Matthew Compton grows and makes wine for his own Spindrift Cellars brand in Philomoth, Ore., but he manages several vineyards under his West Vine Farms operation and tapped into 10 small sites in the Willamette Valley for this flagship Pinot Noir. The former vineyard manager of Benton-Lane Winery continues to enjoy success with this approachable fruit-forward style for several vintages pulling from the dry-farmed sites such as BoVine, Croft, Deerhaven, Esterling and Mary’s Peak. Fun aromas of caramel corn, black cherry, dried strawberry and chocolate are matched on the palate. Sublime tannins, raspberry acidity and a long finish of dark cherry combine to make for a fruity, balanced and opulent Pinot Noir. This earned a double gold medal at the Savor NW Awards in February, and it continues to shine. Compton and his wife, Tabitha, enjoy serving this screwcapped beauty with Sausage Parmesan Palmiers, a recipe they’ve shared with their wine club.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 1,467 cases
Alcohol: 14%
Leave a Reply