2024 Pinot Noir

A Love Letter to Pinot Noir

Oregon wouldn’t be Oregon without Pinot Noir. And the world of wine would look drastically different without it, too. This storied, beloved, and often misunderstood grape continually challenges winemakers, critics, sommeliers, and consumers all around the world. Its allure lies not only in its inherent complexity but also in its ability to reflect the soul of its terroir.

When studying the major wine regions, one often need not look further than what local winemakers are doing with Pinot Noir to understand that region’s stylistic thread. In Burgundy, you’ll find the most sought-after and complex Pinot Noirs in the world. In Germany and Northern Italy, Pinot Noir transforms into an alpine expression of high-toned fruit with lofty tension. California offers richer, riper styles, while in Champagne, it serves as the backbone of bubbles. Across New Zealand, its expression ranges widely depending on proximity to the ocean, mountains, and sunshine.

Except in Champagne, Pinot Noir is almost never blended; its purest expression is too delicate to be diverted by other grape varieties. 

It is this purity and complexity that drew me to make Pinot Noir the focus of the inaugural red wine project at Open Soul. Kate and I challenged ourselves to craft a single-vineyard Pinot Noir that’s both youthful and full of complexity, one that reflects the remarkable terroir of the Dundee Hill’s AVA. Continue reading the full letter here.