Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2023 - Lonesome Rock Wines

2023 The Estate Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from Every Block of Our High-Elevation Estate

The Estate Pinot Noir brings together the full clonal mix, soil types, and exposures of the vineyard to form the most complete expression of the site each vintage. Drawn from every Pinot Noir block—across windswept slopes, fractured volcanic soils, and varied aspects—it expresses the soul of Lonesome Rock Vineyard in a Pinot Noir defined by aromatic lift, silken texture, vibrant acidity, and quiet, lingering minerality.

After a cool, delayed start to 2023 and very dry summer, overall warm, dry conditions and a compressed harvest yielded elegant, vibrant Pinot Noir with good ripeness and balanced acidity.

The 2023 Estate Pinot Noir bridges the qualities of the 2021 and 2022 vintages, combining depth and structure with energy and freshness in a seamless, expressive wine. Aromas of black cherry, red plum, blood orange, and violets emerge alongside subtle root beer spice. The palate balances concentration and lift, with silky, powder-fine tannins woven into an open-knit, supple texture, making the wine approachable and harmonious from the outset.
With 3 separate picks on between 9/23 and 10/7, the fruit was harvested by hand into tiny bins to ensure uncrushed fruit arrives at the winery. Meticulously hand-sorted and 100% destemmed berries are cold-macerated for 4-5 days, fermented with ambient yeast, and hand-punched down during fermentation. Transferred to 100% French oak (20% new) and aged in cold cellar for 11 months before a light filtration at bottling.
Cases Produced: 912 (750ml); 15 (1.5L Magnums)
Years Planted: 2007, 2015
Harvest Dates: 9/23-10/7
Clones: 667, 777, Wadenswil, PN50
Cropload: 2.1 tons/acre
Élévage: 11 months in French oak (20% new)
Alcohol: 13.8%
Winemaker: Isabelle Dutartre
Release Date: 3/10/2025
The 2023 season began slowly, with cool spring temperatures extending into early April before an abrupt burst of heat in early May accelerated vine growth and compressed early development. The interval from budbreak to bloom was notably short—approximately 32 days—and from the outset it was clear yields would be small, but quality looked exceptional. Sustained warmth through August raised concerns about an early or overly ripe vintage; however, cooler September conditions, paired with a timely bit of rainfall, slowed ripening, preserving freshness while allowing flavor and structure to develop. We began with Chardonnay on a cool morning, September 17th, under ideal conditions. An extraordinary early-October forecast then gave us the flexibility to choose ideal harvest windows across our diverse Pinot Noir blocks, with picks on September 23, October 4, and October 7. The resulting wines are defined by ripe, expressive fruit, natural acidity, and a clear, composed expression of place.