Lavinea Saikkonen Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

USA : OREGON : EOLA-AMITY HILLSNATIVE YEAST : Pinot NoirMED-BODIED, RASPBERRY, BLUEBERRY, FOREST FLOOR, DUSKY SPICE, FINE TANNINThe Eola-Amity Hills sit at the northern edge of the Willamette Valley, where the Van Duzer Corridor — a low gap in the Coast Range — funnels cold Pacific air inland every afternoon with unusual force. The result: growing-season temperatures that can swing 35°F or more in a single day, holding acidity and aromatics while the shallow volcanic Jory and Nekia basalt soils limit yields and concentrate flavor. Pinot Noir accounts for roughly 80% of what's planted here, and the AVA's cool, compressed growing season is why.Isabelle Meunier grew up in Quebec, trained in Dijon, worked stages in New Zealand and Burgundy — including time at Domaine de la Vougeraie — before landing in the Willamette Valley as head winemaker at Evening Land. She and Greg Ralston co-founded Lavinea in 2014 to focus on single-vineyard terroir expression. This Eola-Amity Hills bottling draws from four of their vineyards, co-fermenting Pommard and 667 clones together, then 777 and 115 clones together, with native yeast, no inoculations, and indigenous malolactic fermentation. Aging in once- and twice-filled French oak keeps the wood honest. Wine Spectator awarded 93 points: "brooding yet expressive, with raspberry and blueberry flavors highlighted by forest floor and dusky spices."PAIRINGS : Duck breast with cherry reduction the wine's raspberry and forest floor notes bridge fruit and game Herb-roasted lamb earthy tannin structure and bright acidity cut through the fat cleanly Wild mushroom risotto the wine's forest floor depth mirrors the earthiness of the dish

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