Lemelson Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2023

Lemelson's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a blend of all of the winery's organically farmed vineyards, designed to showcase the fresh character of the vintage. Elegant and vibrant ruby core in the glass, the aromas are led by a basket of fresh raspberry and wild strawberry, with layers of kola nut spice and fresh truffle. The mouthfeel is bright and mouthwatering, with plenty of red fruit carried on silky tannins that deliver a lengthy finish.

The wine was bottled after eight months of aging as opposed to Lemelson's standard 17 months of élevage in order to preserve the bright fruit character. Additionally, a modest 20% new French oak was used to achieve pleasant oak nuances while not overpowering the blend. The resulting wine is fruit focused and true to their terroir with great structural tannins. The purity of the raspberry and black cherry fruit coupled with notes of forest floor and dried flower make this wine an excellent dinner companion.

Lemelson Vineyards began as a dream to create a winery that celebrates innovation in technology, sustainability in agriculture and tradition in winemaking. Eric Lemelson started Lemelson Vineyards with the intention of building something that would not only serve the consumers, but also the longevity of the pristine state that he calls home. Utilizing organic farming methods and gravity flow production, he crafts estate-grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling from some of the finest vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

Since the inaugural release of the 1999 vintage in October 2001, Lemelson Vineyards has been dedicated to producing some of the world's finest Pinot Noir. Eric fell in love with Pinot Noir's subtle flavors and distinct textures early in the 1990s. He planted his first vineyard in 1995, five years after moving to a Yamhill County farm. Two years later, realizing that he loved the work involved in growing wine grapes, he planted an additional 30 acres and began planning for construction of a sophisticated, gravity-flow winery.