Bethel Heights Vineyard
Press & Accolades
Recent Press & Articles
Bethel Heights, The High Wire Chardonnay, 2023
CLIVE PURSEHOUSE | DECANTER | JULY 25, 2025
100 Perfection. This is my first experience tasting this captivating Chardonnay from the Bethel Heights estate, which is sourced from some of the oldest vines on the property, a former walnut orchard. This wine is 100% own-rooted Wente clone Chardonnay, planted in 1977. The winemaking includes a year in 50% new French oak, with the full lees and only one stirring. Named for the old high-trellised ‘California sprawl’ used in the vineyard for these vines, The High Wire hits all the high notes in the 2023 bottling. Winemaker Ben Casteel has delivered a 2023 masterpiece for what is quickly becoming America’s greatest Chardonnay appellation, the Eola-Amity Hills. While these California heritage vines struggled to fully ripen in the early, cooler days of the Willamette Valley, this modern iteration is a classic—subtle and delicate aromas of citrus curd, acacia honey and crushed chalk offer tremendous elegance. The palate offers a swooning complexity, with depth reminiscent of lemon oil, beeswax, and rich, resonant white florals. This is a stroke of brilliance disguised as a Chardonnay, teeming over with complexity and nuance, as good as anything made anywhere in the world. Nothing is out of place; the finish lingers, seemingly forever, with a smooth feeling of crushed chalk and a richness of baked Meyer lemon.
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Wine Scores & Acclaim
Chardonnay Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
95 International Wine Report “Its luminous lemon-old hue with a silvery edge hints at both freshness and depth. The nose opens with a delicate touch of flinty reduction, giving way to aromas of ripe white peach, crisp green apple, and roasted almond, all underscored by wet slate and cool, damp earth. The palate is broad yet finely balanced, delivering layers of golden plum, lemon zest, and a whisper of thyme. A bright streak of acidity keeps the richness in check, leading to a finish that lingers with hints of crushed rock and toasted hazelnut. Best buy.”
92 The Wine Advocate “The 2023 Chardonnay Estate has expressive aromas of peach, nectarine, hazelnut,
beeswax and chamomile. The medium-bodied palate has a silky texture and expansive,
honey-nut flavors. Vibrant acidity adds tension, and it has a long, energetic finish.”
2022 Vintage
93+ The Wine Advocate: “Opens with scents of seashells, citrus blossoms and beeswax, flinty undertones well integrated. Very energetic! Shimmery feel on the finish.”
92 Vinous “Distinctly savory, the 2022 Chardonnay Estate slowly evolves in the glass, with an herbal thrust and hints of stone dust giving way to freshly sliced nectarines.”
93 Jeb Dunnuck “A bright silver/yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Estate has light flinty aromas of fresh pear, white flowers, a touch of oak spice, beeswax, and raw hazelnut.”
2021 Vintage
94+ The Wine Advocate: “Light-bodied and silky, the palate is tight and focused yet concentrated, and its long, ethereal finish suggests there’s more to come.”
94 Decanter: “For less than $40, you’ll struggle to find a better American Chardonnay. The palate is lushly fruited. Ripe apricot and cardamom-spiced pear flavours trend towards a lemon cream finish accented by a mineral note of wet chalk. It has a lot to offer and, at this price point, shows such great depth and complexity from the Bethel Heights site.”
2019 Vintage
95 The Wine Advocate: “The 2019 Chardonnay Estate has a satiny texture and layer after layer of floral fruit on the extended finish, its fresh acidity calling you in for another sip.”
2018 Vintage
93 JamesSuckling.com: “This has attractively flinty lemons, pears and white peaches with hints of freshly baked biscuit and spicy oak. The palate has a very juicy, lemon-juice and lemon-pastry core with bright acidity and a smoothly layered finish.”
2017 Vintage
93 JamesSuckling.com: “Attractive, pear and chamomile-flower aromas with a fresh array of lemons, grapefruit and melon. The palate has great depth and focus with a juicy, fresh and lithe run to the finish. Long and sustained.”
2016 Vintage
94 JamesSuckling.com: “Impressively complex and subtly flinty nose with yellow citrus fruit and peaches. The palate has a very fresh and refined shape and delivers concentrated and focused fruit.”
Chardonnay Casteel, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
98 International Wine Report ” The 2023 Bethel Heights Casteel Chardonnay from the Eola-Amity Hills represents a meticulous barrel selection, with lots shifting each vintage, crafted only from the estate’s most distinguished barrels. The nose unfolds with layers of green pear, crushed volcanic stone, preserved lemon, and a lift of chamomile, accented by accents of sweet spice and faint cedary herbal tones. A striking mineral line, reminiscent of crushed oyster shells, carries through with precision and energy. The texture is both compact and tensile, finishing with an enduring echo of citrus zest, herbs, and smoky earth. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.”
97 Decanter “This wine is perennially one of the best Chardonnays in the region, a select blend from the finest barrels each vintage, with lots varying from year to year, bearing the family name, Casteel.
95 The Wine Advocate “From the Justice Vineyard, the 2023 Chardonnay Casteel has slowly unfurling aromas
of peach, pear, panna cotta, chamomile, honey and matchstick, gaining in intensity and expression as it airs in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is dynamic, detailed and
perfumed with succulent flavors and a luxurious, silky texture. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a very long finish.”
2022 Vintage
97 Jeb Dunnuck “Medium yellow with a light gold tinge, the 2022 Chardonnay Casteel has lovely light reductive and briny notes, a jasmine floral profile, and hints of fresh golden apples and lemon oils. Full-bodied, how could you not love this?”
95 Decanter “A ripe and fleshy iteration of the Casteel Chardonnay from Bethel Heights shows an impressive depth of fruit. The Casteel is a barrel selection from the oldest vines planted in 1977 and the adjacent block planted in 1994, on the Eola-Amity Hills estate site.”
2021 Vintage
97 The Wine Advocate: “Satiny and expansive with impressively concentrated, slightly exotic fruit driven by focused acidity… Year after year, the Casteel is one of the best Chardonnays coming out of Oregon, and this 2021 is especially gorgeous!”
97 Decanter: “The palate is impressive. Smoky flint leads into lanolin, almond cream, cardamom, baked apple and just a hint of cheese rind. This beautiful wine comes together wonderfully, showing just how impressive Willamette Valley Chardonnay can be.”
2019 Vintage
98 The Wine Advocate: “Packed with layer after layer of savory fruits, with bursts of freshness that highlight its exceptional perfume. Singular satiny texture coats the mouth and makes for extraordinary length.”
2018 Vintage
94 JamesSuckling.com: “The nose here is fresh and chalky with a fresh, flinty edge to the sliced pears, apple pastry and white peaches. The palate has a fresh attitude with good focus.”
2017 Vintage
95 The Wine Advocate: “Medium-bodied and silky, with tangy acidity to oppose the luscious texture and ripe fruits, finishing very long and layered. This is so classy—effortlessly traversing the tightrope of ripeness and precision. Yes!”
2016 Vintage
95 The Wine Advocate: “Opens with intense mineral notions on the nose, beautiful white flowers in the mouth with honey nut and apple pie nuances, finishing very, very long and honeyed.”
Chardonnay Justice Vineyard, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
97 International Wine Report “This vintage opens with a brooding reductive tone (which I adore) that quickly transforms into sliced green apples, sea spray, and wild thyme, all accented by a concise mineral edge. The palate strikes a stunning equilibrium, delivering layers of candied lemon, quince, and golden apple, contrasted by bright notes of white tea. Texturally, it feels both weighty and refined, carried by a saline backbone that recalls ocean air. A lemon zest and flint note thread through the lengthy finish, adding tension and complexity that promise years of development. This is a breathtaking Chardonnay, capturing both the raw energy of its site and a seamless elegance that will only deepen with time. Highly recommended.
95 Decanter “The Justice Vineyard planted in 1999, sits on south-facing slopes near the Bethel Heights estate and is often the first pick at harvest each vintage. The palate shows a weight and texture offering a compelling balance between richness of preserved lemons and a lightened airy touch of lemon grass, beebalm, and a trailing towards its smoky, flinty minerality, cursed sea shells abound the finish.
94 The Wine Advocate “The 2023 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard has alluring scents of quince paste, peach preserves, panna cotta, chamomile and flint. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and expansive, honeyed flavors. It’s balanced by bright, mouthwatering acidity and has a long, flinty finish.”
2022 Vintage
96 Decanter “Ben Casteel shows a deft hand in the Chardonnay department and this Justice Vineyard bottling is no exception. A stunning array of minerality alights from the glass with ocean air wafting across notes of smoky grilled lemon, lemongrass and notes of dried chamomile.”
94 The Wine Advocate: “Taut and shimmery with stony, citrusy character and a very long, latent finish. This energetic, ethereal Chardonnay will mature gracefully over the next decade.”
94 Vinous “This is rich and pliant yet full of zesty energy, mixing vividly ripe orchard fruits with saline mineral tones and spices.”
96 Jeb Dunnuck Top 100 Wines of 2024 – #81 “A brilliant straw/silver color, the 2022 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard moves to a higher gear with its notes of beeswax, almondine, white flowers, and honeycomb as well as pristine poached pear, and preserved, pithy citrus.”
2021 Vintage
95+ The Wine Advocate “The 2021 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard is lightly flinty to begin before unfolding to peach, green apple and honeyed undertones. The medium-bodied palate is ultra silky and concentrated, with a tightly coiled expression and a long, flinty finish, which suggests it will require several years to unfold in the bottle.”
2019 Vintage
93 Wine Spectator “Polished and detailed, with baked pear flavors that are accented by lemon tart and toasty spices, finishing on a rich note. Drink now.” -T.F.
Chardonnay, The High Wire, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
100 Perfection. Decanter “Named for the old high-trellised ‘California sprawl’ used in the vineyard for these vines, The High Wire hits all the high notes in the 2023 bottling. Winemaker Ben Casteel has delivered a 2023 masterpiece for what is quickly becoming America’s greatest Chardonnay appellation, the Eola-Amity Hills.”
96 The Wine Advocate “The 2023 Chardonnay The High Wire comes from Wente clone vines planted in 1977. The nose is singular and intense, combining rich peach, honey, panna cotta and lemon blossom aromas with effortlessly integrated matchstick character. The palate combines power and energy. Expansive, flint-laced flavors and a luxurious, silky texture are foiled by tense, linear acidity, and it has a very long, nuanced finish. It should be long-lived in the cellar.”
2022 Vintage
95 The Wine Advocate “It flows effortlessly through the mouth, its lemon and beeswaz flavors wrapped in a satiny texture. It has taut acidity, and a kiss of phenolic texture extends the finish.”
2021 Vintage
96 The Wine Advocate “The High Wire Chardonnay is fresh and elegant. The palate is concentrated yet elegantly styled, with mouthwatering acidity and a long, perfumed finish.”
Pinot Noir Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
95 International Wine Report “unfolds with depth and polish, a seamless blend of estate parcels that showcase incredible precision. Its shimmering garnet hue with a neon pink rim sets the stage for a complex bouquet of red currant, dark cherry, lavender, and black tea, accented by hints of crushed stone and subtle sweet Christmas
spice. The palate delivers a beautiful interplay of ripeness and tension, where ripe red plum and blueberry fruit mingle with notes of clove and forest herbs. Silky tannins glide across the tongue, giving structure without weight.”
94 Decanter “This wine consistently makes a compelling case for one of the best under $50 Oregon Pinot Noirs ($36), sourced from three estate sites: Justice, Lewman, and the Bethel Heights estate. Winemaker Ben Casteel believes that the entry-point wine is often the most reflection of an estate’s quality, and therefore takes the assemblage of theis wine as seriously as any ot the others he produces.”
93 James Suckling “Aromas of dark cherries, plums, forest floor and spices. The palate is firm and structured, with savory tannins and focused dark fruit. Earthy and balanced, with a dry finish. Drink or hold.”
93 The Wine Advocate “slowly unfolding scents of rhubarb, blackberry, blood orange, lavender and iron. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, floral
flavors. It’s framed by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, nuanced finish. It will benefit from time in a decanter.”
92 Vinous “The 2023 Pinot Noir Estate opens with a vibrant blend of crushed cherries and blackberries, elevated by sweet herbal tones and a nuance of spice. Juicy acidity enlivens depths of crisp wild berry fruit and mineral notes. The finish is pleasantly grippy, tapering off chewy and long with a
tinge of licorice that lingers.”
2022 Vintage
92 Wine Spectator Top 100 – #47 “Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish. Best from 2025 through 2031. 4,548 cases made.”
94 Decanter “A delightful wine that punches so far above its price point. Black tea aromatics are married to freshly churned topsoil, dried lavender and sun-baked blackberries. This wine is distinguished and complex, so refreshing to see such deference paid to a wine priced under $40.”
93 JamesSuckling.com: “Bright cherries, raspberries, orange peel and rose hips on the nose. Racy and vibrant on the palate with vivid, electrifying acidity. Refreshing, minty undertones at the end.”
93 Wine Advocate: “Bursting with strawberry, raspberry and orange peel aromas. The palate is finely astringent and refreshing with complex, bitters-laced flavors and a long, spicy finish.”
93 Vinous “Well formed tannins frame the finish as violet inner florals resonate throughout. This is not only a spectacular entry point to the Bethel Heights style, it’s also a fantastic value.”
92 Jeb Dunnuck “Coming from across the whole property and pouring a medium ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is fragrant and perfumed with lovely notes of black raspberries, fresh violets, and stony earth.
2021 Vintage
93 Wine Spectator: “Sleek and handsomely structured, with expressive raspberry and red plum flavors laced with black tea… building tension toward medium-grained tannins.”
93 Decanter: “Refined and dark-fruited, this wine is a blend across the estate, an effort to capture the terroir and signature of Bethel Heights.”
2019 Vintage
93 JamesSuckling.com: “A complex nose of dark cherries, mulberries, mushrooms, forest wood and baking spices. Velvety tannins and bright acidity. Layered and textured.”
2018 Vintage
93 JamesSuckling.com: “This has a sultry nose with violet and dark-cherry aromas, as well as forest-wood, sous-bois and spicy, earthy notes. The palate has a very rich delivery of super pure dark cherries and such assertive, driving, older-vine tannins. Delicious pinot with plenty of flavor.”
Pinot Noir Æolian, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
96 International Wine Report “captures the vivid spirit of its windswept vineyards. Glimmering ruby core with a light pink rim in the glass, it greets the senses with alluring aromas of wild strawberry, red plum, white wildflowers, and toasted clove, accented by faint traces of crushed basalt and fresh thyme. On the palate, the wine unfolds with drive, its texture polished and silken, moving effortlessly across the tongue. There’s a lovely interplay between lightness and depth here, offering both freshness and poise in equal measure. As it breathes, the Aeolian builds in resonance, revealing hints of savory spice and earth that resonate through the lingering finish. This Pinot Noir imagines the mood of an early autumn hike through Oregon’s high forest trails. Highly recommended.
94 Decanter “Classic aromas of earth, rich violets and buoyant fresh forest berries typical of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The Aeolian has long been crafted from Bethel Heights second-generation vines, planted in 2002, with some inclusion of the Justice Vineyard in more recent years.”
2022 Vintage
95 Decanter “Named for the wind that defines the Eola-Amity Hills appellation, the Aeolian Pinot Noir is savoury and elegant. Aromatics of bright strawberries, raspberry leaf and freshly turned soil are lifted by notes of pine bough and wild mint. The palate is gorgeously spiced as delicate flavours of clove, spiced orange peel and black tea come to the fore and enhance rich ripe strawberries and wild herbs.”
94+ Jeb Dunnuck “Aeolian – It’s medium-bodied and very pure, with finely defined tannins, a lovely, long finish, and a lot of clarity throughout.”
94 Wine Advocate: “Intense aromas of roasted cranberries, Cara Cara oranges and raspberries. The palate offers highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish.”
94 Vinous “The 2022 leaves the palate stained in primary concentration., with a bitter blackberry tinge and edgy tannins that make for a lovely punctuation to the experience.”
93 JamesSuckling.com: “A vivid, blue-fruited pinot with violet, lavender and dried citrus peel. Juicy and blooming on the palate… Flavorful and refreshing with a touch of crispy minerality.”
2021 Vintage
94 Wine Spectator: “A handsome red, polished and refined in structure, offering a fresh burst of raspberry, fresh violet and cinnamon spice flavors that build richness toward supple tannins.”
93 Decanter: “Verve and expressiveness are the hallmarks of this estate Pinot Noir from the Eola Amity AVA—aromas of Luxardo cherries, violet-driven florals and crushed basalt minerality.”
2019 Vintage
92 JamesSuckling.com: “Aromas of cherry, plum, smoke and cedar. It’s medium-bodied with chalky tannins and vivid acidity. Plenty of dark fruit and wood spices and a supple finish with excellent length.”
2018 Vintage
93 JamesSuckling.com: “The nose has a fresh and sweetly perfumed edge with red apples, red cherries and stones, as well as a crushed-rose note. The palate has a succinct delivery of sturdy, chiseled tannin and plenty of ripe, dark-cherry and berry flavor.”
2012 Vintage
92 Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: “Silky and open-knit on entry… excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is framed by silky tannins.”
Pinot Noir Casteel, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
97 Decanter “The Casteel Pinot Noir is the estate’s tete de cuvee each vintage. A selection of the vintage’s top lots. Elegance erupts in the aromatics, as intense red florals are given over to red florals, forest floor and a poignancy of dried red fruits.”
97 International Wine Report “stands as a masterwork of harmony and detail, embodying the estate’s core philosophy of elegance through precision. Each sip unfolds with tension and refinement, culminating in a seamless, endlessly nuanced finish that lingers with quiet persistence. Bravo! Highly recommended.
95 The Wine Advocate “The 2023 Pinot Noir Casteel comes from the Justice, Lewman, and Bethel Heights Estate Vineyards. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled with concentrated, mineral-laced
flavors. It’s structured by silky tannins and bright acidity and has a long, graphite-laced finish. It will benefit from time in the cellar.”
2022 Vintage
97 Decanter Top 50 US Wines of 2024 – #33 “The palate is intense, centred around opaque bramble fruits, there is a muddled strawberry freshness, further carried by spicy chicory root, tart pomegranate, and delicious notes of dried anise. A wine of elegance certainly but with concentration and structure to unwind beautifully over a decade.”
97 Jeb Dunnuck “Taking on a magenta hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Casteel cuts through all three properties and takes on fantastic high-toned notes on the nose, along with hints of fresh blue fruit shining through, with notes of cherry eau de vie lavender, wet stones, and gravelly earth, and a long finish.”
94+ Vinous“Licorice and lavendar mingle through the finish, s the Casteel tapers off long and structured yet still remarkably fresh. This is a beaurty that is already showing quite well but also has the balance to age gracefully.”
96 Wine Advocate: “Intoxicating scents of pomegranate liqueur, blackberry jam, Earl Grey tea leaves and earth. Concentrated and powerful! Fine, chalky tannins and mouthwatering acidity and a long, floral and spice-laced finish.”
94 JamesSuckling.com: “Bright and vivid pinot with cherries, cranberries, dried rose hips and dried herbs on the nose. . . clean and refreshing on the palate. Crunchy and minerally.”
2021 Vintage
94 Wine Spectator: “Capturing the essence of Eola-Amity, this Pinot is deeply structured yet supple and generous… Finishes with broad-shouldered yet polished tannins.”
96 Decanter: “A wonderful wine. Balances an elegant determination to be serious and contemplative with a gregarious fresh fruit and minty spice that is undeniably enjoyable.”
2019 Vintage
98 Wine Advocate: “Powerful and expressive, silty and seamless, with extraordinary floral perfume, layering and length.”
2018 Vintage
95 Vinous: “Expansive aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, candied flowers, vanilla and baking spices; a smoky mineral flourish gains strength as the wine opens up. Coats the palate with appealing sweet boysenberry and cherry liqueur flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Shows fine clarity and floral lift on a long, velvety finish shaped by fine-grained, even tannins.”
2017 Vintage
95 JamesSuckling.com: “A beautifully composed wine from the outset, offering ripe dark cherries, swathed in assertively toasty complexity with wild herbs and bracken. This is really fresh with a handsomely savory thread. The palate has a smooth, sleek and polished feel…”
Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
97 International Wine Report “radiates vibrancy and finesse, capturing the crystalline energy of its wind-swept volcanic slopes. Its vivid ruby hue foreshadows an aromatic medley of blood orange peel, red currant, crushed raspberry, and dried lavender, underscored by hints of sweet clove and crushed granite. The palate
is electric in its precision, with high-toned acidity weaving through layers of ripe raspberry, pink grapefruit zest, and cedary herbs. Texturally, it feels taut and finely etched, its saline edge and mineral tension giving the wine both lift and longevity. As it unfolds, subtle notes of bergamot and dried thyme emerge, revealing a layered complexity that continues to evolve with every swirl. This is a Pinot Noir of purity and poise, thrilling in its youth and destined to reward with time. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.
96 Decanter “A brilliant array of taut red berries and a piquant squeeze of blood orange light up the palate with undeniable freshness. Sea salt and dried wild alpine herbs lend a rich, savoury, and mineral framework to the copious fruit.”
95 The Wine Advocate “The 2023 Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard has dramatically unfurling scents of
pomegranate, blueberry, Earl Grey tea leaves, tobacco and spice. The full-bodied palate is dynamic and layered with velvety tannins, succulent acidity and a long, floral finish. It will benefit from time in a decanter.
2022 Vintage
96 Jeb Dunnuck“Medium-bodied, it has a more coiled approach on the palate, with fine tannins, even, ripe acidity, and a mouthwatering finish with notes of dark crushed stones.”
95+ Wine Advocate: “Concentrated, powerful flavors. Abundant, velvety tannins and bright acidity structures its opulent fruit, and it has a long, luxuriously spicy finish.”
2021 Vintage
98+ Wine Advocate: “Intense, singular and pure aromatics…palate offering seamless, energetic acidity and haunting streaks of spice and earth that fan across the tremendously long finish.”
Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2023 Vintage
96 Decanter “Beautifully aromatic, with splendid notes of violets, smoky clove spices, fennel seeds, and dense forest soils. The palate blanches perfectly juicy berry fruits with a serious streak of mineral salinity and ample structure.”
94+ The Wine Advoate “The 2023 Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard is complex and spicy on the nose, with bramble fruit accented by wafts of bergamot, aniseed, pipe tobacco and forest floor. The full-bodied palate is concentrated with pleasurably broody flavors. It’s framed by firm, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, layered finish. It will benefit from time in the cellar.
2022 Vintage
97 Jeb Dunnuck “Medium-bodied, it expands on the palate with ripe tannins and ripe fruit all the way through the long finish. It’s very appealing across the board, with a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel.
96+ Wine Advocate: “Deep, layered scents of pomegranate, rhubarb, tea leaves, salami and dried flowers. Features concentrated, spicy flavors structured by powerful,
powdery tannins and chiseled acidity.”
96 Decanter “The core of red bramble fruits dangles a hint of rusticity across the palate’s overriding elegance as a blood orange spritz brightens the whole affair toward the finish. Ageability that comes in an immediately enjoyable package.”
95 Vinous “Spiced citrus peel, rose, lavender, ground ginger and crushed stone create a compelling bouquet as the 2022 Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard bursts from the glass.”
2021 Vintage
98+ Wine Advocate: “Harmoniously structured and supple, offering a seamless, powdery mouthfeel and a flood of deep red fruit. It has mind-boggling flavor-to-weight ratio, tremendous detail and length and is a great candidate for extended cellaring. Gorgeous!”
Pinot Noir Flat Block, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2022 Vintage
96 Jeb Dunnuck “Aromatic notes of fresh red cherries, sweet spices, fresh red flowers, and fresh pine are followed by a medium-bodied red offering mouthwatering energy, with a salty flourish through the palate, finely defined tannins, and a clean, mineral-noted orange peel finish.”
94 Vinous “Tactile minerals define the finish a hints of tart raspberry mingle with edgy tannins under an air of rosy inner florals. This is remarkably pretty yet powerful, which makes for a compelling mix.”
Pinot Noir Southeast Block, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
2022 Vintage
96 Jeb Dunnuck “From Pommard planted in 1979, the medium ruby-colored 2022 Pinot Noir Southeast Block takes on notes of alpine herbs, fresh violets, black raspberries, and fresh earth.”
95 Wine Advocate: “Features generous fruit structured by powdery tannins and bright acidity, and it has a long, ultra spicy finish. I love the spicy character of this wine!”
94+ Vinous “This is velvety in texture yet lifted in feel, with juicy acidity that enlivens its core of tart wild berry fruit. Chalky mineral tones saturate along with a staining of primary concentration as a coating of sweet tannins creates a lovely framework through the pleasantly chewy finale.”
Pinot Noir West Block, Estate, Eola-Amity Hills
94 The Wine Advocate “The 2023 Pinot Noir West Block comes from own-rooted Wadenswil vines planted in 1977. It has alluring scents of dried cranberries and red cherries, orange peel, garrigue and earth. The medium-bodied palate offers highly concentrated flavors matched by generous yet well-integrated oak spice. It’s framed by chalky tannins and bright acidity and has a long, spicy finish.”
2022 Vintage
97 Jeb Dunnuck “From a block planted with a 1977 Wadensvil clone and always the last site picked, the 2022 Pinot Noir West Block offers up a wild, savory bouquet with notes of medicinal herbs, black cherries, wild berries, forest herbs, and toasted spices.”
94 Wine Advocate: “Intense aromas of raspberry and red cherry preserves, bitter orange, forest floor and spice. The palate is finely astringent and vibrant with generous, spicy flavors and a long, detailed finish.”
94 Vinous “The West Block tapers off structured and dramatically long, classically dry, with cheek-puckering tension. In the end, the balance here cannot be denied. This beauty is built for the cellar.”
2022 Vintage
97 Jeb Dunnuck “From a block planted with a 1977 Wadensvil clone and always the last site picked, the 2022 Pinot Noir West Block offers up a wild, savory bouquet with notes of medicinal herbs, black cherries, wild berries, forest herbs, and toasted spices.”
94 Wine Advocate: “Intense aromas of raspberry and red cherry preserves, bitter orange, forest floor and spice. The palate is finely astringent and vibrant with generous, spicy flavors and a long, detailed finish.”
94 Vinous “The West Block tapers off structured and dramatically long, classically dry, with cheek-puckering tension. In the end, the balance here cannot be denied. This beauty is built for the cellar.”
