Winemaker Notes
The 2017 vintage is a brilliant example of Pinot Noir from a consistent and warmer than average Western Oregon growing season. In the glass, there is a garnet-colored center with bright ruby edges. The nose has rich, fruit-forward aromas like ripe cherries and strawberry pie, with hints of cinnamon, vanilla and mocha. Thee palate echoes with ripe strawberries and dark chocolate up front, followed by earthy and spicy notes of forest floor and clove. Expect this to age beautifully through the next decade.
While the Willamette Valley and Pinot Noir are a like a fairy tale match made in heaven, most of Oregon is in fact, a glorious source of Pinot noir. Claiming over half of its total area under vine, Pinot noir also thrives in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua and Rogue Valleys where sedimentary and volcanic soils dominate hillside vineyards and cool temperatures create the perfect environment for Pinot noir. Also, Oregon’s Columbia Gorge is becoming increasingly popular for Pinot noir production. What sets Oregon Pinot noir apart from the Pinot of other regions, both New and Old World, is its innate combination of grace with both power and restraint.