2018 Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc - Ayres Vineyard & Winery

Lemon juice, shaved ginger, grapefruit pith. Green apple, spent gunpowder, fresh quince. Snap peas and celery stalk, walnut shell and peach pit. Underripe green pear and citrus peel lead a tart and primary attack boosted by aromatics of pungent elderflower. Broccolini and asparagus contribute an interesting vegetal note complicated by wet seaweed and root spice as cold stones and stainless steel add their zing. Pleasantly sour and quite reductive, showcasing light phenolics and medium plus acidity within its medium bodied frame. This 2018 Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc by Ayres Vineyard & Winery is a clean, simple, and refreshing Oregon white.

As perhaps the least naturally complex of the common mutations of the Pinot family, Pinot Blanc is often relegated into relatively neutral and uninspiring wines. This bottling, crafted by Ayres Vineyard & Winery using Pinot Blanc sourced from within the Willamette Valley, shows that simple is not necessarily a bad thing. This wine is fresh and bright but not completely straightforward, as its tart citrus-driven fruit profile intertwines seamlessly with present but not overwhelming green notes. Protective winemaking is evident via a distinct matchstick note that slowly blows off with air. This is an extremely food friendly wine ideal for lighter summer dishes, yet is also interesting enough to sip completely on its own.