Winemaker Notes
A glistening ruby color in the glass, this wine opens with a bouquet of dark fruit accented by floral, earthen and spice notes. On the entrance, taste deep raspberry, black currant jam, black plum, thimble berry, black tea, orange zest, lavender, chamomile, cedar, cigar box and toast. This thoroughly approachable wine with a robust palate is chock full of flavors and depth. Floral and fruit flavors compliment the oak component, allowing the wine to evolve during each sip. It is a complex and deep expression of the Pinot Noir grape with a refreshingly uplifting, sweet, jammy fruitiness on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Sweet berries, tobacco leaves and oak spices on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with a dense and creamy texture on the palate. Plenty of dark cherries and sweet tobacco notes and a crisp finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
What an aromatic rollercoaster ride. The first sniff of the glass yields bright red cherries and orange zest. Then you get a burst of roasted red peppers, followed by a shot of espresso. Restrained acidity and velvety tannins accompany raspberry, smoked cherry and earthy oregano flavors.
Best Buy
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.