Evesham Wood 'Eola-Amity Hills Cuvée' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2022

Founded in 1986 by Russ and Mary Raney, Evesham Wood is a benchmark estate in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, known for its restrained, terroir-driven wines and commitment to organic farming. Under current owner and winemaker Erin Nuccio, the estate continues to produce elegant, age-worthy Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA.

• WINEMAKER: Erin Nuccio

• FARMING: Certified Organic (Oregon Tilth); dry-farmed

• VARIETY: 100% Pinot Noir

• TERROIR: Sourced from four vineyards within the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, including the estate vineyard Le Puits Sec. The region is characterized by volcanic soils and a cooling marine influence from the Van Duzer Corridor, contributing to the wine's structure and freshness.

• VINIFICATION: Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine undergoes minimal intervention to preserve the expression of terroir.

• AGING: Aged in French oak barrels, with a portion being new oak, for an appropriate duration to enhance complexity without overshadowing the fruit character.

• TASTING NOTES: The 2022 vintage presents aromas of crushed raspberry, blue and purple florals, and woodsy, savory undertones. The palate is round and supple, featuring cool-toned acidity and crisp wild berry fruits, accented by sweet spice. Ground clove and cedar notes linger on a bed of well-formed tannins, culminating in a long, gently structured finish.

• FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal with roasted poultry, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, or dishes featuring earthy herbs.

• SCORES:

  • Decanter Magazine: 95 – "Fresh and lively aromatics of tart cranberries, fresh spearmint and white pepper leap forward from the glass. The palate is complex and vibrant, with tart red bramble fruits, a squeeze of blood orange and mouthfuls of crushed violets that finish with a seaspray minerality."

  • Vinous (Eric Guido): 93+ – "A seductress, woodsy and savory at first as gorgeous notes of crushed raspberry meet blue and purple florals. It's round and supple yet not weighty in feel, with cool-toned acidity and crisp wild berry fruits that are nicely accentuated by a tinge of sweet spice toward the close. An air of ground clove and cedar lingers above a bed of well-formed tannins as this finishes long and gently structured. The balance here promises future development."

  • James Suckling: 93 – "Charming nose of cherries, wild currants, dried herbs and forest floor. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Vivid, nervy and crispy throughout. There is a spicy dimension with a transparent, succulent character at the end. Drink or hold."