Tasting Notes
The first release of our Oregon Pinot Noir reveals a remarkable sense of place, redolent of the red, iron-rich soils of Dundee Hills. On the nose, tiny alpine black raspberries, dried rose petals, black tea and toasted spices are joined by a streak of weathered iron – a trademark characteristic of the appellation. On the palate, the wine displays vibrancy and depth, with a supple, powdery tannin structure culminating in a lengthy, juicy, mineral-laden finish.
The Prince Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir breaks new ground in the Pahlmeyer story – a long-held dream realized. Cleo Pahlmeyer and her husband, Jamie Watson, spent childhood summers in Neskowin on the Oregon coast, reconnected there as recent college graduates, and now live there part-time with their three children. Neskowin sits at the terminus of the Van Duzer Corridor, a key influence on the terroir of Willamette Valley’s finest vineyards. This proximity and shared history, combined with their love of Willlamette Valley wines, instilled a dream of making their own Oregon Pinot Noir.
That dream materialized with the opportunity to work with the historic Prince Hill Vineyard, which has been under the meticulous stewardship of the Duncan Family since 2017. Originally planted in 1983 by Oregon Pinot pioneer Dick Erath with his Clone 95 from Clos Vougeot in Burgundy, the vineyard lies in the heart of the prized Dundee Hills AVA. Its red volcanic Jory soils and sun-catching southeastern exposure in this otherwise cool and damp region yield Pinot Noir distinctive for its expressive elegance and silky, powdery tannins.
Winemaking Notes
Each of our designated rows was picked by hand at night, and the clusters were delivered to the winery at sunrise. We hand-sorted and fully destemmed the fruit before transferring it into stainless steel tanks for three days of cold maceration. Fermentation was carried out by native yeast, and we punched the cap down by hand, with the frequency and technique determined by tasting each tank daily. The free run wine aged in 228L French oak barrels, 40% new, for 10 months prior to bottling.
Vintage Notes
The 2023 vintage in Dundee Hills was characterized by gentle sunshine and fair weather throughout the season, far removed from the usual rain and cold spells preceding harvest in the region. Both budbreak and harvest in Dundee are usually 2-4 weeks behind Sonoma County, but 2023 saw an unusually early harvest where primary fermentation was complete prior to picking our coastal Wayfarer vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview. The tannin and structure created by Dundee Hills volcanic soil was beautifully rounded by the perfect weather, creating a wine of elegance and refinement.
Wine Data
- Winemaker:
- Todd Kohn
- Origin:
- Prince Hill Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley
- Pruning:
- Double guyot
- Harvested:
- September 16th, 2023
- Bottled:
- July 7, 2024
- Release:
- Summer 2025
- Alcohol:
- 14.1%
- pH:
- 3.61
- TA:
- 5.3 g/L
- Cases Produced:
- 120
