94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir La Combe Verte was sourced from vineyards planted on both volcanic and sedimentary soils, including Distraction, Freedom Hill, Sojeau, Temperance Hill and Witness Tree. Matured for 10 months in 25% new French oak, it opens with flinty reduction that gives way to cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, forest floor and bitters. The palate offers bright, spicy red fruit, tea-textured tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, pure finish. Complex and expressive, the 2022 La Combe Verte is approachable now, although it will develop savory complexity in bottle over the next decade or more. 1,480 cases produced.
 
Winemaker Notes
The 2022 La Combe Verte is composed from the volcanic Eola-Amity Hills vineyards of Distraction, Sojeau, Temperance Hill Vineyard, & Witness Tree, blended with the old vine fruit from the powerful, marine sedimentary soil of Freedom Hill Vineyard. This Pinot Noir is fermented with ambient yeast and aged in barrels for 10 months. The resulting wine is a lush and beautiful example of the 2022 vintage, immediately appealing for early drinking, but layered with power and structure giving this wine the ability to age. The inviting nose suggests ripe red & black fruits, summer flowers and warm, earthy spices. The dense fruit, succulent tannins and juicy acidity all come together to produce what we feel is a lovely & balanced example of what the Willamette Valley gave us in 2022.