Pinot Noir

Single Vineyard New Releases

For those of you who have been paying attention, know that I have never ever released a single vineyard bottling (with one obscure exception). Well, never say never. We are very proud to introduce our brand new Single Vineyard lineup.

2014 Wings of Desire Cuddihy Vineyard Field Blend
This bottling is sourced from the old experimental block at Richard Cuddihy’s eponymous Yamhill vineyard. A co-fermented blend of 8 different grape types all planted next to each other in 1971. This barrel-aged richer styled white is a testament to the hardscrabble early days of Oregon viticulture and to magical accidents. 60 cases produced $30

2014 Sunnyside Vineyard Riesling
This Riesling is a citrusy, apple-y, stone-y and herbal dry Riesling sourced from my favorite Willamette Valley site for the varietal. If you are already a fan of my Riesling, this should deepen your appreciation. If you’re not quite sure, then this is the one to win you over. 25 cases produced $48

2014 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
This wine is bolder than my usual Pinots, it nonetheless has a signature grace typical of this storied Eola-Amity vineyard. I have been fortunate to work with Temperance Hill Vineyard fruit since 2007. To cut your teeth on an Oregon “Grand Cru” is a great way to learn winemaking. There are so many respected winemakers who make amazing wines from Temperance, I guess it’s time to throw my hat into the ring. 25 cases $58.

Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 90pts read more here

2014 Sunny Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir
Not to be confused with the Sunnyside Vineyard from above of course, I have been seeking fruit from this Southern Willamette site ever since my assistant winemaker days at Brooks. We had some in the fermentation hall there, and it was always my favorite to do punchdowns on. The exotic aromatics of spice and leather were and are seductive and the wine in barrel has power and grip like no other site I’ve had the pleasure to work with. 25 cases $58

These wines are very limited and may or may not ever be bottled again. So enjoy them while they are around. And to celebrate their release with us - enjoy them at a discount . . .

Buy the wine here

Here is an interview about these Single Vineyard wines

 

 

 

 

 

Here's what Great Northwest Wines says...

Great Northwest Wines gave our Love & Squalor 2013 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley a wonderful review.

You can see it here: http://www.greatnorthwestwine.com/2016/09/08/love-squalor-2013-pinot-noir-willamette-valley-28/

"This vintage marks the 10th anniversary of Matt Berson’s introduction to winemaking, and his flagship wine from this rain-interrupted season illustrates a blend of nearly equal contributions from eight vineyards – led by Dundee Hills sites Winter’s Hill and Vista Hills. The choice of essentially all neutral French oak at his McMinnville winery allows for a Pinot Noir to reveal itself as a cherry bomb with secondary aromas of strawberry, plum juice and fresh fig with a pinch of herbs and shaving of dark chocolate. As a drink, it’s eminently approachable with Bing cherry and raspberry flavors that offer ripeness rather than sweetness. That feeds into a smooth and round structure capped by orange zest, Earl Grey tea and cocoa."


Rating: Excellent
Production: 1,100 cases
Alcohol: 12.9% 

By Great Northwest Wine on September 8, 2016 

WINE ENTHUSIAST REVIEWS ARE IN!

Fine winemaking is on display here...

— Paul Gregutt Wine Enthusiast June 2016

love & squalor WV Riesling 2013 - 93 Points - Editor's Choice
This packs tremendous flavor into a low-alcohol wine with moderate residual sugar. Peach pit and juice, green apple and citrusy acids start it off. The flavors keep going through a long, complex finish, adding subtle notes of herb and cut grass.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Riesling 2011 - 92 Points
Ignore the silly name and focus on the important particulars—old vine (planted 1976), wild yeast, biodynamic farming. Absolutely bone-dry yet bursting with complex minerality, citrus rind, and penetrating acidity, it has phenolics that give length, breadth and detail.

love & squalor WV Pinot Noir 2012 - 91 Points - Editor's Choice
Fine winemaking is on display here, as the blend includes grapes from six far-flung vineyards. It’s artfully melded, with brambly berries, Bing cherries, cola, cocoa and red licorice notes. Seamless and buttressed with natural acids, it’s not at all reliant on barrel flavors, having seen just 6% once-filled oak, with the rest neutral.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Pinot Noir 2011 - 91 Points
The proprietary name indicates that this is the winemaker’s reserve cuvée, a three-barrel selection mixing equal proportions of grapes from the Eola Hills, Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge AVAs. It’s austere, tight and yet authoritative, showing compact wild berry fruit, Mediterranean herbs and a slight saltiness. It’s best to cellar it until 2020, or give it a good long decant.

Thanks Mr. Gregut 

 

source: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2013-pinot-noir-willamette-valley

 

New Varietals on the Horizon

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more exciting - Love & Squalor is introducing more flavors. Last Harvest we brought in some Pinot Gris from the Barnes Vineyard that we have been purchasing Pinot Noir from for some time. We also hooked up with a young vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills that has a block of Sauvignon Blanc - one of my all-time favorite varietals. The vines are young and bursting with intense fruit. Additionally there is a very special old-vine white project sitting in barrel that will likely only produce about 40 cases, so stay tuned for that.

No new reds to introduce yet, but we are hunting for the right addition to our line-up. Let me know what you would like to see . . .