Winemaker Notes
Initial aromas of red currant, glacé cherry and tomato lead into notes of freshly tilled earth, tobacco and pencil shavings. The entry on the palate is soft and approachable with surprising density that contrasts a distinct acidity. Flavors of marionberry, black raspberry and cocoa powder mingle with beautifully integrated tannins. A medium finish brings a touch of salinity to the back palate.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Bottled under screwcap, the 2022 Pinot Noir Red Cap is a rich but reflective ripe ruby red. On the nose, it’s pure and inviting, with ripe aromas of candied cherries, sweet spice, pressed roses, and forest floor. Medium-framed and ripe, it maintains good freshness and an approachable chalky texture, with fine-grained tannins and a clean 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.