Fossil & Fawn Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022

Owners and winemakers of Fossil & Fawn, Jim Fischer and Jenny Mosbacher, found that the kind of wines they like, and thus the wines they make, follow a natural approach to winemaking that allows the vineyard to do the talking. Their Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is the perfect example of their philosophy. 

The 2022 vintage is sourced from three organically farmed vineyards: Finnigan Hill (37%), No Clos Radio (34%) and Silvershot Vineyard (29%), with vines ranging from 20 to 50 years of age. Almost all of the fruit was destemmed and underwent about 14 days of maceration. The wine matured in all neutral French and Oregon oak for nine months, and was racked only once before being bottled unfined/unfiltered. 

The result is a very approachable low-intervention wine with classical Oregon Pinot Noir characteristics of bramble fruit, smoky leather, wet rocks, and mushroomy earthiness. While it sounds cliché to label an Oregon Pinot "Burgundian" in style, this definitely ticks those boxes, with bright red fruit intermingling with some earth and savory mushroom, all seamlessly integrated with vibrant acidity. The neutral barrels give some added texture without getting in the way of the fruit, and the finish is long with hints of earth and a touch of spice.

Fossil & Fawn started out as an idea in the summer of 2011, and quickly transformed into a much more complex and unbelievably rewarding venture. The winemakers aren't interested in bold manifestos or style declarations -- their goal is to make wines that they like. They’ve found that the kind of wines they like, and thus the wines they make, are executed with a natural approach that allows the vineyard to do the talking.