Winemaker Notes
Sourced from Pommard clones planted in 1990, this perches ripe blueberry and black raspberry fruit atop drying, mineral-tinged tannins. The concentration and depth, even at such a young age, argue for cellaring this gem at least another five years, and enjoy prime-time drinking through the back half of the decade. Structure meets grace, with vibrant raspberry, black tea and rose petal accents that build presence toward well-groomed tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
These Pommard clones were planted in 1990 and are in their prime. The mixed fruit flavors bring blueberry, red plum, sour cherry and even a hint of apple, with zesty acidity. Following on those first impressions come lightly peppery herbal notes running into the finish, with clay, seashells and tea trailing. It’s a fine expression of a unique site.
Editors’ Choice.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Home of the first Pinot noir vineyard of the Willamette Valley, planted by David Lett of Eyrie Vineyard in 1966, today the Dundee Hills AVA remains the most densely planted AVA in the valley (and state). To its north sits the Chehalem Valley and to its south, runs the Willamette River. Within the region’s 12,500 acres, about 1,700 are planted to vine on predominantly basalt-based, volcanic, Jory soil.