As one of the Willamette Valley's most overlooked winegrowers and winemakers, Matt Compton steps out from beyond the Spindrift Cellars brand to launch his eponymous label. And his early work will continue to raise the profile of the wine community maturing around Philomath, Ore. His Alpine Cuvée is a collection of vineyards from Alpine to Monroe, which he refers to as "the … [Read more...] about Compton Family Wines 2016 Alpine Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $38
oregon pinot noir
King Estate 2014 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville $55
The King family and their winemakers have been working with this historic site near McMinnville, Ore., since 1992, and Brent Stone took the winery's 12th standalone bottling of Hyland Vineyard across the finish line with elegance. It spent 12 months in 20% new French oak, making for a lighter style Pinot Noir that's sublime and suave. The nose of caramel, raspberry and coconut … [Read more...] about King Estate 2014 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville $55
Adelsheim Vineyard 2015 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains $45
David Adelsheim, recipient of the Oregon Wine Board's Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrated his 45th year of his eponymous brand in 2016 with the debut of his Breaking Ground tier. This marks the second vintage of that project, and it serves as another delicious example of the teamwork among Gina Hennen and David Paige with vineyard manager Kelli Gregory. The winemakers remain … [Read more...] about Adelsheim Vineyard 2015 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains $45
Pete’s Mountain Winery 2016 Pete’s Mountain Vineyard Haley’s Block Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $36
Pete's Mountain is a landmark and community in the Mount Hood foothills near Portland that's named for French immigrant Pete Weiss, who settled the area before our Civil War. Owners Mike and Kris Thayer dry-farm their 18 acres of Pinot Noir, and they enlist the winemaking team at NW Wine Co., in Dundee, led by Bordeaux product Laurent Montalieu and University of Dijon graduate … [Read more...] about Pete’s Mountain Winery 2016 Pete’s Mountain Vineyard Haley’s Block Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $36
Argyle Winery 2015 Artisan Series Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $40
Argyle's two estate vineyards in the cooler Eola-Amity Hills - Spirit Hill and Lone Star - make up two thirds of this reserve Pinot Noir, with backing by Knudsen Vineyard in the Dundee Hills just north of Nate Klostermann's winery. Harvest for this bottling was wrapped up by Sept. 27 with Spirit Hill, and while many Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley have taken on a bigger … [Read more...] about Argyle Winery 2015 Artisan Series Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $40