2023 Patricia Green - Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountain Vineyard (750ml)

While Patricia Green Cellars is known for an unusually wide portfolio of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, the winery's relationship with Chehalem Mountain Vineyard stands out for the attention paid to its individual blocks. Winemakers Jim Anderson and the team have tracked this site closely over many vintages, identifying specific sections whose old, low-yielding vines produce fruit with a character unlike anything else in the cellar, a level of detail that defines the winery's broader approach to site-specific winemaking.

Chehalem Mountain Vineyard sits within the Chehalem Mountains AVA, where elevation and soil type can shift dramatically within a short distance. A key portion of this bottling comes from a small block at the lower end of the vineyard, around 350 feet, planted with old, gnarled vines that yield barely a ton of fruit per acre even in generous years. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeast, then aged in French oak to preserve the natural richness this low-yielding fruit brings to the wine.

The 2023 opens with espresso and black cherry aromas, followed by flavors of raspberry cake icing and blueberry yogurt, with hints of natural vanilla that emerge during fermentation rather than from the barrel. The tannins are soft, giving the wine a slick, almost indulgent mouthfeel. It pairs well with grilled flank steak, blue cheese, or dark chocolate desserts.