Johan Vineyards Murmuration 2021
The vibe: “Murmuration refers to the phenomenon that results when hundreds, sometimes thousands, of starlings fly in swooping, intricately coordinated patterns through the sky. When we witness this magnificent event in the vineyard, it reminds us that a great ‘blend’ is a collective reflection of the sum of all parts, as opposed to any one part on its own.” We would argue this beautiful blend is much more than the sum of its parts. Combining a smorgasbord of varietals while remaining poised and balanced is something we’ve come to love about the entire Johan portfolio. Cabernet Franc, Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent collide in the glass to bring a complex and terroir-driven nose, chased down with a tart, bright and immensely fresh palate that reflects the best of what the newly established Van Duzer AVA has to offer.
The winemaker: Johan Vineyards resides on 85 acres of gently sloping estate vineyards in the heart of the Willamette Valley. These vineyards are blessed with afternoon ocean breezes and cool evening temperatures that are ideal for ripening Burgundian varietals. Elevations range from approximately 180 to 380 feet. Soils are Helvetia, Steiwer, and Santiam silts which were formed primarily from ancient marine sedimentary rock. Johan Vineyards is passionate about making premium wines that showcase the estate vineyards. If one starts with excellent grapes, handles the fruit carefully, and intervenes in the wine making process only when necessary, the wine should be great.
The geeky details: From the winemaker: “2021 was a wonderful growing season, with low disease pressure, average yields and perfect clusters - which led to concentrated, fresh and complex wines across all clones and varieties at Johan. The 2021 vintage is a blend of 1/3 Cabernet Franc and the remaining 2/3 consisting of our Austrian red grapes – Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, & St. Laurent. In 2021, these red varieties had very similar fruit profiles and we thought they would play nicely together – and hey, we were right!”
Serve: With a light chill.
Food pairing: Anything with slightly earthy flavors like mushrooms or lentils, or tomato-based dishes with some tangy acid!
Album pairing: Theodor - Holocene