Wild strawberry, pine nut, fresh tangerine. Tart red plum, tilled loam, crunchy nectarine. Astoundingly delicate yet thoroughly expressive pulses of young raspberry, citrus peel, and cherry bubblegum pop with crunchy and nervy enthusiasm as notes of tarragon, thyme, and undergrowth reveal intriguing herbal and natural undercurrents. Hints of poppies and wildflowers gradually emerge within waves of unpretentious florals that intermingle with soil tones of forest floor, iron, and turned earth. A subtle fleck of white pepper gently provides a pinch of spice before fading into a finish laden with interesting rocky minerality. Pretty, dainty, and mildly aromatic on the nose while remaining delightfully soft yet crisp on the palate; exhibiting an intriguing and unconventional profile that pairs bright and juicy fruit with a range of delightfully savory and earthy charms. Barely medium in body with just a bit of textured tannin backed by elevated acidity. This 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris by Big Table Farm is a wonderfully unique and exciting orange wine from Oregon.

Though it is most often made into white wine, Pinot Gris is a variety with lightly pigmented skin which can help create extremely interesting orange wine when these skins are allowed to remain with the juice for extended periods of time. This bottling, crafted by Big Table Farm using Pinot Gris sourced from the Rivenwood Vineyard in the Willamette Valley, showcases an unconventional yet absolutely delicious take on one of Oregon's most widely planted white grapes. This wine contains an exciting range of red fruit and citrus notes that playfully co-exist alongside light herbal hints and pretty earthiness. While it certainly is closer to a red wine than a white in its flavor profile, this has the energy and crispness of a fresh and juicy white which makes for a wonderful drinking experience. This is an extremely fun creation that has been a pleasure to analyze and enjoy.