2016 La Quercia Block Pinot Noir - Formaglini Vineyards

Juicy red cherry, crushed lavender, fresh raspberry. Cranberry juice, pine cone, blood orange zest. Rose petal and forest floor, brown mushroom and olive tapenade. Pure, juicy, and relatively ripe fruit immediately sets the tone leading with a blast of Santa Rosa plum and wild strawberry. Evergreen and pretty florals chime in to pay their subtlest complements as sous bois and earthy soil tones add a delicate touch of flair. Cardamom and nutmeg contribute understated baking spice as just a hint of pepper flake adds slight savoriness. Fruit never relinquishes control throughout the multifaceted attack singing its warm vintage melody all the while. Medium in body with gentle tannin and a pretty punch of acidity; young and primary showing plenty of adolescent angst and energy. This 2016 La Quercia Block Pinot Noir by Formaglini Vineyards is modern, complex, and delicious Chehelam Mountain Pinot.

The warm and largely problem free 2016 vintage created a unique situation in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Wines that are normally a bit tense, earthy, and reticent upon release tend to be much less shy in this vintage, and few producers had issues getting their fruit to optimal ripeness. This bottling, crafted by Formaglini Vineyards using 100% Pinot Noir sourced from the La Quercia Block of their estate vineyard in the Chehelam Mountains, is a terrific example of a bright yet balanced wine from 2016. It it juicy, friendly, and well suited for immediate enjoyment, yet it also contains sufficient structure to age and further accentuate its earthiness over time. 2016's at this stage are sure to have a very broad appeal, but we especially look forward to following this vintage to see how its wines change and develop in the coming years.