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Devona Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Pinot Noir: Clone: 100% Pommard

Location Freedom Hill Vineyard, Oregon

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar for another 5-7 years

A Few More Details: 

The 2021 vintage was about as perfect as it could be in Oregon. It wasn’t too hot, there wasn’t a layer of smoke, and a little rain came early in the fall, but it didn’t materialize into a full fall pattern until the fruit was in the door. This kind of timing gives us a really good feeling. In Oregon, the season can end quickly because a little rain in the forecast can spread out into a week, the temperatures drop, and the fruit doesn’t have another chance to get dry. Fortunately for us, this was not true for the vintage of 2021! The weather allowed for long hang-time and beautiful flavor maturity with moderate sugars. 

This Pinot Noir clone is Pommard, an old-school clone for Oregon and a favorite of mine. Interestingly, both of our Pinots are the pommard clone and produced similarly, so the difference in the two wines is really a great example of the uniqueness of the two vineyard sites and their viticultural areas. Pinot Noir is especially expressive in this way.

Tasting Notes from the Winemaker

This is a bigger wine than some of our previous vintages of Freedom Hill. It has nice structure, good weight, and complexity. Flowery dried violets mingle with black fruits, dried orange, and baking spice. Blue fruits tinted with cinnamon, black tea, and fruit leather complete the picture. This is our final vintage from Freedom Hill Vineyard, as the fruit is no longer available to us. In the meantime, we are tucking away a little extra Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir in our personal cellar, and we recommend you do the same. It has a long life ahead and, without question, you can enjoy this excellent vintage for a number of years to come. John Abbott, Winemaker

Food Pairing

• Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce: The wine’s red fruit notes beautifully complement the sweet and tangy flavors of the sauce.
• Herb-Roasted Chicken: The earthiness and savory herbs in the dish pair harmoniously with the wine’s subtle complexity.
• Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce: The earthy mushroom flavors enhance the wine’s minerality and complexity.
• Maple-Glazed Ham: The wine’s bright acidity and red fruit notes cut through the sweetness and richness of the ham.
• Beef Bourguignon: A classic French pairing where the wine’s acidity balances the richness of the dish.
• Wild Mushroom Risotto: The wine’s earthy undertones complement the umami of the mushrooms and the creamy risotto texture.
• Roasted Root Vegetables: Caramelized carrots, parsnips, and beets match the wine’s sweet and earthy profile.

From them to you:

Devona could be the name of a perfume, a perfect connection to the work we do and the style of wines we produce: elegant, precise, expressive, delicate, thoughtful…Devona is also an old Abbott family name, one that reminds us of our elders. It makes us think of the lessons they taught us, even when we didn’t know we were learning. We reminisce about the traditions they shared with us and deepen these as we carry them forward. With this special project that takes us back to our roots and our earliest interests in wine, we bring the same sensibility and philosophy to winemaking that we have for nearly 30 years. We honor both our deep roots in Oregon with the production of Pinot Noir and our more than 25 year history of winemaking in Washington State with the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Reflecting our love and respect for nature, the images on our label represent favorite flora and fauna of ours from the two states where we source our fruit.

Source: https://www.devona.net/ 

Torii Mor Pinot Blanc 2022:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Pinot Blanc

Location Willamette Valley/OR

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar for another year

A Few More Details: 

Our 2022 Pinot Blanc was the first pick of the vintage, harvested on October 7th  at 20.4 Brix, pressed then racked into a Stainless-steel tank, inoculated with D47 yeast strain and fermented for 56 days. The wine didn’t go through Malo-Lactic fermentation and was racked and sterile filtered at bottling. Tukwilla Vineyard is on the lower slopes of the Dundee Hills AVA, between 300- and 350-feet elevation, the soil are basaltic, a mix of Jory, and alluvial Woodburn. Tukwilla Vineyard was planted in the 1990’s. The grape yields were on the low side with fruit displaying perfect balance of flavors, sugars and acid.

Tasting Notes from the Producer:

Torii Mor 2022 Pinot Blanc offers a forward, bright, fresh floral of elderflower and orange blossoms followed by lemon aromas framed by an aromatic cedar note. The flavors show bright acidity, minerality, white peach, pears complimented with a floral and citrus savory mix. The wine texture is bright, rich, with juicy acidity from beginning to end. The finish is long with lasting citrus (lemon and grapefruit) notes and a dry, mineral sensation.

Food Pairing

• Grilled Halibut with Lemon Butter: The wine’s acidity complements the richness of the butter and enhances the delicate flavors of the fish.
• Seared Scallops: The wine’s citrus notes balance the sweetness of scallops while its freshness cuts through their richness.
• Shrimp Ceviche: The lively acidity of the wine pairs beautifully with the tangy and zesty flavors of ceviche.
• Oysters on the Half Shell: A natural pairing, as the wine’s minerality mirrors the briny salinity of fresh oysters.
• Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken: The wine’s bright acidity matches the citrus and herbal flavors in the dish.
• Turkey Breast with White Wine Sauce: Complements the light, savory flavors of turkey and its sauce.
• Asparagus Risotto: The wine’s crispness enhances the earthy, green flavors of asparagus while cutting through the creaminess of risotto.
• Grilled Vegetables with Goat Cheese: The wine pairs well with the tanginess of goat cheese and the smoky flavors of grilled veggies.
• Zucchini Noodles with Pesto: The wine’s freshness balances the herbal and nutty notes of pesto.
• Sushi or Sashimi: The wine’s minerality and light fruit flavors pair well with raw fish and delicate soy or wasabi accents.
• Thai Green Curry: Its refreshing acidity balances the spice and coconut richness of the curry.

From them to you:

With the building of its gravity-flow winery in September of 2007, Torii Mor emphasized its commitment to environmental preservation. Our commitment to sustainability has awarded us two special achievements: LIVE Certification and LEED Gold Certification. In addition we have continued our promise and become Salmon Safe and Oregon Certified Sustainable.

Source: https://toriimorwinery.com/