On Wine Hill ‘Noburg, Oregon’ Noble Reduction Pinot Noir
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Estate grown in Tualatin Hills AVA located in Willamette Valley.
- Grown on Laurelwood (loess) soils.
- The vine age is 7 years.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Dry farmed. Hand harvested. Laurelwood soil at 365 ft. 13 days skin contact. Fermented with ambient yeast. Matured in 228L DAMY & 228L Rousseau vessels. Unfined, Unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: “This intriguing, fuller-bodied wine was made with Pinot Noir clone 943, then aged in neutral French oak for 16 months. Aromas like blackberries, bittersweet dark chocolate and roasted pork shoulder are northern-Rhône-like. The mouthfeel is clean and the acidity is brisk as you enjoy flavors of blueberries, black tea, leather and lemon peel.” -Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
PRESS
2020 – 92 Wine Enthusiast
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
On Wine Hill is a brand of Golden Cluster. The vineyard for this Pinot Noir is found on a simple hill that has been at the heart of the Willamette Valley wine story since the late 1880’s. Known as “Wine Hill” by the locals, this hill behind Forest Grove is hallowed ground. The “Millerandage” line up of wines is an extension of that same history. Grown just off Highway 8 in deep loess soils, we specialize in the often maligned and misunderstood Chardonnay clone 548 and Pinot Noir clone 943. Both of these clones produce very small clustered grapes and can suffer from “hens and chicks” (aka millerandage). This is an advantage, as the wines have high skin-to-juice ratios, resulting in an incredible tannic structure and high levels of natural acidity.
Golden Cluster, of Willamette Valley, Oregon is the vision of owner/winemaker Jeff Vejr. Established in 2013, all of Vejr’s wines are produced under the Golden Cluster umbrella, but Golden Cluster also represents some individual wineries throughout the area. Veijr produces his wines at the David Hill Winery, which was originally the Charles Coury Vineyard & Winery, one of the first vineyards planted in Willamette Valley after Prohibition. The Golden Cluster name is a nod to the memory of Charles Coury and the Semillon grape variety.