To our taste, this is always Oregon’s top value in serious, high-quality (and Dundee Hills!) Pinot Noir. Previous vintages have earned 94-point scores, but none are as impressive as this 2021.
The winery says:
This wine jumps out of the glass. The transition from bright red fruit to dark cherries, gives it complexity and depth, but the overall profile stays approachable, making it a fun wine to share. If you are looking to dive into the silky tannins, they will take you on a ride, but if you are feeling the need for an easy, juicy sipper, this Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir will meet you there.
The 2021 growing season was warmer than average in the Willamette Valley, producing beautifully ripe fruit with vibrant flavors. A dry spring led to lingering rain showers during bloom, which reduced the yield in some blocks. Then, an abnormal heatwave spread across the valley, with temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, the fruit prospered as high temperatures occurred between bloom and veraison when berries were hard and less sensitive to damage. Temperatures tapered off prior to harvest, with warm days and cool nights, which allowed the fruit to ripen at an even and slower pace. Quick yet seemingly smooth, harvest started on August 21 with little to no breaks until we finished on September 26. The resulting wines are balanced with focused flavors, stunning fruit, gorgeous vibrancy, and incredible aging potential.
There’s an almost chewy-rich depth to the best Dundee Hills (and mountain) Pinot Noirs – which somehow combines with delicacy, purity, elegance and restrain. And this superb Pinot has all of those qualities in abundance.
