2023 Adelsheim - Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (750ml)

Adelsheim Vineyard traces back to 1971, when David and Ginny Adelsheim purchased nineteen acres on a volcanic slope in the Chehalem Mountains outside Newberg, Oregon, part of a small group of only ten families making estate grown wine in the Willamette Valley before 1980. Their first commercial vintage arrived in 1978, making Adelsheim the first winery in what is now the Chehalem Mountains AVA. David went on to help shape the region's future, contributing to the Willamette Valley AVA designation and Oregon's broader wine laws, and though he sold his shares in 2017, the winery remains independent and locally owned under the Loacker family.

This Pinot Noir draws on ten estate vineyards spread across the northern Willamette Valley, with the largest share coming from the Chehalem Mountains and Ribbon Ridge, along with fruit from Yamhill Carlton, Eola-Amity Hills, and Dundee Hills. This broad sourcing lets the wine reflect the valley's varied volcanic, sedimentary, and windblown loess soils in a single bottling. In keeping with Adelsheim's longstanding house style, grapes were picked early to preserve freshness, then aged for several months in French oak, only a portion of it new, to keep the wine's texture polished without overwhelming the fruit.

This Pinot Noir shows candied cherry, pomegranate, and raspberry aromas, with warm baking spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. The palate is elegantly textured, with silky, well integrated tannins carrying through a smooth finish. It pairs nicely with salmon, roast duck, or pork tenderloin.