Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Erath Reserve Pinot Noir represents the best of the Willamette Valley. Bright Ranier cherry aromas, a signature of the Dundee Hills, are followed by hints of violet and thyme on the nose, delicate characteristics that come from the Yamhill-Carlton and Laurelwood districts. Midweight structure and sweet baking spices from Mount Pisgah provide length and depth on the palate. Paired with brimming acidity, this wine elegantly traverses the region's distinct vineyards, offering the unique character of each as it evolves in the glass.
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.