Day Wines Pinot Noir Johan Vineyard Van Duzer Corridor 2021 750ml

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2021

Decanter 94 Points (Clive Pursehouse) | From the Demeter-certified biodynamic Johan Vineyard in the Willamette Valley. Rich umami-driven aromas of turned earth, smoky violets, and ripe stewed strawberries, lifted by evergreen tips and mint. Fresh red and black bramble fruits, savory chicory root, and a finish of black tea and wild anise.

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points (Michael Alberty) | Beautiful perfume of dried rose petals, jasmine, lavender and boysenberries. Firm tannins and electric-fence acidity corral flavors of tart cherries, blood orange segments and balsa wood. Enjoy now through 2036.

James Suckling 93 Points | Crisp and bright with stacks of sour cherry fruit and a touch of half-ripe strawberries. Restrained, moderately dry tannins and lively acidity keep it light on its feet. Long, positively grainy finish.

Vinous 90 Points | Nuanced and delicate — dried black cherries, sage and dusty rose. Cool-toned and racy with sleek textures, ripe red berry fruits, and a savory finish of saline minerals and brown spice.

Winemaker Notes

Johan Vineyard is an 85-acre, Demeter-certified biodynamic site in the Willamette Valley, south of McMinnville and west of Salem. Almost always the last Pinot pick of harvest — despite its low elevation, the Van Duzer Corridor funnels Pacific Ocean winds through the vineyard every summer afternoon, delaying ripening and building complexity. The soils are primarily marine sediment, and the benefit of biodynamic farming is immediately apparent standing in this healthy, alive place.

Day’s Johan Pinot Noir displays a deep red berry core allied to a beguiling spice component — classic southern Willamette. Around 40% whole-cluster fermentation adds savory, stemmy complexity. The tannins and acids are typically strident in youth, indicating a long and fulfilling life in the cellar.

Tasting & Pairings

Dried rose, boysenberry, sour cherry, blood orange, sage, turned earth, smoky violets, and black tea. Medium-bodied with firm tannins, electric acidity, and a long grainy finish. Decant or cellar through 2036.

• Duck breast with cherry reduction — mirrors the wine’s dark fruit and savory depth.
• Wild mushroom risotto — the earthy, umami character is a natural pairing.
• Grilled salmon with herbs — Oregon Pinot and Pacific salmon, a regional classic.