2021 Soter Pinot Noir Mineral Springs Ranch WIllamette Valley Oregon

This wine is sourced entirely from the Mineral Springs Ranch, located east of the town of Carlton. This is the home base of operations for Soter Vineyards; it is the site of our prize vineyard, winery, tasting lodge, and eventually the Soter home. In short, it is the entire domaine. Planted to 30 acres of Pinot Noir, this beautiful ridge top just east of the town of Carlton has commanding views of the valley, with mature stands of oak trees and Douglas firs lining the road. The 2005 vintage marked the inaugural bottling from the Mineral Springs Vineyard.  This 2021 vintage had all the ingredients to make incredible wines hot and dry weather and modest yields. Oregon broke records when in June, a normally wet and fickle month, brought in a heat dome to the state blanketing the Willamette Valley in extreme temperatures.  And all before there were even grapes on the fine!  The trend continued throughout the summer and finally cooled off in October allowing the grapes vital hang-time to develop complex, mature tannins.  This 2021 Mineral Springs Ranch pinot noir offers up plenty of dark cherry berry fruit along with blueberry and marionberry.  Pretty aromas of violets and sweet herbs complimnt the fruit and a firm hand of acidity gives this wine backbone and a long layered finish.  Finish 50+ MOST EXCELLENT 

(94 Points) Detailed and finely focused, this refined red offers expressive raspberry and guava flavors laced with mineral, forest floor and black tea tones as this builds tension and richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032. 2,400 cases made.  Wine Spectator