Winemaker Notes
Pronounced aromas of red cherries intertwined with layers of spice and a subtle hint of black tea. A fragrant herbal element adds depth, harmonizing with an abundance of sweet, ripe fruits. The palate reveals fine-grained tannins with a delightful interplay of blackcurrants and a touch of plum, underscored by a peppery spice that lends a delightful kick. Wild bramble and a gentle infusion of baking spices linger on the finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
This fresh, vibrant red shows silky flavors of strawberry and guava that build richness alongside zesty cinnamon and savory tea accents while gliding toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2032. 8,500 cases made.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Made with grapes from ownrooted vines that are over a half-century old, this estate wine leads with orange-peel and cherry aromas that complement savory notes of iodine and rare steak. A tasty ripe cherry and graham cracker dust combination is backed by chewy tannins.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Stretching southwest from the city of McMinnville, the AVA with the same name covers about 40,000 acres across 20 miles until it meets the Van Duzer Corridor. This corridor is the only break in the Coast Range whose gap allows the cool Pacific Ocean air to flow eastward into the Willamette Valley.
The Pacific's moderating winds hit McMinnville’s south and southeast facing slopes where cool-climate varieties—namely Pinot noir and Pinot blanc thrive on ridges at between 200 to 1,000 feet in elevation.
Soils here are primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loam and silt, with alluvial formations; McMinnville receives less rainfall than its neighbors to the east because it is situated in the rain shadow of the Coast Range.