WillaJory Pinot Noir 2023

The great English wine writer and Master of Wine, Jancis Robinson, once wrote that Chardonnay is a white wine trying to be red, and Pinot Noir is a red wine wanting to be white. In many cooler climates that grow Pinot Noir this is very apparent, perhaps none demonstrate this quite so well as the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Blessed with the perfect conditions to grow Pinot Noir the wines show amazing aromatic complexity without much weight. This example, named for the two primary soil types of the region, shows just how pretty and delicate this variety can be.

Grapes for this wine are sourced from a single vineyard in the Mt. Pisgah AVA, one of the cooler areas of the Willamette. Serve at cellar temperature and decant for 15 minutes and you will immediately understand how this wine serves our theme. The aromas are a high toned, delicate combination of dried cranberry, hibiscus tea, pink peppercorn, candied kumquats and jasmine. On the palate it is light and dry with a core of fruit that stays elevated and light, evaporating at the finish. This is not a Pinot Noir to cellar but rather to enjoy now with take out tuna or salmon sushi rolls, curried turkey kabobs or pasta with wild mushrooms.