Appassionata, Fortissimo - Willamette Valley 2014
Appassionata Estate began as a passion project for the renowned German winemaker Ernst Loosen, whose lifelong love for exploring the world’s great Pinot Noirs drew him to Oregon nearly three decades ago. Appassionata seeks the greatest potential for wines from a very special place in the volcanically formed, flood-washed hills of the cool-climate Willamette Valley.
The wines celebrate the unique climatic and geological characteristics that make this wine region so highly prized by wine lovers the world over, with a singular focus on ageability and extended bottle maturation before release.
The Fortissimo Pinot Noir is crafted for ultimate expressivity and longevity, and is not released until a minimum of 10 years after the vintage. This is the epitome of expressive excellence that Ernst Loosen is seeking in Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — a wine that combines brooding intensity with lilting grace, and displays the great aging potential that can be achieved in Oregon.
The 2014 vintage:
The 2014 growing season was outstanding, marked by an exceptional fruit set, consistently dry weather through September, and a bountiful harvest of ripe, healthy grapes. It was a rare vintage that achieved the perfect balance of full ripeness, moderate alcohol, and vibrant acidity — elements that do not often align simultaneously.
Although the season leaned warm, the steady conditions allowed us to craft wines that embody both depth and finesse. The Fortissimo Pinot Noir embodies this balance, delivering a wine that is rich and expressive while maintaining remarkable elegance, structure, and longevity.
Tasting notes:
The Fortissimo Pinot Noir is selected for ultimate longevity, and it is not released until at least 10 years after the vintage. This is the epitome of expressive excellence that we are seeking in Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — a wine that combines brooding intensity with lilting grace and can stand alongside the classic wines of the world for generations to come. The 2013 Fortissimo has impressive concentration, a juicy acidity, vibrant aromatics and a well-integrated finish. In this phase of maturation, tertiary aromas begin to show a profound complexity and subtle earthiness that only develops with bottle age and cannot be accelerated.