Pale ruby color; cherry, raspberry, strawberry, light spice, cinnamon, cedar, plum on the nose and palate.
Dry; cordial tannins and acidity (3.63 pH). Some sweetness on the initial attack, then evolves into a balanced, leisurely stroll among red fruits and various contributions from nine months in 35% neutral French oak. Bryn Mawr makes a similar pinot which they call “Estate Pinot Noir.” It uses 100% estate grapes. This uses grapes that are 57% estate grown—Bryn Mawr Vineyards, Eola-Amity Hills; 31% Fender’s Rest Vineyard, Van Duzer Corridor; 12% Stand Sure Vineyards, Eola-Amity Hills. All in Oregon’s Van Duzer Corridor. Vineyards are LIVE Certified. 13.4% ABV
Grapes fermented in individual small lots in open-top tanks. Wild and cultured yeast. Manual punchdowns, pump overs, and Pulsair (large bubble mixing). Aged nine months, 35% in neutral French oak. Wine sealed in breathable screwcap to allow for slow, controlled ingress of oxygen over time. Drinking window through 2025. 13% ABV.
The vineyards and winery are located on the western crest of the Eloa-Amity Hills near Salem, Oregon. “Bryn Mawr” is Welsh for “High Hill.” The location pushes the upper limits of Willamette Valley viticulture. The winery notes: “The Willamette Valley growing season is defined by the consistent Western breezes coming off the Pacific coast that drop temperatures 35-40º nearly every summer evening. Though the Oregon Coast Range shelters the valley from the ocean’s most direct influence, the Van Duzer Corridor allows cool winds a gateway through the mountains. Nowhere is this wind felt more clearly than the Eola Hills, named for Aeolus, the keeper of the wind in Greek mythology. Historically, this wind was seen as a challenging factor, pushing many growers to plant on lower, Eastern slopes of the hills. To plant above 700 ft. in our neighborhood is still a bit of a gamble.”
Jon and Kathy Lauer are the owners. Rachel Rose is the winemaker and vineyard director. They note: “Our farming is careful, hands-on, and governed by our environment. Though a small vineyard, the wide range of soils and aspects requires us to be diligent to maximize the site’s potential. In lieu of heavy chemical and fertilizer application, we cultivate a healthy cover crop of clovers, grasses, and native wildflowers to fix nutrients back into the soil and support local pollinators. We don’t till our dirt, instead we allow subsurface microbes and fungal networks to develop and unlock nutrients within soil our vines otherwise couldn’t access. We build rockpiles for snakes and houses for owls to encourage natural rodent population management. Our vines have integrated into this ecosystem, building topsoil and nourishing the cover crop with their fallen leaves and pruned canes. Cultivating the full vineyard, not just the vines, has resulted in greater biodiversity and healthy vines capable of producing compelling wines. We farm not just to maximize the quality of each vintage, but future vintages as well.”
Bryn Mawr Vineyards Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2019 is delicious, delicate—as superb pinot noir should be. Excellent, affordable example of why Oregon is in the discussion about best pinot noir regions on Earth. Quality fruit comes from several quality vineyards in the Van Duzer Corridor. With climate change, the unique Van Duzer terroir can only grow in stature. Pair with salmon and other rich fish; shellfish; turkey and poultry in general; beef, especially lighter cuts; veal; venison and smaller wild game. Cheese—sheep’s milk cheeses; gruyère, comté, emmenthal, gouda, taleggio. $27-32
