The 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs are just hitting the market, and I'm loving this one from Jolete. This is the style of Oregon Pinot Noir I "cut my teeth on" -- sleek, earthy, complex, and satisfying. Simply put, this is delicious and also a great value.
2019 Jolete Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
The quintessential Willamette Valley Pinot Noir! 246 cases produced!!
ORDER NOW in our online store.
Vintage 2019 is a return to classicism in the Willamette Valley. Don't get me wrong, I've loved the hot and ripe string of vintages that this Pinot Noir hotspot has offered up over the past decade, but the 2019's are a return to the past. The wines are a bit lighter than the past few vintages, but that doesn't mean they're watery, dull, or devoid of flavor.
Far from it, they're wines of freshness, charm, and elegance. More importantly, Vintage 2020 is going to be rough at best. Trust me folks, I've tried a couple of 2020 Willamette Valley Pinots, and I've taken a hard pass. Fires were burning while grapes were still on the vine, and smoke taint is going to be a real issue. Being a grape farmer is never easy, but it's proving extra challenging these days. Climate change.....
Let's get back to the good news though. I've got 84 bottles of this lovely juice to offer you all. Winemaker Jim Sanders is one of Oregon's best, and Jolete is his newest project. This guy has the "touch" with Pinot Noir, and he has crafted a lovely 2019 Pinot Noir. This one balances ripe fruit with zesty acids in a way that makes it entirely too easy to drink.
Just 246 cases were produced, and this one blends fruit from top sites in the Chehalem Mountains, Yamhill-Carlton, and the Dundee Hills. This mix of different terroirs and micro-climates along with skilled winemaking yielded one of the top values of the vintage. The nose is all cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, and violet, and the palate is fine-textured yet fresh with flavors of cherry liqueur, tart strawberry, and exotic spices.
At just 13.4% alcohol, I like the ease with which this one goes down, and those natural acids make this perfect for roast chicken, salmon, or pork tenderloin preparations. If you love old-school Oregon Pinot Noirs, get some of this. You'll thank me. Cheers and keep drinking the good stuff in the AVL!
ORDER NOW in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville