Dunnuck 95 – best vintage ever:
The ruby/magenta 2023 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountain Vineyard is expressive and has a lovely wild touch with notes of sappy mountain herbs, sage oils, blackberries, fresh lavender, and wet stones. The palate is fantastic and medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannins and a long finish with notes of leather. It’s a pleasure to drink now, but will only improve as it leans into its more umami and maitake tones. Drink 2025-2040.
Best ever for Northwest specialist Paul Gregutt, too:
This is a multi-clone mix from a vineyard first planted by the legendary Dick Erath. It’s now owned by Cooper Mountain Winery, so this will be the last vintage from PGC. A blast of brambly berries holds the center, framed with flavors and textures of dried leaves and sandy soil. The finish trails out with light touches of baking spices.
And the winery:
The 2023 Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir may be the last one but it delivers incredible quality and value on its way out the door. The combination of the sweetness, earthiness and peppery notes make for a wine utterly unique in our lineup. There is a lot to dig into with this wine. It has a lushness that has been its hallmark in its short stint with Patricia Green Cellars that separates it from our other Ribbon Ridge/inner-Chehalem Mountain AVA sites. This is remarkably drinkable at a young age for a marine soil site of such history and pedigree. If you’re looking for a single vineyard 2023 PGC wine to either be a cellar defender or simply a wine to open with a good meal this is a bottle that will serve you well.
