Pale ruby color; cherry, plum, blood orange, blackberry, leather, cedar, earth, wet slate, hibiscus on the nose and palate.
Dry; firm tannins and brisk acidity. Medium body. Starts a bit rustic on pop-and-pour, but quickly rounds into a very tasty fruit-forward winner with exposure to air in the glass. This is classic Oregon pinot—more fruit than Burgundy, less bombast than many California efforts. Oregon pinot noir rightfully takes its place as a world-class pinot noir, and—especially at this price point—this certainly qualifies for a place in your PN firmament. Its evolution in glass—which is admirably rapid—is especially delightful and intriguing. 13.4% ABV
Vidon was the winery’s original name, but in 2002 they changed the name to Compris to “reflect their mission and values, striving to create a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable community through wine.” The winery is best known for syrah and tempranillo, but is becoming notable for pinot noir and chardonnay. They released their first wine under the Compris label in 2021, a rosé of tempranillo.
Vicki and Don Hagge established Vidon Vineyard in 1999 (note the portmanteau of their names). From the beginning they emphasized minimal intervention in the winery and respect for the vineyard soil. Dru and Erin Allen purchased the winery in 2020 and appointed Tiquette Bramlett as president in 2021, the first Black woman to oversee a winery in the United States. Bramlett also is the founder of Our Legacy Harvested, a nonprofit that supports diversity in winemaking. In 2023, she moved to Chosen Family Wines, but she was president of Compris when this wine was made.
The website notes: “Compris believes in empowering the community to challenge industry traditions and foster positive change. Both the vineyard and winery are certified under the LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) program and Salmon Safe, and every step in the process is done gently, mostly by hand.”
Compris Vineyard As One Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2021: bright, fruit-forward, evolves into deliciousness with air time in the glass. Contemplate decanting or enjoy the fairly rapid evolution in your glass. Lovely showcase for both the pinot noir grape and Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains terroir. With its firm tannins, acidity, and relatively tame alcohol, As One is a versatile food wine. Pair with roasted poultry—chicken, turkey, duck; seafood—grilled salmon or tuna; pork—pork tenderloin, pork chops, especially with a fruit-based sauce or glaze; mushroom risotto with parmesan cheese; vegetarian fare—roasted beets, lentil stew. Cheese—goat cheese, brie, gouda, camembert, gruyère, comté, roquefort. $39-55
