The 2019 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is defined, expressive and layered, with pure lavender, peppercorn and wild berry aromas and a velvety texture with bursts of freshness that highlight floral perfume and an array of spicy accents on the extended finish. Drink 2022‑2034. Rated 96. - Erin Brooks, robertparker.com December, 2021

Deep, vivid garnet. Assertive aromas of fresh dark berries, cherry cola, potpourri and exotic spices, along with vanilla and espresso notes that emerge as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet, fleshy and seamless in texture, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry liqueur, vanilla and spicecake flavors and a suave pastille nuance. Velvety tannins build steadily on the finish, which hangs on with superb, floral- and spice-driven persistence. Drink 2024‑2034. Rated 94. - Josh Raynolds, vinous.com February, 2022

French though they be, the Drouhin family are no small part of the genesis of the thing that is Oregon Pinot Noir. The Roserock Vineyard is their more recent foray property‑wise and is located in the slightly more southerly Eola‑Amity Hills growing area. Lovely translucent medium‑deep ruby in color with slightly deeper‑pitched Pinot Noir aromas suggestive of blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, rhubarb, grape pomace, just an inkling of sassafras or cola from oak aging, then petrichor and pulverized stone/earth; elegantly rich, silken in texture on entry, with underlying nerve and a kind of push/pull of Oregon's own volcanic soils minerality and a vibrant fruity acidity stretching flavors out long on the finish and leaving the mouth fresh and salivating.

Deep, shimmering magenta. Expansive red and blue fruit preserve scents show superb clarity and take on suggestions of pungent flowers, exotic spices and smoky minerality with air. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated blueberry, black raspberry, five-spice powder and floral pastille flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. The floral note repeats emphatically on a wonderfully long finish that features polished tannins and reverberating red fruit character. Drink 2025‑2035. Rated 96. - Josh Raynolds vinous.com February, 2022

Tony Soter was for the longest time a most sought-after consulting winemaker in Napa Valley and owner/winemaker at Etude Vineyards. His consulting work included the likes of Araujo, Dalla Valle, Niebaum-Coppola, Spottswoode and Viader, among others. We, here, followed his work enthusiastically, as the high quality was always apparent. Tony Soter well earned the reputation of «winemakers' winemaker». He eventually moved north from California to his native Oregon to pursue production of the finest Pinot Noir, establishing Soter Vineyards in the northern Willamette Valley.

Our former co-worker and friend James Cahill moved northwest to Oregon back in the mid to late 1990s, following his dream to produce fine Pinot Noir. He worked for a good while with Mike Etzel at Beaux Frères, then briefly with his friend Adam Campbell at Elk Cove Vineyards before finally landing the work that has come to define his career there alongside Tony Soter at Soter Vineyards. So, now, James has become the winemakers' winemaker's winemaker, or just winemaker³ should you wish to conserve letters.

Their Soter Vineyards North Valley Pinot Noir has been go-to Willamette Valley stuff for us for some time now. The 2018 vintage is just on the scene and is just splendid: alluring dark ruby red in color, fully ripe Pinot Noir aromas suggestive of Oregon blackberries, bramble, bing cherry and a few little somethings left to the imagination (after decanting, Henry noted more prominent red fruits; our winebuyer reminisced over Chambolle, er, and, of course, Carlton); smooth as silk on entry, then ample, impressive in scale even and intensely flavorful but without any excess of weight on the palate with fine jittery tannins present, amplifying tensile flavors that continue to echo the original tantalizing slate of aromatics long on the finish — ah, at last, truth in advertising … That (vigorous) decanting, by the way, is every bit worthwhile with this one. Makes this $30.00 (ish) bottle taste a good deal more expensive. Regularly $32.50 the bottle, on sale now at:

Produce of 100% estate grown Pinot Noir fruit from all 6 of the Elk Cove vineyard sites: The Winery Estate, Mount Richmond, Five Mountain, Clay Court, Goodrich and Windhill. These sites are planted to both Pommard and Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and comprise all three of the major Willamette Valley soil types: Willakenzie (marine sedimentary), Laurelwood (windblown loess) and Jory (clay/volcanic), all of which is to say that one is getting a pretty good look here at what the Willamette Valley might offer in terms of (oh, let's use the French word) typicité. Alluring translucent ruby in color to just fuchsia at the edges with fresh fermentive Pinot Noir aromas suggesting cherry, blackberry bramble and spice along with grape pomace itself; supple on entry then both rounded and crisp on the palate with vivifying acidity and crunchy taut berry fruit, gentle structure from fine-grained, melting granular tannins and a freshness and energy on the finish that gives lift and appeal and surely beckons another pull. This is a quite simply gorgeous example of Oregon Pinot Noir, and at so very reasonable a price.

Deep, brilliant magenta. Pungent, spice- and smoke-tinged cherry, black raspberry and floral scents, along with hints of licorice and mocha. Nicely concentrated and lively as well, offering bitter cherry, candied violet, dark chocolate and baking spice flavors supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Youthfully grippy tannins frame a long, focused finish that echoes the cherry and floral notes. Drink 2022‑2031. Rated 91. - Josh Raynolds, vinous.com Febraury, 2022