Willamette Valley, Oregon
Here’s a marvelous sub-$20 Willamette Valley Pinot! After a series of warm vintages, 2017 brought a return to the deft, sleek, lively Willamette Valley Pinots that we adore. There’s no one more skilled in bringing out the grace and harmony of these qualities than the ultra-talented Marcus Goodfellow. Casting a classic, transparent crimson-garnet robe, Goodfellow’s 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot presents gorgeous aromas of bitter cherries, cranberries, geranium, wood spice, and camphor. Fresh, zesty, and incisive, the wine stains the palate with a kernel of tart cherry, pomegranate, and red raspberry fruit framed by lip-smacking tannins and complex notes of cloves, white pepper, and star anise. Savory, brisk, and appetizing, this tangy, red-fruited Pinot demands food and will pair effortlessly now and over the coming five years with broiled salmon, roast chicken, gratin dauphinois, and sauteed mushrooms.

Sustainably Farmed
A January 2020 newsletter selection