One of the southernmost plantings in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains, just across the Willamette River from Champoeg, gives the Mortimers and their winemakers more than a dozen clones to choose from. Traditionally, half of those – with the Swiss clone Mariafeld among them – make their way into Diversité, which debuted with the 2004 vintage in the hands of Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis. They worked with the first four vintages until 2008 when Scott Shull of Raptor Ridge fame took over. This serves as a stunning harbinger of the 2015 vintage in the Willamette Valley, a crowd-pleasing Pinot Noir with some backbone. Aromas of fresh-baked cherry cobbler, blueberry, violets and pipe tobacco lead to a smooth entry that’s round and full with cherry skin tannins and blueberry juice acidity. Barrel notes of licorice, vanilla and milk chocolate still allow for a dark strawberry finish. These wines are available at the Le Cadeau Vineyard tasting room in Dundee near the Babica Hen Café and The Inn at Red Hills.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 144 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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