Brittan Vineyards
Cygnus Block Pinot Noir 2018
McMinville
Winemaker Robert Brittan, a wine industry veteran with the experience of over 45 harvests, has always had a passion for Pinot noir; a love affair that began in the 1980’s when he made several vintages under his Britt Hill label with fruit from Carneros. In 2004, Robert decided to leave Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa and start a Pinot noir project in the cool climate of the northern Willamette Valley.
The Cygnus Block is characterized by its eastern exposure, exclusive Swan Clone plantings (Cygnus being the Latinized Greek name for Swan), and east/west orientation, reducing the effect of the Van Duzer corridor.
Vineyard
The three-acre, east facing Cygnus Block was planted in 2008 to the low-yielding Swan Selection of Pinot noir (the only single-selection block on the property). Unlike the rest of the vineyard, rows here are planted in an east/west orientation giving the block a different exposure to the sun and reducing the influence of the Van Duzer winds, which are channeled through the rows instead of across them. This block’s unique aspect, orientation, and selection create fresh, balanced, seamless wines brimming with red fruits.
Winemaking
The aim at Brittan Vineyards is to remove the hand of the winemaker during wine production. With this, minimal fuss and movement are trademarks of Robert’s style, producing wines of varietal complexity and nuance. After whole cluster pressing, the must ferments in barrel. Elevage occurs over 12 months in 25% new French oak.
Vintage
The 2018 vintage started cool and wet in February and March, which led to a more “normal” budbreak in April. The season quickly accelerated and was warm and dry beginning in May. Summer brought very warm, dry weather through August, which put pressure on the vines and produced fruit of great depth and concentration. September was dry but more moderate and allowed the fruit to reach full maturity by the end of the month.
Tasting Note
Always brimming with sweet red fruits, the Cygnus shows red plum, red cherry and even a hint of strawberry in the 2018 vintage. The ample fruit is supported by a judicious use of oak, lending just a hint of vanilla and baking spices to the nose. As with all our Cygnus Block Pinots, the 2018 expresses a wonderful clarity of fruit and site.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir
Appellation
McMinville
Farming
Practicing Organic
Alcohol
14.1%
Suggested Retail Price
$60
Reviews
"Concentrated Yet Lively"
Vinous - May 3, 2022 Shimmering ruby-red. Highly perfumed, smoke-tinged cherry and blackberry scents are complemented by suggestions of candied rose and succulent herbs. Concentrated yet lively bitter cherry, dark berry and spicecake flavors pick up licorice and cola flourishes with aeration. Closes very long and gently chewy, with repeating floral and cherry notes and a late suggestion of licorice.
"Unique and Persistent"
Paul Gregutt - April 15, 2022 Complex from the get-go, this marries brambly red fruits to light streaks of caramel, toasted hazelnuts and buttery toast. It’s made from the unusual Swan clone, a California import that dates from the 1800s. Robert Brittan planted three acres of it in 2008 at his estate vineyard. The flavors are unique and persistent, with underlying minerality and lovely texture.
Trade Materials
Brittan Vineyards Cygnus Block 2018 Tech Sheet
Added April 15, 2022 -
Other Wines by this Producer
Estate Syrah
McMinville
Winemaker Robert Brittan developed a love for Rhône varieties during his first visit to the Northern Rhône Valley in the early 1980’s. Captivated by the cool climate Syrahs from Cornas and Côte-Rôtie and intrigued by the cool, windy climate in McMinnville, Robert was encouraged to explore how Syrah would express itself on his rugged, exposed hillside.
Gestalt Block Pinot Noir
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The Gestalt Block, a two-acre parcel planted primarily to Pinot noir selection 115, occupies the southwest flank of our hillside. The vines here are planted in shallow topsoil underpinned by a young, dense layer of intrusion basalt, and yield less than one ton of fruit per acre. The small, thick-skinned berries (a product of the Van Duzer winds) produce wines with a dark fruit core and pronounced phenolic intensity that showcase the essence of the vintage.
Estate Pinot Noir
McMinville
Winemaker Robert Brittan, a wine industry veteran with the experience of over 45 harvests, has always had a passion for Pinot noir; a love affair that began in the 1980’s when he made several vintages under his Britt Hill label with fruit from Carneros. In 2004, Robert decided to leave Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa and start a Pinot noir project in the cool climate of the northern Willamette Valley.
Estate Chardonnay
McMinville
Robert Brittan developed a love for Chardonnay during his tenure as the first winemaker at Far Niente Winery in the early 1980’s, a passion that continued to grow during his 16 years at Stags’ Leap Winery. In 2004, Robert decided to leave California and start a vineyard project in the cool climate of the northern Willamette Valley, the home of the finest New World Chardonnay grown today.
