Pale ruby color; raspberry, cherry, strawberry, chocolate, spice on the nose and palate.
Dry; very amenable tannins that still provide depth and complexity. Light balancing acidity. Light body. Burgundian-Willamette Valley style rather than the heavier, more fruit-assertive style of California. This is another example why Oregon is in the discussion about the great pinot noir regions on earth. Deftly made, an exceptionally smooth, etherial delight. Nicely managed barrel regime. Aged 12 months in 35% new French oak. 13% ABV
The estate vineyard is 100% Jory soil planted with 42-year-old Pommard clone. Jory soil is distinctive Oregon soil composed of very deep, well-drained soils that formed in colluvium (heterogeneous mass of rock detritus or soil material emplaced primarily by gravitational processes on or at the foot of slopes) from basic igneous rock. It is found in the foothills surrounding the Willamette Valley. The soil is named after the Jory Hill in Marion County, Oregon. There have been efforts to make Jory the “official dirt of Oregon.”
The website notes of the vineyard: “Since site and soil are such important factors in the production of elegant, quality Burgundian-style Pinot Noir. Le Nord, the northern vineyard, sits at approximately 600 feet in elevation, while Le Sud, the southern vineyard, sits a bit lower at 500 feet elevation. The elevation change results in a slightly different microclimate creating wines that are unique to the Le Sud and Le Nord vineyard blocks, a subtle difference that has been enjoyed by our wine club members for many years.”
Tina and Mark Hammond started Privé Vineyard on beautiful property in 2000. In 2020, Piper Rosales-Underbrink found Privé Vineyard and the Hammonds through mutual friends and she quickly became part of the family. The Hammonds wanted to sell and retire. Piper, with her father, had the resources to buy. And so they did amid the high-water mark of the Covid epidemic.
Today, Piper Rosales-Underbrink is the owner and the winemaker and vineyard steward at Privé. Piper grew up on the family’s beef-cattle ranch in Florida, graduated from a liberal arts college in Vermont (where she captained the volleyball team), decided to give winemaking a fling after graduating, went to California and learned winemaking from the ground up. Decided that is what she wanted to do with her life, took classes at UC-Davis to enhance her skills. And now she owns, runs, and makes wonderful wine. Florida cattle girl makes good.
Privé Vineyard Le Nord Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains AVA, Oregon 2022 is the reason you drink higher end Willamette Valley pinot. Lovely delicate complexity and depth. Silky, svelt, sophisticated, elegant. You can savor this all by itself or with light supporting cast of some cheese and wine crackers. Pair with turkey; salmon and rich fish; lighter beef dishes, will not do as well with richer, fattier cuts; veal; pork—tenderloin; baked chicken; pasta dishes with whit sauces; portobello mushrooms. Cheese—versatile, will work with many cheeses; gruyere, parmigiano reggiano, camembert, fontina, swiss, provolone, brie, taleggio. Avoid strong, stinky cheese, fresh goat cheeses. $75