This Pinot Noir consists of 20% Koosah Vineyard and 80% Big Cheese Vineyard, planted on rocky, volcanic soils and cooled by Pacific Ocean breezes.
Moderate yields and small berries made for intense flavors of blue fruits & sassafras, accompanied by rich, round textures. Winemaking was kept to a bare minimum: fermented with native yeast and 35% whole cluster, aged on the lees for 11 months then gently racked to tank and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Expert Ratings
Audrey Frick writes: From a spot at around 550 feet elevation on the northeast side of the Eola-Amity Hills, the 2021 Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills pours a saturated red and offers up a mineral-tinged perfume of crushed stones, ripe wild cherry, and woodsy spice, all well-interwoven. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and has great concentration, ripe tannins, and remarkable length, with ripe fruit and lovely finesse. Give it another couple of years and drink over the following 10-12 years. - Jeb Dunnuck 94
Clive Pursehouse writes: Made with 35% whole cluster, this wine exudes that Eola-Amity spiciness—aromatics of violets accented by white pepper and exotic spice. The palate is rich and lushly fruited, all the while complemented with savoury dried herbs, pomegranate, a core of concentrated blue fruits and a richness and power to the finish. - Decanter 94
Charles Curtis MW writes: Pure cherry aromas accented with notes of violet and spice waft from the glass of this delightfully silky wine. The texture is elegant and supple, yet still shows impressive density and enough tannic grip to suggest it will age for years. The amusingly named Big Cheese vineyard provides the majority of fruit here. Planted in 2008 to Dijon and Davis clones, 20% of the grapes were added as whole clusters and after a gentle fermentation the wine was aged for 16 months in cask. (Barrel sample). - Decanter 92
Int'l Wine Review: The 2021 Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir is fermented with 35% whole cluster and aged for 11 months in French oak barrels. Showcasing a medium ruby-purple core with a silvery rim in the glass, it contributes aromas and flavors of blueberry compote, early gray tea, red grapefruit zest, sweet cinnamon stick, and wet earth. Balanced tannins and acidity aid in the smooth and lively finish that goes on for minutes. - 93 Points
