Oregon Pinot that punches far above its price. Winemakers Bryan and Shellie Croft are both alums of Napa's renowned Silverado Vineyards, and thanks to their dedication to organic farming and meticulous care of the vines, you get the unfiltered effect of Eola-Amity Hills terroir: low-fertility soils of shallow clay over a mix of old marine sediments and volcanic basalt formed by ancient lava flows help give small grapes packed with intensity, while the cool, marine-influenced climate fosters buoyant acidity. The 2021 is primarily sourced from an Eola-Amity Hills vineyard located three miles from the winery.

The vintage did its part too. Dry conditions and low yields made 2021 a landmark year for Willamette Valley wines, with midsummer heat thickening the grapes' skins and a moderate autumn preserving acidity and tension. The Crofts kept the hand light, with judicious use of 15 months in just 10% new oak.

Tasting Notes- Lively ruby in the glass with a kiss of garnet at the rim. Initial aromas of dark cherry and kola nut are followed by a savory herb layer and notes of dried lilacs, red roses, and damp forest floor. The mouthfeel is complex, driven by dried herb and spice notes that reveal a Burgundian sensibility. Wine Enthusiast found an earthy nose packed with dark plum and blackcap raspberry, grippy tannins supporting gobs of red raspberry and cherry fruit, joined by notes of beeswax, black tea and fresh-baked scone.