Van Duzer Bieze Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA 2021

Perched upon a windy knoll 2 miles down a dirt road in Dallas, Oregon (no not Texas … this is Oregon) about an hour away from just about anywhere, you’ll find Van Duzer Vineyards. Here, 82 acres of vines lie in the direct path of cooling marine winds that rush through a deep gap in the Coast Range—its namesake Van Duzer Corridor.

While a few vines had been planted in the wind-blown region previously, the site was anything but a sure thing. But caution has never been a prerequisite for the wine business, and there was something about that persistent breeze off the pacific that convinced the Thoma’s that this was a risk worth taking. For them, the opportunity to uncover something new and special in an unproven wine region was what brought them to Oregon in the first place.

Dried Cherry, baking spices and red raspberry create a sweet and delicate aromatic profile that is contrasted against subtle earthy notes. Initially, this wine presents with a round mouthfeel that is tightened by the presence of tannin on the mid-palate, giving way to a soft and elongated finish.