2023 Violet Hill Pinot Noir Oregon

100% Pinot Noir, mostly from the Willamette Valley but with the inclusion of fruit from one vineyard in the Umpqua Valley AVA. This vineyard sits in the Red Hills Douglas sub-appellation with the same iron-rich, red volcanic Jory soils found in Willamette, formed from the uplifting of ancient volcanic basalt. Red Hills Douglas, perched at 800-1,200 feet without the protection of the Coast Range, is subject to cooler growing season temperatures. Primary fermentation in small open top vats is followed by malolactic conversion and ten months of aging in a combination of French oak and tank. 13.0% alcohol. 

This is a great value on a lighter bodied Oregon Pinot. Tart raspberries and cranberries, bright cherries, violet floral and tea spice notes, and slight earthiness. Brisk acidity and very light tannins encourage serving this wine with a slight chill!

Violet Hill is yet another side project of Rob Fischer and Mordechai Kotler of Banshee, Averaen, Valravn and Pavette fame.  Their brand began as a singular Pinot Noir made to provide value in a category living almost perpetually at $60 retail. At that time in the market, if it wasn’t $60, it was absolute crap. Baron Ziegler, Steve Graf and Emily Peterson refused to believe it wasn’t possible to have something worth drinking, at a price they could personally afford to pay. They came from European wine backgrounds over many years, most recently Baron and Emily at Eric Soloman Selections (primarily Spanish wine), and Steve at Martine’s Wines (Burgundy), and those beginnings helped shape the sense of place and vibrancy people came to expect from Banshee–at an amazing price. Fast forward some years, and they ended up selling Banshee, but keeping the contracts with the growers they had developed relationships with over the years, and subsequently creating these small, region-specific labels. They began working with winemaker Rob Fischer, whose own relationships and experience in the area only elevated their game.