To gaze across the 23 rolling acres of the de Lancellotti Vineyard is to look back through Oregon’s rich and storied geological history. At one time, this land lay entirely under the ocean’s waves. Millions of years ago, the same violent volcanic activity that formed the Oregon Coast Range thrust these seabeds upwards and slowly carved out and created our beautiful landscape rich. What remains today are gentle rolling hills of sandy soils resting atop layers of sandstone and shale. Here, the ground almost shimmers as sunlight reflects off the silica-rich sand that dominates the soil, which is so hot and arid that water evaporates quickly, causing the vines to plunge their roots deep in search of water and nutrients.

The de Lancellotti Vineyard was planted over several years starting in 2001 and is a mélange of 26 different Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clonal selections. Just as each clone has been carefully selected, so too has each rootstock, picked to marry perfectly with the vine above and the soil composition below. Because the de Lancellotti Vineyard soil is mottled in nature and changes color and composition rapidly as you move across the hillsides, the pairing of vine to soil is of the utmost importance.

Sweet baking spices such as cinnamon, clove and star anise along with fresh, savory garden herbs are the hallmark aromas and flavors of the de Lancellotti Vineyard. Year in and year out, our de Lancellotti Vineyard Pinot Noirs are aromatically our most spicy and alluring wines. Natural acidity by virtue of the site’s special terroir adds brightness, while the vineyard’s unique soils bless its wines with incredibly intense fruit flavors. Marionberry, huckleberry, blueberry and dark, tart cherry are customarily found in the Pinot Noirs, while the Chardonnays are brimming with hazelnut and vanilla-infused ripe pear and citrus flavors. Traditionally, we incorporate Chardonnay from the de Lancellotti Vineyard into our Sigrid Reserve Chardonnay.

In sum, you can expect both the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from the de Lancellotti Vineyard to be ripe but balanced every year with a strong vein of acidity and sweet tannin giving them backbone for ageing in the cellar. The ideal time to drink these wines is 2-7 years after the vintage date on the bottle.