2022 Elouan - Pinot Noir Oregon (750ml)

Elouan was created by Joseph Wagner, a member of the Wagner family long associated with Napa's Caymus Vineyards, as a departure from California style aimed squarely at Oregon's cooler coastal terrain. The name means "good light," a nod to the mild, sun-filled summers found across the state's western maritime growing regions. Rather than drawing from a single AVA, the project blends fruit sourced from three distinct Oregon districts, a strategy meant to combine complexity and structure into one cohesive wine while keeping the wine accessible in price and style.

Grapes for this bottling come from vineyards spread across the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, whose varied elevations and soils extend the growing season and lend the finished wine both concentration and lively acidity. The 2022 growing season began with a cool, wet spring that pushed flowering later than usual, followed by a warm, dry summer that allowed for slow, even ripening. In the cellar the clusters were largely destemmed, with a portion of stems reserved for added structure, then given an extended cold soak before fermentation, with punch-downs and pump-overs tailored lot by lot to draw out optimal character.

The wine is garnet in color, with aromas of bright cherry, plum pie, and cocoa nib layered with warm baking spice. On the palate it turns rich and expressive, offering raspberry jam, candied cranberry, and wild bramble fruit that finish with a lingering note of black pepper. Firm tannins give it enough backbone for grilled pork chops or a juicy burger, while its bright acidity also makes it a natural partner for herb-roasted turkey.