Medium ruby color; black cherry, blueberry, clover, forest floor on the nose; black cherry, blueberry, cranberry, chocolate on the palate.
Dry; grippy tannins, but smooth and tasty in the mouth. Soft acidity. Medium body. 100% pinot noir; Pommard, Wadenswil, 114, 115, 777 clones. The smoothness and amiability of this efforts invites a second glass, then a third. Delightful on its own, elegant complement to food. 14% ABV
Unlike Sokol Blosser’s Dundee Hills efforts, their newly acquired Kalita Vineyard—this is their first vintage from that land—emphasizes dark fruits instead of red fruits. First planted in 2000, the vineyard spans 65 acres with 22 acres in pinot noir. The vineyard is famous for its bowl shape, with south-, southeast- and southwest-facing hillsides at elevations from 525-750 feet. A total of 748 cases of Sokol Blosser Kalita Vineyard 2021 Estate Pinot Noir were produced.
Sokol Blosser is a family-run effort with an emphasis on sustainable farming, organic grapes, and eco-friendly production since its beginnings in 1971. Founders Bill and Susan Blosser were pioneers. There was almost no wine industry in Oregon when the Blossers started. Filled with youthful self-confidence, energy, and determination, the Blossers planted in the now-famous Dundee Hills of the Willamette Valley. Oregon now has more than 500 wineries—second-most in the U.S. It is likely every one would salute Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol as inspirations and collaborators in building the world-class reputation of Oregon and Willamette Valley wine.
Today, second-generation Alex Sokol Blosser is the winemaker and his sister Alison is the CEO. They manage 86 certified organic acres southwest of Portland. Northwest wines earn more attention with each vintage. Washington and Oregon are not hammered by drought as much as their fellow growers to the south in California and they have a tighter focus on sustainable farming and quality over quantity. Chateau Ste. Michelle is the big dog in the northwest (more than two million cases a year), but there are hundreds of smaller makers that are more than worth finding. Sokol Blosser certainly is one of them.
Sokol Blosser Kalita Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley 2021 is first effort from newly acquired Kalita Vineyard. This celebrates darker fruit than other Sokol Blosser efforts. It delivers a smooth, delicious, superb Willamette Valley pinot noir experience. This is further proof that the Valley deserves a place among the premier pinot noir regions of the world. Pair with salmon; roasted quail; duck; veal; grilled mushrooms; pork; chicken. Cheese—sheep’s milk cheese; gruyère, swiss, provolone, caciocavallo, fontina, brie, camambert. $47-50
