2021 Megan Anne, Black Love, Pinot Noir, $60

Winery Info: Washington winemaker Mark McNeilly (of Mark Ryan Winery) and his wife Megan have long been enamored with the Willamette Valley and its wines.        

In 2014 they collaborated with former Evening Land winemaker Isabelle Meunier to launch Megan Anne Cellars, producing Willamette Valley wines that offer a “softer, more feminine side of the Mark Ryan Winery family.”

Winemaker: Quebec-born and Dijon-trained Isabelle Meunier.

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir, a blend of three clones, aged 18 months in French oak, 30% new, 70% used.

Vineyards: Nysa (Dundee Hills AVA), Freedom Hill (just outside Eola-Amity Hills AVA), Temperance Hill (Eola-Amity Hills AVA), and Lazy River (Yamhill-Carlton AVA).

Flavor Profile: Black Love is made from a selection of their favorite barrels of Pinot Noir from top Willamette Valley vineyards. The 2021 growing season was considered an outstanding vintage throughout the Willamette Valley, allowed them to produce this wine once again — their first release since 2019. Always a riper, more powerful expression of Oregon Pinot, the 2021 Black Love is beautifully balanced, with silky texture, inviting, earthy aromatics, and wonderful complexity, while still being rich and full-bodied.

Availability: The 2021 Black Love is in good supply for now.

Drinking Window: Enjoy anytime over the next five years.

Food Pairing: This Pinot would be a good match for duck or perhaps boeuf Bourguignon.

2015 Citation, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, $35

Winery Info: Howard Rossbach founded Firesteed Cellars in 1992 and in 2006 established their Erratic Oaks Estate Vineyard. After 40 years in the wine business, he decided to focus on smaller production, premium wines under his Citation label. He sold Firesteed, but continues to own and operate Erratic Oaks Vineyard.

Winemaker: Howard Rossbach

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir, aged 16 months in French oak barrels.

Vineyard: Erratic Oaks, first planted in 2007 in the small Mt. Pisgah AVA (established in 2022). Erratic Oaks is across the street from the renowned Freedom Hill Vineyard, but has a slightly warmer southwest-facing orientation, giving the fruit extra ripening time each day. The soil is a combination of marine sedimentary, volcanic, and Missoula Flood sedimentary, with granite erratic stones.

Flavor Profile: This Pinot is sourced from the most promising blocks of their estate vineyard. The lots are fermented and aged separately and the best barrels are chosen to produce this small production wine. Remarkably, the 2015 vintage is their current release and it is dark and rich, with aromas of ripe, dark fruit and spice, nicely mellowed tannins, and nice freshness.

Availability: This wine is in decent supply for now.

Drinking Window: Enjoy this already nicely aged Pinot now or over the next couple of years.

Food Pairing: They suggest barbecue pulled pork (recipe on their website) with this wine.