The GOODS from Tinhorn Creek

Oliver, BC | Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is excited to release their much-anticipated 2008 Oldfield Series Pinot Noir. After a year in French oak barrels followed by three years in the bottle, the very first release of this series is a limited production of about 250 cases and will only be available from the winery.

Who in their right mind would age a wine for four years before they decide to sell it? In Spain, to be classified as a Reserva the wines must be aged for a total of three years with at least one year in barrel. Spanish Grand Reserva wines are aged for a minimum of five years before release. Tinhorn Creek’s first Oldfield Series Pinot Noir lies somewhere between those two classification levels.

The 2008 was from 100% estate fruit grown on the most westerly lying Pinot Noir block on Tinhorn Creek’s Diamondback Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. After a fruitful flowering period in early summer, clusters were thinned at two different times in the summer assuring a balanced crop that would ripen fully. The grapes were harvested on October 20 at a very ripe 24.4 Brix (% sugar). The grapes were destemmed only—no crushing—then sent to tank to ferment for 14 days. The wine was designated as Tinhorn Creek’s first Oldfield Series Pinot Noir soon after fermentation and was aged in 100% French oak barrels for just over nine months before being blended and bottled. For the next three years the wine aged in bottle at a constant temperature of 16C, developing additional layers of complexity on top of the already deep fruit flavours that were there from the start.

“We are proud of being one of the few wineries in British Columbia to have taken the time to age our Pinot Noir for a total of four years prior to release,” says Sandra Oldfield, President, CEO & Winemaker at Tinhorn Creek. “We believe this dedication to quality shows in the resulting wine as well as our commitment to offering the very best of what we do under our Oldfield Series selection of wines.”

The Oldfield Series Pinot Noir is available in limited quantities for $29.99 at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards www.tinhorn.com.

Details

32830 Tinhorn Creek Road Box 2010 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0
Telephone: 250-498-3743 | Toll Free: 1-888-484-6467 | Fax: 250-498-3228
Email: [email protected] | Web: www.tinhorn.com | Twitter | Facebook

GALLERY

The People Who Make It Happen

Sandra Oldfield – Winemaker & Owner
Kenn Oldfield – Chairman & Owner
Andrew Moon – Viticulturist/Vineyard Manager
Korol Kuklo – Assistant Winemaker
Shaun Everest – General Manager

About Tinhorn Creek

On a hillside overlooking vineyards, sagebrush, and the old gold mining creek that is its namesake, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has been owned and operated by the Shaunessy and Oldfield families since1993. The winery is located south of Oliver, BC, at the junction of Highway 97 and Road 7 in the famed Golden Mile wine-growing district. This area, named for its rich history of farming that dates back to the early 1900s, is home to several quality wine producers. Tinhorn Creek sources fruit exclusively from its own vineyards: 150 acres of prime land on two very distinct benches. This land lends to the creation of terroir-driven wines that are classic illustrations of the place they are grown. The 100-acre Diamondback Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench is planted with a mix of red and white varieties, primarily Pinot Gris, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The 50-acre Tinhorn Creek Vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench is also planted with a mix of red and white grapes, but primarily features Gewürztraminer.

Farming their own vineyards using sustainable practices allows Tinhorn Creek full control over the quality of fruit delivered to the crush pad for each vintage. The winery produces wines in two tiers under one dynamic and compelling label. The single-varietal series includes a Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Only worthy wines are selected each year for the winery’s top tier, winemaker Sandra Oldfield’s signature wines, named the Oldfield Series. This tier provides Oldfield with a playground for experimentation and is a creative showcase for the best wines from each vintage. All Tinhorn Creek wines evoke the unique terroir of the region: the sage-covered desert terrain.

Tinhorn Creek was the first winery in Canada to bottle its entire portfolio with Stelvin screw-cap closures ensuring consistent aging and a guarantee that the wine will be enjoyed as it was intended.