Winemaker Notes
Bright aromas of ripe strawberry and raspberry open up on the nose along with a hint of cedar. Vibrant flavors of red cherry and cranberry follow, accompanied by accents of black tea and thy me, with a dash of pink peppercorn. Fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity provide structure and balance through the lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A trio of appellations - the Willamette Valley, the Rogue Valley, and the Umpqua Valley, which contributed 63%, 23%, and 14% of the blend, respectively - define the unique flavor profile of this wine aged ten months in (20% new) French oak. Its scents of sweet tobacco, tilled soil, and ripe cherry are fetching. Bright cranberry is washed with cinnamon and layered with mocha, espresso, and pink peppercorn.
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.