Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Winderlea – Pinot Noir – 2021
Dundee Hills AVA – Willamette Valley, Oregon 🇺🇸

Overview
An elegant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, sourced from vineyards planted in the 1970s on the region’s hallmark volcanic Jory soils. Known for finesse and purity, Winderlea delivers a beautifully balanced expression of Pinot that showcases the red-fruited, spice-laced personality that defines classic Dundee Hills.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherry, wild raspberry, and cranberry purity, supported by notes of rose petal, subtle baking spice, and a whisper of forest floor. Nothing jammy, everything is lifted, clean, and precise.

Mouthfeel
Ultra-silky tannins with a soft, seamless texture. High, clean acidity keeps the wine energetic, refreshing, and food-loving. The finish is long, elegant, and gently spiced.

Food Pairings
The ultimate fondue Pinot: the wine’s acidity cuts through melted cheese, while its soft tannins and red-fruit delicacy elevate Gruyère, Emmental, raclette, or alpine-style cheeses. Also wonderful with mushroom dishes, roasted poultry, charcuterie boards, or herbed salmon.

Verdict
A benchmark Dundee Hills Pinot, refined, understated, and deeply expressive. Its purity of fruit, silky frame, and signature volcanic spice make it one of the most fondue-friendly reds in the game. A true pleasure to drink.

Did You Know?
Dundee Hills’ iconic red Jory soils, ancient volcanic ash, are famous for imprinting Pinot with subtle cinnamon-clove spice and a natural roundness. Many of Oregon’s pioneering vineyards were planted here in the 1970s specifically for these qualities.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: My go-to Pinot Noir for fondue night, nothing pairs better with alpine cheese than Dundee Hills elegance. — 25 days ago

Turd Ferguson

9.4

Great core of pure dark cherry. Nice concentration. Excellent balance. Was skeptical after Jackson bought them but this is very good — 3 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.1

I challenge you to find a better, more complete Pinot for $25 or less. It takes a moment or two, but this wine comes together nicely. High-toned, red fruit driven (sour cherry, red currant, red plum, cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry) with a touch of oak (vanilla, cinnamon, cloves) as well as some darker berries (huckleberry/marionberry), star anise, orange zest, rose petal, mushroom and red earth (maybe it’s the power of suggestion, but I can taste the volcanic Jory soils in here🤷🏻‍♀️). It’s unusual to find fruit this tart and fresh with the recent warmer vintages in the W valley, so this was a pleasant surprise. Subtle and satisfying. — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Willamette Valley Vineyards – Elton Pinot Noir 2017
Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
This single-vineyard Pinot Noir comes from the famed Elton Vineyard, first planted in 1983 and regarded as one of Oregon’s premier Pinot Noir sites. Perched on the east-facing slopes of the Eola-Amity Hills, the vines benefit from volcanic Jory soils and the cooling Van Duzer Corridor winds, which preserve acidity and enhance complexity.

Aromas & Flavors
Opening with seductive aromas of ripe red cherry, cranberry, and black raspberry, layered with rose petals, baking spices, and subtle forest floor. On the palate, it reveals red currant, pomegranate, and a savory touch of clove and tea leaf, supported by a refined mineral edge.

Mouthfeel
Elegant and medium-bodied, with silky tannins and vibrant acidity. The wine strikes a beautiful balance between fruit purity and earthy depth, finishing long with a persistent, savory echo.

Winemaking Notes
Hand-harvested from old vines at Elton Vineyard. Fermentation in small lots, some whole-cluster inclusion for structure, then aged 15–18 months in French oak (around 30–40% new). Crafted in a Burgundian-inspired style while remaining true to Oregon’s terroir-driven character.

Food Pairing
Perfect with cedar-plank salmon, roast duck, wild mushroom risotto, or herb-roasted chicken. Its elegance also makes it a natural fit with soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

Verdict
A graceful, terroir-driven Pinot Noir that reflects both the pedigree of Elton Vineyard and the finesse of the 2017 vintage in Eola-Amity Hills. Balanced, complex, and age-worthy — a benchmark Oregon Pinot. Cheers! — 3 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on March 21, 2023 at Home]

Red fruit with graphite. Dundee Hills blend on Jory volcanic soils. — 3 years ago

Joe Lyons

9.1

Tart fruit, raspberries, great earthy tones and nose. only 2 left but still has time IMO!! — 4 years ago

Ted

9.0

So different from the Williamette Valley Pinot Noir I had a few days ago. Much more rustic and old world. Still nice but I liked the prior one a bit more. — a year ago

with Jeni

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on September 24, 2023 at Home with Jay]

Purchased wine during visit to the winery in October 2017. Single vineyard Pinot from Dundee Hills grown in red-clay Jory soil. Muted nose. Pomegranate and red plum fruit, with volcanic soil, pepper and floral notes. — 2 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on January 20, 2023 at Home]

Vineyard is located in southern Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is rich in volcanic Jory soil. Black raspberry, black cherry and blueberry fruit, with orange zest, smoke, spice, cola, vanilla, rose petals, cocoa and an effervescent note. — 4 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

Mark Royer's inaugural vintage. Very Burgundian. Clones include Dijon 76, 95, and 548 among others. Elevation 600-700' which is relatively high for OR. Soils are a mix of Ritner, Witzel, Nekia, and Jory of volcanic origin. South and West slopes. Mesoclimate: "Very windy".
— 5 years ago