Patton Valley Vineyard "The Estate" Pinot Noir 2018
(Willamette Valley, Oregon) - [VM 93] [WE 91]

TASTING NOTES
Our flagship wine, The Estate is the most comprehensive expression of our vineyard site, and the wine that truly defines our place in a given vintage. Dark cherry pops from the nose at once, and is lifted with baking spice, and pie crust. Very Autumnal at first, the wine opens into something with with violet, rose, and soft spices, that brings you back out of October’s mists. The palate is lively and bright, but pleasantly broad with juicy and fine tannin throughout, and sprightly red fruit like pomegranate and raspberry playing with their old friends cocoa powder, freshly plowed earth, and cedar. Lovely and balanced, this tastes great now, but will reward further after 5-10 tears +.

VINTAGE NOTES
2018 was both amazing and challenging as the sun was abundant from April until September, just as things were getting ripe. Rain in September broke our harvest into two separate harvests, which was more weird than anything else. Fruit picked before the rains was lithe, bright, and bristling with energy, while the fruit picked after was more complex, dense, and brooding. In all, wines from 2018 show great range and character.

Ratings and Reviews

93 Points - Vinous:
"Brilliant garnet. Spice- and mineral-tinged cherry, red berry and floral scents show fine definition and pick up succulent herb and sassafras nuances with air. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, black cherry and candied lavender flavors that deepen through the back half. Fine-grained tannins frame a long, subtly chewy finish that strongly echoes the spice and floral notes. 20% new French oak. Drink 2023-2032." -Josh Raynolds (2/22)