2014 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate
We decided to taste this Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley Vineyards up against their Whole Cluster Pinot Noir. Crimson red. Lots of red cherries and some floral notes on the nose. More fruit than the Whole Cluster. Some light caramel notes and sour cherry candy, which opened up to some light brick dust on day two. Moderate acidity (6.5/10) and best body of all three Pinot Noirs we got from WVV. Medium body with great backbone and a long finish. A little savory on the attack with a follow through of red cherries and a little candied fruit. Needs some time to level out. Hopefully the greenery and metallic notes will wear off.
Williamette Valley Vineyards (WVV) was established in 1983 by Jim Bernau who has had a profound influence on sculpting the wine region in Oregon. Starting in 1981 Jim represented the Oregon Winegrowers in the passage of the Oregon Wine Advisory Board promoting the industry. Later on WVV was grandfathered into federal law when the American Viticultural Area was federally authorized. Aside from promoting the wine industry in Oregon, Jim also was recognized for creating the first system of environmental stewardship in American agriculture, the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) certification, along with receiving the first "Hero of Salmon" award by Salmon Safe. Additionally in the wine industry he was recognized and honored with the Los Heroes de Salud! award for contribution in providing healthcare to Oregon's vineyard workers. There are over 9,000 wine enthusiast shareholders vested in WVV, this was possible because Jim conducted the first "crowd funding" for a winery to build WVV by obtaining permission from the SEC in 1988, expanding the laws for community based funding for small businesses.
This bottling is made of 100% Pinot Noir, made of fruit from three vineyards; Estate Vineyards (original winery plantings), Tualatin Estate Vineyard (in the Coast Range) and Elton Vineyard (in Eola Amity Hills). Joe Ibrahim is the winemaker for WVV, his career in the wine industry started when he interned for a small family-owned winery in Northern Vermont, next step was Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estate in Washington State, then was offered a position at Gallo Family where he learned to make sparkling wine and spirits, last stop before WVV was Edna Valley Vineyards where he truly learned about making cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
2016 till 2021.
Price Point:
$$ - Sample provided by the Estate. Can be purchases at the Estate or online for $30.00.