SOLD OUT! Once a year, I get shocked and stunned by an under-$30 Oregon Pinot Noir. This year, it’s the 2018 Violin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley! If you know Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, you know the search for excellent, sub-$30 examples is a very challenging one. I’m pleased to announce I was up to the challenge this year.
After tasting this one last week, I was prepared to buy 20+ cases of this one, but my distributor only had 10 cases for me. Whether you’re a casual fan of Oregon Pinot Noir or a hard core devotee, do yourself a favor and get some of this. It will go fast, and I guarantee it!
2018 Violin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
“ONE OF THE BEST SUB-$25 WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOTS EVER!” – Josh Spurling - 94 points
SOLD OUT
This is Quintessential Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. You are seriously missing out if you don’t jump on this deal. Although Violin is only into their sixth vintage, this is a producer to keep an eye on. Hands-on owner and winemaker Will Hamilton only makes about 1,400 cases of wine per year and he makes 7 different wines. He’s young, he’s passionate, he’s obviously talented, and he’s managed to capture the essence of Oregon Pinot in this one bottle. There’s great fruit ripeness, there’s great spice, there’s great savory/earthy complexity, and there’s incredible texture. What a wine!
This is totally worth $40 and only 570 cases were produced for the 2018 vintage. And in case you hadn’t heard, Vintage 2018 was a very good one in Oregon. Another warm and dry year yielded rich and silky wines with very likable personalities. This wine is composed of grapes from five different vineyards and was fermented with 20% whole clusters. Aged on the lees in primarily older French barrels, the resulting wine is medium-bodied, balanced, and complex.
I don’t know if any of the professional critics have reviewed this one, but I think it’s worthy of 94 points. And if you know me, you know I love Pinot Noir. The nose immediately grabbed me — ripe red fruits, woodsy spice, violet, and damp earth. Believe me, most
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville