fresh wild herbs, sage, tarragon, and cardamom. It offers a medium-bodied frame, with coiled tannins, balanced acidity, and its sunny fruit shining through on the finish.
95 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir Haakon Lenai floods the senses with expressive raspberry, wild cherry, hibiscus, licorice, rose petals and slowly emerging earthy accents. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with perfumed, layered flavors. It’s framed by velvety tannins, and fireworks of fresh acidity drive a long, shimmery finish with latent spicy tones. It should be long lived in the cellar.
Winemaking: Purple Hands is a low intervention, purity-driven winery. Ferments are a mixture of techniques: native yeasts, and some commercial strains as needed. 25% whole cluster for 2023. Skin macerations are vintage-dependent styles. Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered to retain the honesty of the vineyard and the vintage.
The Vineyard: Haakon Lenai Vineyard is a 35 acre property located in the Dundee Hills. This Vineyard was originally planted by Jon Jennison and was called Thistle Vineyard. Cody and Marque acquired the vineyard in 2019 and have since renamed the site after their children’s middle names: Haakon/Lenai.
Appellation: Dundee Hills
Grape Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: Dijon (115, 777), Pommard, Wädenswil Soil: Jory (Volcanic)
Elevation: 400-700 feet
Aspect: Southeast
Year Planted: 1998
Farming Practices: Dry farmed, organically farmed, certified by USDA.
Aging: 10 months in French Oak, 25% New
Ageability: Up to 10+ years
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.7
Production: 754 cases
Ingredients: grapes, yeast, minimum SO2 94 94
