Winemaker Notes
The nose is inviting with blueberry and blackberry fruit that is nuanced by subtle spice notes of black licorice, black tea, cinnamon and graham cracker. The rich, silky tannins give in to a long and robust finish that leaves the taste of black cherries and dark chocolate lingering on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of ripe red cherry, plum, black tea, and a hint of lavender. Medium-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Bright acidity articulates the red fruit and berries with clarity and drive. Fresh cream at the finish. A total delight.
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Wine Enthusiast
Fruit for this wine comes from all seven of the winery's estate vineyards. Freshly ground cinnamon, cumin, mineral and black-cherry aromas lead to a palate that is well-delineated and juicy. There's plenty of structure wrapped around it all. It's gorgeous. Best after 2024.
Editors' Choice -
Wine Spectator
Detailed and refined, with handsome raspberry, forest floor and spiced tea flavors that add structure toward medium-grained tannins.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Lemelson Vineyards Pinot Noir is bright, lively, and crisp on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of red fruit, mineral notes, and spice. Enjoy it with grilled, dill-accented grilled salmon fillets. (Tasted: April 10, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Pinot Noir Thea's Selection is rounded with its perfume of incense, fresh herbs, and raspberry liqueur. Medium-bodied and approachable, with fine tannins and notes of black cherry and tea leaf, this is a Pinot Noir with a darker profile but a lot of charm.
Lemelson Vineyards began as a dream to create a winery grounded in nature, inspired by tradition in winemaking, and driven by innovation in technology. From the beginning, organic farming was at the core of that vision. Through organic viticulture and gravity-flow production, Lemelson crafts estate-grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling that honor Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Founder Eric Lemelson planted his first organically farmed vineyard in Yamhill County in 1995. Realizing that he loved the work involved in growing wine grapes, two years later he planted an additional 30 acres of Pinot noir and began planning the construction of a gravity-flow winery. Sustainability and organic practices were guiding principles from the start, both in the vineyards and in the winery, which was ultimately constructed using recycled and renewable materials. The intention was building something that would not only serve consumers but also the longevity of their pristine home state of Oregon.
Their commitment to organic farming and sustainability extends to all facets of winery life and ensures that all living components, be they land, vine, or human, are well cared for. It’s their belief that the glass you’re enjoying at home starts before vines were ever planted. The process from planting to drinking must be nurtured at all steps.
When you drink Lemelson wine, you are not only drinking an elegant, expressive Willamette Valley wine, you’re taking part in their journey to protect the earth for generations to come, and they thank you for that.
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.