EZY TGR Pinot Noir 2022

tart red cherry, raspberry, black tea, wet leaves, and bergamot

EZY TGR (“Easy Tiger,” in case the label didn’t give it away) is a project from John House and Ksenija that morphed out of their search for interesting terroirs in the Willamette. Over production is a relatively new problem faced by the growers in the Willamette Valley as both quality and quantity have risen every vintage since 2016. Several of his growers offered John their grapes at a reduced rate, which gave him the idea of producing a varietally correct example of Willamette Pinot Noir. 

After being harvested by hand, these grapes are brought from their respective vineyard sites to the winery, where about 80% of the fruit is destemmed. Spontaneous fermentation then occurs, using only native yeasts. Daily pump-overs are utilized in order to keep the cap submerged and to preserve aromatic structure. Post fermentation, the wine undergoes a traditional 18-month maturation in neutral French oak, to bring out more of the earthy, terroir-driven qualities of Pinot Noir.

When you open this wine, you will want to decant it for at least half an hour, allowing its aromatic complexity to really shine through. Once you do, you will be greeted with notes of tart red cherry, raspberry, black tea, wet leaves, and bergamot. Drink now through 2027 with grilled salmon, lamb chops, or beef carpaccio.