Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Although sourced entirely from their immediate Eola-Amity Hills neighborhood, Bethel Height’s basic 2010 Pinot Noir is solely appellated “Willamette Valley.” As it’s designed from the beginning to be fruit-forward and refreshing, this gets 5-6 days of cold soak (whereas the typical Bethel Heights Pinot gets 3-4) and is yeasted specifically for low-temperature fermentation. Bright, sappy, fresh red berries are tinged with tamarind, clove, and vanilla on a vivacious palate, leading to a sustained and, as intended, refreshing finish.
Home of some of the planet’s most amazingly elegant and expressive Pinot noir, the Willamette Valley is a pastoral, mixed landscape of green, bucolic rolling hills, dramatic forestlands and small, independent, friendly wine growers. As a leader in environmental stewardship, the valley has some of the nation’s most protective land use policies, with two-thirds of its vineyards farmed sustainably and over half, organically. While the valley claims a cool, continental climate, and is heavily influenced by the cold, moist winds of the Pacific Ocean, its warm and dry summers allow for the steady, even ripening of Pinot noir.
The potential of Willamette Valley Pinot noir continues to attract the investment of serious growers and winemakers both locally and from abroad, as naturally the finished wines bring accolades from professionals and enthusiasts. With a range of styles from delicate dried cherry, raspberry and hibiscus to stronger notes of truffle, mocha, plum and spice, a fine Willamette Valley Pinot noir is a perfect expression of both character and grace.