Tasting Notes
Aromas of purple flowers - violets and resinous hints of lavender – intermingle with sanguine earthy notes. There is a savory intensity on the palate, with crushed red cherry and ferrous richness. Beautifully balanced, a vibrant core of acidity is enveloped by characteristic silky, powdery tannins.
Winemaking Notes
The grapes were picked by hand at night, and the clusters were delivered to the winery, located just down the road from the vineyard, 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, 20% new, for 10 months prior to bottling.
Vintage Notes
2024 was a return to a quintessential Oregon vintage. The growing season at Prince Hill Vineyard began wet and cold. Though budbreak was average, a cool spring caused slow growth until warm weather came in June. July experienced a stretch of heat, not unusual for the region, which led to moderate temperatures in August that allowed for slow, even ripening. September saw a couple weeks of warmth with cool weather in between and little rain, allowing the grapes to ripen beautifully until harvest on October 1st. 2024 is a classic vintage, savory and beautifully balanced.
About Ways of Wayfarer
Ways of Wayfarer are wines that carry forward the past with a fresh vision. The Prince Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir breaks new ground in the Pahlmeyer story, a long-held dream brought to life. Cleo Pahlmeyer’s passion for wine has always extended beyond California, and her aspiration to make Oregon Pinot Noir materialized with the opportunity to work the historic Prince Hill Vineyard. It was originally planted in 1983 by Oregon Pinot pioneer Dick Erath with Clone 95, vine cuttings he personally carried home from Clos Vougeot in Burgundy. The vineyard lies in the heart of Willamette Valley’s prized Dundee Hills, with red volcanic Jory soil and sun-catching southeastern exposure.
Critics
93 Points
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2026
The 2024 Pinot Noir Prince Hill Vineyard is a very pretty, nuanced offering in this range. Crushed red berry fruit, mocha, spice, menthol and blood orange all grace this delicate, mid-weight Pinot Noir. Floral, citrus and savory top notes shape the refined finish.
Wine Data
- Winemaker:
- Todd Kohn
- Origin:
- Prince Hill Vineyard, Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley
- Pruning:
- Double guyot
- Harvested:
- October 1, 2024
- Bottled:
- July 17, 2025
- Release:
- Winter 2026
- Alcohol:
- 13.9%
- pH:
- 3.62
- TA:
- 5.4 g/L
- Cases Produced:
- 150
