Medium ruby color; cherry, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate, pepper, violets on the nose and palate.
Dry; gentle, fresh, slightly dusty tannins with supporting acidity. Medium body. Lively finish. Aged a year in neutral French oak, but the oak influence is very subtle, more to deliver supple mouthfeel and overall smoothness and genteelness. 13% ABV
Privé has outstanding vineyards—Le Nord and Le Sud, plus newly acquired West Wind. Since the website does not specify these, it is likely secondary fruit from estate vineyards was used along with other quality Chehalem growers for this “entry level” effort. Entry level in this context is still wonderful wine. Jory soil is distinctive Oregon soil composed of very deep, well-drained soils that formed in colluvium (heterogeneous mass of rock detritus or soil material emplaced primarily by gravitational processes on or at the foot of slopes) from basic igneous rock. It is found in the foothills surrounding the Willamette Valley. The soil is named after the Jory Hill in Marion County, Oregon. There have been efforts to make Jory the “official dirt of Oregon.”
The website notes of the vineyard: “Since site and soil are such important factors in the production of elegant, quality Burgundian-style Pinot Noir. Le Nord, the northern vineyard, sits at approximately 600 feet in elevation, while Le Sud, the southern vineyard, sits a bit lower at 500 feet elevation. The elevation change results in a slightly different microclimate creating wines that are unique to the Le Sud and Le Nord vineyard blocks, a subtle difference that has been enjoyed by our wine club members for many years.” This effort likely includes fruit from those vineyards.
Tina and Mark Hammond started Privé Vineyard on beautiful property in 2000. In 2020, Piper Rosales-Underbrink found Privé Vineyard and the Hammonds through mutual friends and she quickly became part of the family. The Hammonds wanted to sell and retire. Piper, with her father, had the resources to buy. And so they did amid the high-water mark of the Covid epidemic.
Today, Piper Rosales-Underbrink is the owner and the winemaker and vineyard steward at Privé. Piper grew up on the family’s beef-cattle ranch in Florida, graduated from a liberal arts college in Vermont (where she captained the volleyball team), decided to give winemaking a fling after graduating, went to California and learned winemaking from the ground up. Decided that is what she wanted to do with her life, took classes at UC-Davis to enhance her skills. And now she owns, runs, and makes wonderful wine. Florida cattle girl makes good.
Privé Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountain AVA 2022 delivers refined, reserved joy in the mouth. Not as complex and deep as their higher-priced Le Nord, this still is solid reason Willamette Valley and Chehalem Mountains AVA is a world-class provider of pinot noir, most certainly at this price point. Burgundian in style and sophistication at half the price. Delicious. Why you drink pinot noir. Savor this by itself or with light supporting cast of some cheese and wine crackers. Pair with turkey; salmon and rich fish; lighter beef dishes, will not do as well with richer, fattier cuts; veal; pork—tenderloin; baked chicken; pasta dishes with white sauces; portobello mushrooms. Cheese—versatile, will work with many cheeses; gruyere, parmigiano reggiano, camembert, fontina, swiss, provolone, brie, taleggio. Avoid strong, stinky cheese, fresh goat cheeses. $60