Even though many of us associate winemaker Ehren Jordan with his excellent cool-climate Sonoma Coast Pinots, he is no newcomer to Oregon’s Willamette Valley either, as has he has access to some of the northern Willamette’s best vineyards. While he bottles several single-site wines, it’s his cuvée from four iconic vineyards—Eola Springs, Amity Hills, Björnson and Seven Springs—that have got our attention. The vineyards are incredibly diverse as well as offering up a large percentage of mature vines that add layers of complexity to what’s really a classic Oregon Pinot. Fermentation is on native yeast and a quarter of the ferment is whole cluster while aging is for 14 months in 10% new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Ehren’s wines tend to have more heft; more meat on their bones, really, though never at the expense of structure, balance or freshness. Think plushness matched with fragrance (think cinnamon, violets, citrus, clove and star anise) and you have a simply gorgeous drink right now that will only improve over the next few years. A great wine for the season!
 
Vinous, 93 points: The 2023 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) is a gorgeous and very serious appellation-level wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, white pepper, blood orange, mint, chalk and slate all meld together in this gracious, silky Pinot. What a beauty.