Dan Chapel’s program featuring an estate vineyard that celebrated its 40th year of life in 2023 earned its 17th career Platinum this past fall. All of those have been with Pinot Noir, yet this is the first for a rosé by our 2021 Oregon Winery of the Year. The blend of Pommard (80%) and Dijon 777 clones was harvested specifically for rosé, and its light aromas of light cherry … [Read more...] about Cardwell Hill Cellars 2022 Estate Rosé from Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Pinot Noir
Amaterra Wines 2019 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $47
A decade ago, Matt Vuylsteke oversaw first the establishment of the Nistlers’ 12-acre Swede Hill Vineyard west of downtown Portland and then their winemaking team. Amaterra’s flagship Pinot Noir is an assemblage of four growing regions with three clones taking the lead — Dijon 115 (49%), Pommard (20%) and Wädensvil. Scents of cherry cola, brown sugar, mixed berries and anise … [Read more...] about Amaterra Wines 2019 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $47
Montinore Estate 2019 First Sight Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
One of the Willamette Valley’s early adopters of Biodynamic farming has entered its fifth decade of winemaking near Forest Grove, Ore., this is Montinore Estate’s third vintage of First Sight Pinot Noir, sourced from picturesque Tidalstar Vineyard, a Tualatin Hills site in the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area. Their effort here from the 2019 vintage presents Pinot … [Read more...] about Montinore Estate 2019 First Sight Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
Iris Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Oregon State University grad Aaron Lieberman scored Platinums with two bottlings of Pinot Noir from the 2021 vintage, the reserve tier under the Areté label and this flagship release for Iris Vineyards. It’s a blend of four distinct growing regions and includes the Chalice Estate (36%) and underrated Methven (27%) in the Eola-Amity Hills. The nose includes Rainier cherry, … [Read more...] about Iris Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Bayernmoor Cellars 2021 Bayernmoor Vineyard Clone 777 Pinot Noir, Puget Sound $50
A year ago, Texas native Larry Harris used a Cab from Red Mountain and a Chardonnay from the Columbia Gorge to earn his first two career Platinums. In 2023, six of his nine Platinums were for work with Pinot Noir, and this four-barrel estate effort with Dijon clone 777 is a stellar effort that captures the clone’s aromatic and attractive qualities. Silky sensations of black … [Read more...] about Bayernmoor Cellars 2021 Bayernmoor Vineyard Clone 777 Pinot Noir, Puget Sound $50