The Willamette Valley experienced a mild winter and early spring. The growing season was marked by a combination of heavy precipitation in late June and early July. Steady rains in September and cool weather delayed ripening and made it challenging to determine the optimal time to pick. The pinot blanc for this reserve was harvested in mid September, which is on the early side for this late-ripening varietal. This earlier harvest preserves acidity which provides a counterpoint to the richness in this barrel-aged pinot blanc.