About our Watershed Pinot noir
Our Watershed Pinot noir is our most approachable Pinot noir, and you will find it served by the glass in many Oregon restaurants. At $29, it is an incredible value for Pinot noir from the Dundee Hills of Oregon.
The fruit is harvested by hand in the early morning while temperatures remain cool. Whole-cluster fermentation of a portion of the fruit provides additional spice and rich tannin to the wine. The grapes were allowed to cold soak for 3 days before yeast inoculation. Gentle pump-overs during fermentation help to extract color and flavor from the skins, while avoiding any bitterness or astringency. After fermentation the wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.
The 2022 vintage was marked by a hard freeze in Mid-April. The vines quickly began to grow again, but developement and maturity were pushed back almost a month. This caused some anxiety over the summer as we managed the vineyards, in the end we were blessed with good weather in the Fall. This allowed the fruit to ripen slowly, developing the complextity we love in Oregon Pinot noir.
Tasting Notes
Ripe cherry, cinnamon, red berry on the nose. Palate showcases cherry pie, and red berry with solid tannins and mouthwatering acidity to balance the dryness.
2021 vintage “Pale ruby in color. Really ripe red cherry and red plum on the nose. Smells like cinnamon graham crackers. Ripe and viscous on the palate with red fruit, medium grippy tannin, medium acid and a medium-plus finish. They’ve done quite well with this, but it’s certainly for New World wine lovers – very fruit- and oak-forward. (SCJ)” 16 of 20, Top Oregon Pinots Under $30 – Jancis Robinson.
2021 vintage “This is a well-made Oregon Pinot Noir at an affordable price. It’s an earthy style that offers fresh Pinot flavors from an iconic AVA – the same Dundee Hills where Eyrie’s David Lett first planted Pinot Noir back in 1965. Watermelon, strawberry, lingenberry and plum are augmented with accents of salty greens and clean earth. With ample aeration the aromas open up and seduce! As is often true of very young wines, this smelled and drank much better on the second day. 270 cases; 13.7%; $29 (Dundee Hills)” Outstanding Value, Paul Gregutt.
2021 vintage “Dried flower, sweet spice, and raspberry aromas lead to a medium-plus bodied palate, with center-focused strawberry flavors with plentiful coffee accents. Mint notes emerge on the finish. This young wine is still in its shell at present, but the promise is clear. Give it time in bottle or a long decant.” 91 points Critics Choice, Northwest Wine Report
2019 vintage “Plum and black-cherry fruit are on display here. Estate-grown Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is a rarity at this price. This is beautifully structured, with highlights of citrus and lightly bitter herb as it trails through the finish.” 91 points. Paul Gregutt. Wine Enthusiast.
