Press & Reviews

We very much appreciate the kind words of professional reviewers in the following entries. Please do also consider looking into consumer reviews on Cellar Tracker and Wine Berserkers, and reading the excellent notes from from some of our long term Oregon supporters such as Vinopolis, Avalon Wines, Oregon Pinot Noir Club, Liner & Elsen, and The Cellar Door.

Jeb Dunnuck, Audrey Frick, August 2024

Durant Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, NV

The 2019 and 2021 vintages went into the NV Blanc De Blancs Durant Vineyard Extra Brut. A bright yellow hue, it’s savory and lifted on the nose, with a mineral note of wet stones, reductive flinty aromas, as well as fresh apples and lemon balm. It has a peppery, fresh mousse, a lovely dry, chalky texture, but a nice balance of juicy, fresh, pure fruit. Disgorged April 2024. Drink 2024-2032. 94 points.

Whistling Ridge Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, NV

A bright yellow straw color, the NV Blanc De Blancs Whistling Ridge Vineyard Extra Brut comes from Ribbon Ridge and reveals more depth on the nose, with a hint of toast, preserved citrus, a hint of custard, fresh flowers, and a touch of fresh peach. It’s rounded on the palate, with a ripe, fine, pinpoint mousse, a savory flourish, and a saline, brothy finish. Drink 2024-2032. 93 points.

2023 Whistling Ridge Riesling

A straw/silver color, the 2023 Riesling Whistling Ridge Vineyard was raised in acacia barrels and is aromatic of candied lime, salty earth, fresh peach, and lifted flowers. It has wonderful drive and extract, as well as a great mouthwatering and chalky texture and a long finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. 94 points.

2022 Heritage No. 21, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

A jeweled ruby color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 21 comes from the Whistling Ridge Vineyard and is perfumed out of the gate with notes of preserved cherries, lifted spices, candied cinnamon, sweet herbs, and iron-rich earth. It’s savory and brooding in the palate, with gripping structure, a mineral profile through and through, a mouthwatering feel, and a tapering finish. It has a lovely floral purple tone. The estate had so little fruit from this vintage, only 115 cases were produced. 97 points.

2022 Long Acre, Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Also from Whistling Ridge, the 2022 Pinot Long Acre has a ruby youthful hue and is savory with notes of spice, pine, cherries, spiced cranberries, and rocky earth. Always the most savory and representative of the vineyard as a whole, the 2022 is ripe, with structured, broad-shouldered tannins and a great, long, earth-noted finish. Drink it over the next 15 years. 97 points.

2022 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

From Ribbon Ridge, the jeweled ruby-colored 2022 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard is packed with ripe red cherry fruit, gravelly, iron-rich earth, anise, a hint of violets, and wild herbs. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe tannins, even acidity, and a note of salty mineral earth. Drink 2025-2040. 96 points.

2022 Temperance Hill Chardonnay

Intense in the glass, the bright yellow/silver-colored 2022 Chardonnay Temperance Hill Vineyard has a forward note of reduction in the glass that I love and reveals notes of toast, white pepper, lime zest, green apples, and white flowers. It has great electric energy balanced with rich extract and a fantastic stony texture, with a balanced feel through its long finish. It’s going to benefit from another year or two to flesh out, then drink it over the following 12 or so few years. I love this wine. Drink 2024-2036. 97 points.

2022 Heritage No. 20, Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

The 2022 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 20 from Temperance Hill pours a jeweled ruby color in the glass and conjures a complete feel of the site with its aromas of framboise, eau de vie, fresh mossy earth, fresh herbs, wildflowers, and wet stones. It has a pure, clean, and gorgeous feel on the palate and is structured and built for the long haul, with defined, ripe tannins, even, ripe acidity, and a great, long finish with notes of pure tea leaf on the back palate. This wine is great now, but it’s going to improve over the coming 15 or more years. 98 points.

2022 Pumphouse Block, Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

Coming from Temperance Hill, the 2022 Pinot Noir Pumphouse Block pours a jeweled red hue and has a very pretty floral perfume of crushed raspberries, wildflowers, sweet spices, and forest earth. The palate has a more expansive texture through the palate, but it remains medium-bodied, with a broader shoulder and notes of tea leaf on the finish. Drink 2025-2038. 97 points.

2022 West Field, Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

Also coming from Temperance Hill, the 2022 Pinot Noir West Field was raised in puncheons and pours a youthful red hue. It has a woodsy aromatic profile, with notes of pine, toasted spice, ripe, crystalline cherries, blood orange, and a sanguine lift on the nose. It reveals a good deal of depth and intensity on the palate, with a saturating, medium-bodied feel. It has a chiseled and dark mineral profile that lasts through the finish. Haunting and fantastic, this remarkable offering is going to be an impressive wine with great longevity. Drink 2025-2040. 97 points.

2022 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

Pouring a transparent but slightly deeper red color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard is also a very expressive wine on opening, with notes of pine needles, cedar spice, black raspberries, ripe fresh cherries, and juniper. It’s elegant all the way through on the palate, with an approachable feel. It’s going to take time to flesh out, but please do give it time, because this wine will have a lot to offer. It’s deceivingly approachable right now but is going to really benefit from a little patience. It certainly has structure. Drink 2026-2040. 96+ points.

2022 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

A transparent red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is highly expressive on opening, with a high-toned profile, including notes of incense, Asian spice, white pepper, and bright redcurrants. As it opens, it unwinds with floral aromas, revealing more cherry blossom tones. Energetic and linear, this medium-bodied red is savory on the palate, with well-defined tannins, refreshingly ripe acidity, and a light herbal touch on the finish without feeling overly green. It has a very elegant feel throughout and a delicate, tapered finish. It’s going to gain in intensity with time. Drink 2025-2037. 95 points.

2022 Tsai Vineyard Chardonnay

One of only two Chardonnays the estate produced in 2022, the 2022 Chardonnay Tsai Vineyard is a vibrant straw/yellow hue and has a savory profile on the nose, with toasty reduction, Meyer lemon, yellow apple, and a touch of savory broth. Medium to full-bodied, it reveals a polished, well-detailed richness on the palate, as well as a weightless feel, a hint of vanilla spice, and a floral note on the long finish. It’s a lovely wine to enjoy over the next 8-10 years. 94 points.

Vinous, Eric Guido, August 2024

At Goodfellow Family Cellars, the spring frost of 2022 reduced quantities, yet Marcus Goodfellow style still comes through in spades, with restraint, lower alcohol and high acidity. Compared to 2021, the 2022 Goodfellow Pinots are more lifted and classic in feel, and as usual with this producer, I recommend cellaring to fully explore their potential. The sparkling line-up, tasted for the first time this year, are made from Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and small amounts of Pinot Noir, with dosages from low to zero. I’ve seen many successful sparklers from Oregon, but typically, the dosage on those wines is much higher, placing them more in the Brut category. Tasting these wines at Goodfellow was a highlight of my trip.

From Oregon 2022: The Rollercoaster Vintage (Aug 2024)

Durant Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, NV

A vivid blend of ripe apples and pears, sweet sage and honeyed florals form an enticing bouquet as the NV Blanc de Blancs Durant blossoms in the glass. This displays immaculate balance, mixing ripe pit fruits and sweet spice with flinty minerals over a luxuriously creamy bead of bubbles. It finishes with admirable length and concentration, adding grip to the finish as enriching notes of raw almond fade slowly. The Durant is a blend of the 2019 and 2021 vintages. Disgorged: April 2024. Drinking window 2024-2029. 94 points.

Whistling Ridge Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, NV

Simply stunning, the NV Blanc de Blancs Whistling Ridge bursts from the glass with a whiff of flint and crushed stones, complicating nectarines and ginger spice. This blends ripe orchard fruits with masses of salty minerality and a crystalline bead of massaging bubbles. It leaves a vivid note of sesame seeds that enriches the experience, finishing remarkably fresh and leaving the mouth watering for more. This possesses a beautiful blend of naturally ripe fruit and tension. Dosage was zero. Disgorged: April 2024. Drinking window 2024-2029. 93 points.

Willamette Valley Extra Brut, NV

Dusty florals and spices give way to yellow apples and hints of iodine as the NV Extra Brut evolves in the glass. Soothingly round and textured, it sweeps across the palate with ripe orchard fruits and a bead of creamy bubbles. This finishes remarkably clean and pure, leaving a resonance of ripe Anjou pear to linger on. The balance here is unreal. Dosage is 2.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: April 2024.  Drinking window 2024-2028. 92 points.

2022 Temperance Hill Chardonnay

Intense in the glass, the 2022 Chardonnay Temperance Hill opens with a whiff of crushed rocks, flint and dusty sage, giving way to freshly sliced nectarines. This is texturally thrilling, silken and supple with depths of ripe pit fruits complicated by saline minerals. A bump of zesty acidity maintains fantastic freshness, leaving hints of sour lime and a green apple crunchiness. Drinking window 2025-2031. 94 points.

2022 Heritage No. 20, Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Rosy florals give way to crushed blackberries and sweet lavender as the 2022 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 20 Temperance Hill slowly evolves in the glass. This sweeps across the palate with herbal-tinged wild berry fruits, offset by a saturation of sour citrus as a cascade of inner florals amasses toward the close. The 2022 finishes structured and long, geared for the cellar, with crisp mineral tones that resonate. This is fantastic, yet patience will be required. The Heritage No. 20 mixes fruit from both the Pumphouse and West Field blocks of Temperance Hill. Drinking window 2027-2038. 95 points.

2022 Pumphouse Block, Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

A cascade of violet and lavender gives way to hints of white pepper, wild blueberry and crushed stone as the 2022 Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Pumphouse Block blossoms in the glass. This is a model of purity, revealing an herbal tinge up front as tart red berry fruits and cedary spices slowly fade. This tapers off with tension, only gently tannic, with a cheek-puckering sensation that lingers on. Drinking window 2025-2033. 93 points.

2022 West Field, Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

The 2022 Pinot Noir West Field Temperance Hill dazzles the senses with a burst of savory herbs, sweet peas, woodland berries and flowery undergrowth. It is full of zesty energy, almost nervous in feel, with masses of tart wild berry fruits that give way to rosy inner florals. A sour cranberry concentration lingers along with gently grippy tannins, leaving the mouth watering for more. Drinking window 2025-2033. 92 points.

2022 Heritage No. 21, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2022 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 21 Whistling Ridge is youthfully understated, blending rose petals and lavender with autumnal spices and hints of dried strawberry. Lifted and ethereal in feel, it possesses crisp wild berry fruits that lend steadily building tension as fine-grained tannins mount toward the close. Structured, long and full of citrusy nerve, the 2022 finishes with incredible length, clenching tightly to the palate. Drinking window 2026-2036. 93+ points.

2022 Long Acre, Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Darkly floral and rich in the glass, the 2022 Pinot Noir Long Acre mixes incense and dried violets with crushed black cherries. This is youthfully lean and full of tension with a tinge of saline minerality up front, further enhanced by tart red berry fruits. It finishes with an air of violet inner floral and hints of blood orange, leaving edgy tannins that tug at the palate. The Long Acre demonstrates fantastic balance yet will require cellaring to come fully into balance. Of note, production was down 50% in 2022. Drinking window 2026-2036. 94 points.

2022 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2022 Pinot Noir Durant entices with a sweetly spiced bouquet of wild blueberries, sweet herbs and hints of cinnamon spice. This is juicy and round, with perfumed wild berry fruits elevated by blood orange as bright-toned inner florals resonate throughout. It leaves a tactile staining of minerality and gently grippy tannins, finishing with a tinge of sour citrus that lingers on. Drinking window 2025-2033. 93+ points.

2022 Tsai Vineyard Chardonnay

A burst of sweet spice and lemon sorbet gives way to freshly sliced green apples and split pine. The 2022 Chardonnay Tsai Vineyard is a wine of tension and mineral intensity, with tart orange fruits and brisk acidity balanced by silken textures under an air of almond custard. A citrusy concentration lingers as the 2022 cleans up beautifully, leaving an air of chamomile and the slightest hint of vanilla bean. Drinking window 2024-2029. 92 points.

2023 Tsai Vineyard Pinot Blanc

The 2023 Pinot Blanc Tsai Vineyard opens with a wickedly fresh bouquet of confectionary spices, stone dust and hints of young peach. This opens with a saline tinge of minerality and zesty sour lime, literally puckering the cheeks as tart orchard fruits cascade throughout. It leaves the palate completely cleansed as sour melon tones fade. Drinking window 2024-2028. 92 points.

Vinous, Eric Guido, January 2024

The Goodfellow Family wines deserve attention and patience, even though the average consumer is often unprepared to wait for Oregon Pinot Noir to mature. Over the last decade, warmer vintages and the push toward ripeness have created a paradigm for immediately enjoyable wines. These are not the wines that Marcus Goodfellow seeks to create. Readers can open a Goodfellow Pinot Noir or Chardonnay on release, but they would miss the magic that will be revealed with time. Burgundy and Barolo are the inspiration behind the portfolio is, but more the Burgundy and Barolo of twenty to thirty years ago. Goodfellow commented, “We tend to make a style that is focused on structure and acid, plus lower alcohol–hearty wines,” which he truly succeeds at. The lineup is focused on single vineyards and the blocks within them, showing the unique characteristics that minor changes in soil and exposition can bring. Also, this is a house where whole cluster fermentation is the norm, along with long macerations and a low reliance on new oak. As mentioned, alcohols are low, usually in the 12 - 12.5% range, which Goodfellow attributes to their philosophy of no-tilling. Both reds and whites are worth checking out, as some of the most exciting Chardonnays I tasted from 2021 were in this lineup. “The dry extract in the 2021 whites is phenomenal,” Goodfellow added. These are some of the vintage's most mineral-driven and texturally intense wines, yet with a core of stimulating acidity bringing lip-smacking balance. They are not to be missed.

2021 Heritage No. 19, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir Heritage No.19 Whistling Ridge tempts the imagination with a dramatic bouquet of underbrush, incense and exotic spice, giving way to dusty rose and dried black cherries. This enters surprisingly juicy and fresh, with lifted textures as a wave of tart wild berries and blood orange drenches the palate in youthful tension. A core of vibrant acidity maintains balance as tactile mineral tones join with polished tannins through the long and licorice-tinged finale. The 2021 Heritage No. 19 is stunning, yet also begging for a long stay in a cold cellar. This was refined in 50% new wood, yet the integration is perfect. Drinking window 2026-2038. 96 points.

2021 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir Whistling RIdge is spicy and savory in the glass, leading with a rich blend of steeped plums, cola and rose petals giving way to hints of clove. This is lifted and finessed with pretty red berries and suggestions of cocoa and inner florals, all guided by fresh acidity. The 2021 tapers off with medium length and a crunchy sensation, leaving just a tinge of fine tannin framing the experience beautifully. Of note, the Whistling Ridge took three hours to blossom, and it was worth the wait. Drinking window 2024-2030. 93 points.

2021 Richard’s Cuvée, Whistling Ridge Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvée is delicate and understated in the glass, slowly evolving with a bouquet of mint-laced nectarine and wet stone. This is soothingly round and elegant in feel, with admirable weight and a balancing core of brisk acuity as mineral-drenched orchard fruits cascade throughout. It finishes long and spicy, lightly structured, leaving hints of lemon zest to complicate nectarine and a salty tinge that lingers on. Drinking window 2024-2028. 93 points.

2021 Whistling Ridge Pinot Gris

The 2021 Pinot Gris Whistling Ridge is distinctly savory with a blend of crushed green apples, lemon rinds, rosemary and sage. This is soothingly round, with depths of citrus-tinged orchard fruits and minerals giving way to sour melon, all across a stream of brisk acidity. The 2021 finishes spicy, with admirable length, all under an air of exotic inner florals, leaving the mouth watering for more. Quite distinct and impossible to ignore, the Pinot Gris refines for one year in used 820 liter Acacia puncheons. Drinking window 2023-2026. 92 points.

2021 Heritage No. 18, Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Dusty and floral, the 2021 Pinot Noir Heritage No.18 Temperance Hill keeps the taster coming back to the glass again and again to take in its bouquet, blending cedar shavings with wilted violets, dried blueberries and hints of cola. Silky and soothing, this floods the palate with ripe red fruits and saline mineral tines complicated by inner rose and touches of sour citrus. The long and dramatic finish takes on a spicy character, leaving crunchy tannins and a tart wild berry twang that puckers the cheeks. Marcus Goodfellow explained that he seeks an easy ten to fifteen years of positive maturity from the Heritage wines, and I am confident this will reach that mark. Drinking window 2026-2038. 95 points.

2021 West Field, Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir West Field wafts up with an alluring blend of savory herbs, tomato leaf, dried strawberries and crushed stones. This opens with a lovely inner sweetness and soothingly round textures as a tart wild berry fruit core saturates under an air of rosy inner florals. A bump of residual acidity enlivens the finale, even as grippy tannins settle in, leaving lingering hints of sour citrus and licorice. The balance is something to behold, yet it will require cellaring to enjoy the West Field Pinot Noir at its best. This is the first official release of West Field Pinot Noir, which hails from the Temperance Hill Vineyard. Drinking window 2025-2033. 94 points.

2021 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

The remarkably pretty 2021 Pinot Noir Temperance Hill slowly evolves in the glass, wafting up with a bouquet of dried strawberries, cedar, crushed stone, and dusty rose. This is silky smooth with medium-bodied weight and crisp red fruits cascading across a core of brisk acidity. Tactile mineral tones mingle with a gentle layer of fine tannins as the 2021 finishes a spicy citrus twang, long and staining yet still remarkably fresh. 100% whole custers. Drinking window 2025-2033. 93+ points.

2021 “Psycho Killer” Temperance Hill Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay Psycho Killer blossoms in the glass with a display of contrasts: ripe peaches and nectarines complicated by sesame seeds, curry leaf and crushed stone. This easily sweeps across the palate, ushering in a saline blend of pit fruits and lemon zest. It finishes long and full of tension as a reverberation of brisk acidity pinches at the cheeks, and a sensation of liquid rock and flint mixes with a salty flourish. Wow! This is a formidable Oregon Chardonnay that is deeply complex and loaded with character yet wonderfully balanced. Drinking window 2025-2033. 95 points.

2021 Temperance Hill Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay Temperance Hill is intense, with a burst of flinty crushed stone, incense and savory herbs giving way to ginger-spiked yellow apples. This is round and soothing, showing its minerality up front, as a wave of ripe orchard fruits is complicated by a white pepper tinge. This was refined in 50% new oak, adding a lovely depth of sour melon lingering throughout the lightly structured finale. White youthfully tense, time will unfurl the 2021 Temperance Hill’s depths of complexity. Drinking window 2025-2033. 94+ points.

2021 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir Durant is perfumed and darkly alluring, enticing the senses with dusty dried flowers, incense and red plum. It’s round and soothing on the palate, with juicy acidity, ripe red and hints of blue fruit swirling throughout under an air of violet inner florals. This finishes with admirable length, leaving a staining of primary concentration framed by sweet tannins as hints of licorice fade. The Durant possesses a lovely balance of complexity, energy and structure. It’s a pleasure to taste. There’s no use of new oak here, and it was fermented 100% whole clusters, lending a beautiful savoriness. Drinking window 2026-2035. 94 points.

2021 Tsai Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay Tsai Vineyard opens in the glass with a delicate blend of white flowers, spice and crushed yellow apples. It’s softly textured with brisk acidity and a cascade of mineral-tinged orchard fruits. This finishes savory and long, leaving hints of sour melon and a lingering tactile mineral sensation. The Tsai Vineyard Chardonnay gains in volume and depth the longer it sits in the glass. Drinking window 2023-2027. 91 points.

Vinous, Josh Raynolds, February 2022

2019 Heritage No.15, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Translucent ruby. Expansive, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit preserve, potpourri and incense aromas are joined by hints of cola and botanical herbs as the wine opens up. Alluringly sweet and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated raspberry, cherry cola, star anise and candied rose flavors that slowly unfold through the back half. Smooth, polished tannins build slowly on the impressively long, focused finish, which strongly echoes the red fruit, floral and spice notes. This suave wine will age gracefully on its balance. Drinking window 2025-2035. 96 points.

2019 House Block, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Brilliant red. An impressively complex bouquet evokes mineral-tinged red fruits, potpourri and exotic spices, and a hint of botanical herbs emerges as the wine opens up. Juicy, sharply focused and energetic on the palate, offering sweet cherry liqueur, raspberry and floral pastille flavors and an exotic touch of blood orange. The spice and floral notes drive a strikingly long, smooth finish framed by polished, well-knit tannins. Drinking window 2023-2033. 95 points.

2019 Heritage No. 16, Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir

Shimmering garnet. Vibrant red fruit, floral and exotic spice scents, along with hints of incense and musky earth. Sappy, energetic and penetrating on the palate, offering intense raspberry and cherry flavors and building blood orange and candied rose nuances. Delivers a serious punch but comes off lithe. The impressively long, finely detailed finish features polished tannins and reverberating floral and spice notes. Drinking window 2024-2034. 95 points.

2019 Pumphouse Block, Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Limpid violet. Vibrant red and blue fruit, floral oil, cola and exotic spice qualities on the intensely perfumed nose. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, offering concentrated raspberry, cherry, floral pastille and exotic spice flavors that tighten up and turn livelier as the wine opens up. Shows superb clarity and minerally lift and cut on an extremely long, focused finish shaped by smooth, well-judged tannins. Drinking window 2024-2034. 95 points.

2019 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Glistening red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes spice-accented red and blue fruits, cherry cola, potpourri and exotic spices, all sharpened by a smoky mineral topnote. Supple and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy, mineral- and spice-inflected black raspberry, cherry pie and candied lavender flavors that spread out steadily through the back half. Shows fine delineation and finishes extremely long and spicy, with polished tannins and lingering floral and red fruit liqueur notes. Drinking window 2024-2034. 95 points.

2019 Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Translucent ruby-red. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of fresh red and blue fruits are complicated by suggestions of succulent herbs and sandalwood. Silky and pliant in texture, offering vibrant cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and spicecake flavors sweetened by a frisson of candied flowers. Discreet tannins build slowly on a sharply detailed finish that lingers with superb, floral-driven persistence. Drinking window 2024-2034. 94 points.

2018 Long Acre, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vivid garnet. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes ripe red berries, potpourri and incense, along with exotic spice and subtle earth nuances that build as the wine opens up. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet, expressive raspberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors accented by five-spice powder and black cardamom flourishes. Nicely concentrated but graceful as well, showing impressive finishing power, repeating florality and supple, well-knit tannins. Drinking window 2023-2031. 95 points.

2018 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Dark, bright-rimmed scarlet. An expansive bouquet evokes fresh boysenberry, raspberry, licorice and potpourri, along with blood orange and exotic spice nuances. Conveys a suave blend of depth and energy on the palate, offering vibrant red and blue fruit, bitter cherry, floral pastille and star anise flavors braced by an undertow of juicy acidity. Shows outstanding clarity on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven tenacity. Drinking window 2022-2030. 94 points.

2018 Pumphouse Block, Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Dark, bright-rimmed scarlet. An expansive bouquet evokes fresh boysenberry, raspberry, licorice and potpourri, along with blood orange and exotic spice nuances. Conveys a suave blend of depth and energy on the palate, offering vibrant red and blue fruit, bitter cherry, floral pastille and star anise flavors braced by an undertow of juicy acidity. Shows outstanding clarity on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven tenacity. Drinking window 2023-2031. 94 points.

The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks, 30th December 2020

2018 Richard’s Cuvee, Whistling Ridge Chardonnay

The 2018 Chardonnay Richard's Cuvée Whistling Ridge Vineyard is slow to open, and worth the wait. It begins with crushed filberts, flint and citrus peel that give way to generous, spicy orchard fruits. The palate is stunning, with a satiny texture and ethereal quality that belies its pure fruit intensity. It has seamlessly integrated acidity and a finish that never seems to end. Drink date 2020-2030. 95 points.

2018 Heritage No. 14, Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir

Medium ruby in color, the 2018 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 14 Lewman Vineyard echoes the singular perfume of the Old Vine Pommard cuvée from the same vineyard: fir leaves and chocolate, licorice and earth, with intense, savory blackberry fruits that unfold slowly on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and surprisingly intense, flooding the mouth with detailed fruits and loads of spices, with seamless freshness and a serious, grainy frame that indicates this will age very well in the cellar. Outstanding! Drink date 2021-2030. 97 points.

2018 Old-Vine Pommard, Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2018 Pinot Noir Old Vine Pommard Lewman Vineyard is an incredibly singular wine! Medium ruby in color, it has an arresting perfume of prosciutto and mint leaves, milk chocolate and dusty earth, with a wealth of dark berry fruit at the core. The medium-bodied palate manages delicacy and intensity with its bright, spicy flavors, and it's expertly framed to have a long life in the cellar. Wow! Drink date 2020-2031. 96 points.

2018 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is extraordinarily perfumed this vintage, with scents of rose petals, Earl Grey tea, lavender and loads of intense black fruits. The palate is arresting, seamless and silky and loaded with perfumed flavors that call you back again and again to the glass. It's one of the loveliest Pinot Noirs I've tasted this vintage from the Willamette Valley. Drink date 2020-2027. 95 points.

2018 Heritage No. 11, Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2018 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 11 Durant has a haunting beauty, calling you back to the glass again and again. It has lovely scents of red and black berries laced with floral perfume plus accents of tea leaves, aniseed and tobacco. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and very fresh with loads of spices and a very long, detailed finish. Drink date 2020-2027. 95 points.

Vinous, Josh Raynolds, August 2020

2018 Heritage No. 12, Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Deep, bright-hued scarlet. Powerful red and dark berry, cherry pit, exotic spice and licorice scents take on a suave floral topnote with air. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet, spice-tinged cherry, black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that steadily firm up through the midpalate. Conveys a suave blend of depth and finesse and finishes extremely long and precise, with polished tannins coming in late. Drinking window 2022-2030. 94 points.

2018 House Block, Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Vivid red. Lively, mineral-accented red and dark berry aromas are complemented by suggestions of exotic spices and candied flowers. Youthfully chewy and alluringly sweet, offering concentrated raspberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors accompanied by a building mineral nuance. Shows excellent balance and spicy cut on the energetic finish, which is shaped by smooth, well-knit tannins. Drinking window 2022-2028. 93 points.

2018 Heritage No.14, Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vivid magenta. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes musky red and blue fruits, potpourri and exotic spices, and a vibrant mineral overtone builds with air. Impressively concentrated yet lively on the palate, offering mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that show fine detail and back-end thrust. Finishes with steadily building tannins, a hint of allspice and strong, floral-driven persistence. Drinking window 2024-2033. 94 points.

2018 Old Vine Pommard, Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir

Brilliant garnet. Deeply perfumed red and blue fruit and cherry cola aromas, along with baking spice, candied rose and smoky mineral accents. Shows impressive definition on the palate, offering concentrated yet surprisingly lively, spice-accented black raspberry, cherry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that pick up a succulent herb nuance with air. Finishes impressively long and youthfully chewy, with polished tannins providing grip to lingering cherry, allspice and bitter chocolate notes. Drinking window 2023-2031. 94 points.

2018 Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir

Limpid magenta. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, cherry, candied rose and exotic spices, and a bright mineral overtone gains strength with air. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, well-concentrated black raspberry, cherry liqueur, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that flesh out through the midpalate. Delivers a suave blend of power and delicacy and finishes impressively long and smooth, with harmonious tannins and outstanding clarity. Drinking window 2022-2028. 92 points.

2018 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

Dark, vivid garnet. Ripe red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the deeply perfumed nose, along with hints of musky earth and woodsmoke. Appealingly sweet and fleshy on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry, mulberry, floral pastille and exotic spice flavors that gain energy as the wine opens up. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on a long, focused finish shaped by smooth, well-judged tannins. Drinking window 2023-2031. 93 points.

2018 Heritage No. 11, Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Limpid garnet. An impressively complex bouquet evokes vibrant, spice-accented red berries and pungent flowers that show fine definition and lift. Stains the palate with sweet, energetic cherry, raspberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and take a darker turn on the back half. Shows outstanding definition and power on the impressively long, penetrating finish, which is framed by talc-y, slowly mounting tannins. 100% whole clusters. Drinking window 2024-2033. 95 points.

2018 Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Deep, brilliant red. Cherry, black raspberry, savory herbs and candied lavender on the nose. Densely packed yet energetic dark berry, bitter cherry and licorice flavors turn sweeter as the wine stretches out. Smoothly blends power and energy and finishes long and subtly smoky, with repeating cherry character and dusty, slowly mounting tannins. Drinking window 2023-2031. 92 points.

2017 Heritage No. 10, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Shimmering red. An expansive, spice- and mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, and a sexy floral nuance builds as the wine stretches out. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, showing a suave marriage of depth and liveliness to the penetrating raspberry, boysenberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors. The spicy note comes back strong on a strikingly long, vibrant finish framed by polished, even tannins. Drinking window 2023-2032. 96 points.

2017 Long Acre, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Brilliant magenta. Vibrant, highly perfumed red fruit, exotic spice and floral pastille aromas show outstanding clarity, and a zesty mineral overtone builds in the glass. Lithe and sharply focused on the palate, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry, spicecake and blood orange flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Juicy, pure and precise, finishing with sharp focus and sneaky, slowly building tannins that add framework and final grip. Drinking window 2022-2030. 95 points.

2017 House Block, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bright scarlet. Sharply focused and complex on the nose, displaying an array of fresh red fruit, floral and spice qualities and an exotic touch of incense. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and mulberry flavors, along with suave rose pastille and spicecake nuances. Concentrated but quite lithe in character, showing superb clarity and floral thrust on an impressively long, subtly tannic finish. Drinking window 2022-2029. 95 points.

2017 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Glistening ruby. Intensely perfumed red fruit, floral and exotic spice scents reveal smoky mineral and savory herb accents as the wine opens up. Sappy raspberry, cherry, red currant, spicecake and candied rose flavors show fine delineation and back-end lift. Displays good definition and mineral thrust on the penetrating finish, which features discreet tannins and resonating floral and red fruit notes. Drinking window 2022-2029. 93 points.

2017 Pumphouse Block, Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vivid garnet. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, blood orange and Asian spices, along with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy, lithe and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, mineral-laced raspberry, red currant, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily with air. Conveys a deft blend of power and finesse and finishes with finely interwoven tannins and outstanding clarity and length. Drinking window 2022-2030. 95 points.

2017 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir

Brilliant red. Vibrant red berry, floral and succulent herb scents pick up a spicy nuance with air. Shows impressive depth of flavor but no excess weight on the palate, which features appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors and an exotic, refreshingly bitter jolt of blood orange. Finishes very long and lively, with resonating spice and floral character and smooth tannins that play nice with the wine's juicy fruit. 75% whole clusters. Drinking window 2022-2029. 93 points.

2017 Block 11, Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Shimmering red. Complex array of fresh red fruits, pungent flowers and spices on the nose, with a discreet hint of musky underbrush in the background. In a vibrant, precise style, offering juicy red currant, raspberry and cherry flavors that take a deeper turn through the midpalate. Shows fine definition and mineral punch on an impressively long, detailed finish framed by smooth, well-hidden tannins. Drinking window 2022-2030. 94 points.

2017 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bright scarlet. Intense red fruit and floral aromas are complemented by emerging suggestions of baking spices, succulent herbs and fresh-turned topsoil. Sweet and light on its feet, offering juicy raspberry, cherry and candied rose flavors that show very good depth and no excess weight. Polished tannins add subtle grip to a very long, penetrating finish that echoes the spice and floral notes. Drinking window 2022-2029. 93 points.

The Wine Advocate, Erin Brooks, April 2020 Week 4

2017 Richard’s Cuvée, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2017 Chardonnay Richard's Cuvée Whistling Ridge Vineyard comes from a single foudre bottled separately this year. It has a warm, inviting nose of Golden Delicious apples, pie crust, quince, citrus blossoms, crushed stone and poached pears—still youthfully shy but hinting at the savory layers underneath with touches of honey, hay and nuts. It’s medium-bodied and incredibly silky in the mouth, with slowly blossoming flavor layers and lip-smacking, tangy acidity, finishing very long and minerally. Give this another year or two in bottle. Only 80 cases were made. Drink date 2020-2027. 93 points.

2017 Durant Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2017 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard opens with classic gunflint notes, segueing to pure golden apple, quince paste, crushed hazelnut, dried hay, white peach and honeyed hints. Medium-bodied and wonderfully silky, it gives up a pop of savory flavors in the mouth with tangy acidity and a long, pleasantly textured finish. This could use another couple of years in bottle and should age well in the cellar. Drink date 2020-2027. 94 points.

2017 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2017 Chardonnay Whistling Ridge has a wonderful, mineral-driven character that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup at Goodfellow. The nose offers pure scents of poached pears, apples, white peaches and floral perfume with a rocky undercurrent, while the palate is precise and laser-like with restrained fruits but loads of perfumed nuances on the long, delicate finish. I expect this will grow in bottle, so give it another couple of years in the cellar. Drink date 2020-2026. 92 points.

2017 Heritage No. 10, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

The numbered iterations in the Goodfellow portfolio are different each year. Marcus Goodfellow says, "The numbering is all specific to a time and place, so you won't see another no. 10." Pale to medium ruby, the nose of the 2017 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Heritage No. 10 blossoms to fresh currants, tar, Earl Grey tea leaves, dried flowers, mushroom and warm earth with an undercurrent of mineral notions and spices. The medium-bodied palate slowly reveals nuanced flavor layers, with very finely grained tannins and seamless freshness on the very long, layered finish. Beautiful! Give this another couple of years in bottle or cellar it—this has the structure and flesh to age very well in bottle. Drink date 2020-2030. 95 points.

2017 House Block, Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

The House Block is another new wine from Goodfellow. Associate Winemaker Megan Joy says, "Whistling Ridge is a multigenerational vineyard, originally planted in 1990. The House Block was the first block planted and is a mix of those oldest vines and the replants, plus the replants that have been planted for a long time." Winemaker Marcus Goodfellow continues, "We divided up some of the blocks at Whistling Ridge. At pruning, we realized that the House Block is a west-facing bowl. That west-facing aspect puts flesh into that block in a way we don't see with the other blocks—it almost creates schizophrenia in the block, with some east-facing and some west-facing aspects and lots of mixed clones, so the fruit isn't uniform, which is great." The pale to medium ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge House Block has a stunner of a nose: lilac, violet and lavender perfume floats across a core of pure crushed black cherries and blackberries and red currants with layers of dried earth, amaro, charcuterie, blood orange and a minerally undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, silky and firmly structured with great freshness and a long, bitters-laced finish. This has the stuffing and structure to age very well in bottle and merits another couple of years in the cellar. Drink date 2020-2030. 94 points.

2017 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is scented of spiced cranberries, blackberries and red berries with notes of charcuterie, floral perfume and sweet spices. The light-bodied palate is silky, intense and spicy with finely grained tannins and juicy freshness on the long, spicy finish. This comes from vines planted in 1998. Drink date 2020-2027. 93 points.

2017 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

"This is the first time we've worked with Temperance Hill vineyard," says Marcus Goodfellow. "There are tons of different aspects, lots of rootstocks, various vine ages and trellising systems plus lots of unknown clones in the mix. These vines were planted in 1994." Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Temperance Hill has a lovely, broody nose of crushed blackberries, smoked meats, black cherries, tangerine peel, dried roses, amaro and dusty earth—lots of blossoming layers! It’s light to medium-bodied with a silky texture and nuanced flavor layers, grainy and fresh with a long, nuanced finish. Drink date 2020-2027. 93 points.

2017 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard slowly opens to reveal red currant, crushed black cherries, cured meats and a graphite/mineral undercurrent with accents of amaro, flowers and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied and silky, it’s mineral driven and nuanced in the mouth with fine, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and bitters-laced. Give this another year or two in bottle. Drink date 2020-2027. 92 points.

2016 Heritage No. 7, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2016 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Heritage No. 7 has a pale to medium ruby color and aromas of cranberries, blackberries, rhubarb and pomegranate with notes of tar, turned earth, dried flowers and smoked meats. The medium-bodied palate is silky and perfumed with great freshness and a very long finish. This will benefit from another year in bottle. Drink date 2020-2030. 94 points.

2016 Heritage No. 8, Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2016 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard Heritage No. 8 comes from vines planted in 1973 on volcanic soils, and it has improved in bottle since I tasted it last year. Pale to medium ruby, it's scented of blueberries, boysenberries and blackberries with accents of warm earth, prosciutto, tangerine peel, saline, woodsmoke and graphite. The medium-bodied palate is uber silky and perfumed, with a finely grained frame and great freshness, finishing very long. This is drinking beautifully now but has the structure to age well in the cellar. Drink date 2020-2027. 93 points.

2016 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

The 2016 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1990 on sedimentary soils. Pale to medium ruby, it has a perfumed, inviting nose of sliced blueberries, violet, lilac, dried red cherries and red currants with notes of turned earth and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with spicy fruits, grainy and super fresh with a long, floral-laced finish. This is drinking beautifully! 226 cases were made. Drink date 2020-2030. 94 points.

2016 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2016 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1973 on volcanic soils. Pale to medium ruby, it has a very inviting nose of spiced cranberry sauce, cinnamon stick, dried bark, rhubarb and red currant with accents of crushed violets, charcuterie, dusty earth and potpourri. It’s medium-bodied and silky with great intensity of spiced fruits, a firm frame of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and nuanced. Lovely! 113 cases were made. Drink date 2020-2030. 94 points.

Vinous, Josh Raynolds, June 2019

2016 Heritage No. 7, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Translucent red. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented red fruit, five-spice powder and incense, with a zesty mineral note that gains strength as the wine opens up. Gently sweet, seamless and lively on the palate, offering densely packed raspberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and rose pastille flavors that are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a suave blend of power and delicacy. Finishes extremely long and spicy, with polished tannins framing lingering red fruit preserve and floral notes. Drinking window 2022-2030. 94 points.

2016 Heritage No. 8, Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vivid red. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet displays an array of ripe red fruit, floral and spice qualities, along with a smoky mineral flourish and a touch of vanilla. Sweet, lively and penetrating on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and cherry flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. The floral note comes back strong on a very long, vibrant finish that's given shape by smooth, well-knit tannins. Drinking window 2022-2029. 93 points.

2016 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light vivid red. An incisive, mineral- and spice-accented bouquet displays an array of fresh red fruit and floral qualities, along with suggestions of fresh bay, blood orange and musky earth. Sappy and sharply delineated in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, raspberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out as the wine opens up. Shows excellent depth while coming off graceful, with no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins lend support to an impressively long, floral-driven finish that leaves sappy red berry and smoky mineral notes behind. Drinking window 2022-2030. 94 points.

2016 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Shimmering red. An assertively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, potpourri, incense and Asian spices, and a vibrant mineral nuance builds as the wine opens up. Juicy, penetrating and focused in style, offering palate-staining raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that are energized by blood orange and white pepper notes. Shows superb clarity on a long, spice-laced finish shaped by smooth, harmonious tannins. Drinking window 2021-2029. 94 points.

2016 Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Brilliant red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh blue fruits, cherries, exotic spices, potpourri and smoky minerals. Bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors show excellent depth and clarity and pick up suggestions of candied flowers, star anise and musky herbs as the wine opens up. Blends power and delicacy with a steady hand and finishes very long and precise, with repeating spiciness and insistent florality. Drinking window 2022-2030. 93 points.

2015 Heritage No. 4, Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

Lurid red. Vibrant, spice-tinged red fruit and candied rose scents, along with suggestions of blood orange and smoky minerals. Taut and well-delineated on the palate, offering juicy bitter cherry and red currant flavors that slowly deepen and turn sweeter with air. Fine-grained tannins come in slowly on a very long, precise finish that strongly echoes the red berry and spice notes. Drinking window 2022-2029. 92 points.

2015 Heritage No. 5, Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Glistening red. A highly perfumed, incisive bouquet displays scents of fresh cherry, raspberry and baking spices, and a sexy floral nuance builds with air. Sweet and focused on the palate, showing good heft and focus to the intense red fruit, rose pastille and spicecake flavors. Delivers strong, spicy cut on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with resonating cherry and floral qualities. Drinking window 2021-2028. 92 points.

2015 Heritage No. 6, Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Translucent red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays fresh red fruit, blood orange and Asian spice qualities, and vibrant mineral and floral notes build in the glass. Juicy and sharply delineated on the palate, offering intense red currant, raspberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that unfurl slowly on the back half. Shows distinct tension and clarity and finishes with finely woven tannins and emphatic spice- and mineral-driven persistence.  Drinking window 2022-2029. 92 points.

2015 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Shimmering red. Intense, mineral- and spice-accented red currant, strawberry and cola scents pick up a sexy floral nuance as the wine opens up. Shows uncommon vivacity for a ripe vintage and offers juicy red berry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that slowly deepen on the back half. Displays excellent clarity and spicy cut on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves resonating red berry and candied rose notes behind. Drinking window 2022-2029. 92 points.

2015 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Light bright red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays scents of fresh raspberry, cherry and exotic spices, and a sexy floral nuance builds in the glass. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering spice-tinged bitter cherry, red berry and candied rose flavors that show impressively sharp delineation. Takes a sweeter turn on a gently tannic, incisive finish that hangs on with strong, spicy tenacity. This vineyard, which was first planted in 1973, is quite old by Willamette Valley standards. Drinking window 2021-2028. 93 points.

2015 Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vivid red. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying an array of spice- and mineral-accented red fruit and floral scents and a hint of musky underbrush. Stains the palate with juicy strawberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that unfurl slowly and take a sweeter turn on the back half. The floral and spice notes drive a very long, focused finish framed by dusty, well-knit tannins. Drinking window 2022-2029. 92 points.

The Wine Advocate 238, Erin Brooks, August 2018

The Goodfellow wines came as a wonderful surprise during my time tasting in Oregon. Marcus Goodfellow is sourcing fruit from some of the finest vineyards in Willamette, often dry farmed and from old vineyards planted to an array of clones. We visited the old, gnarled vines at Durant vineyard in Dundee Hills, planted with Pinot Noir in 1973 and with Chardonnay in 1993, and the Whistling Ridge Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge, planted in 1990. “Old vines are still the trump card,” he says. “The vines situate themselves to the site. The old vines give wines that are ethereal, elegant, layered and don’t speak too loud.” The wines combine layers of pure, ripe fruit, earth and amaro-like aromatics.

Erin Brooks, August 2018

2015 Durant Vineyard Chardonnay

The Chardonnay at Durant vineyard was planted in 1993. The 2015 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard is a bit shy on the nose, opening out to honey toast, Red Delicious apples, pears, lemon confit and clotted cream. Medium-bodied, it has wonderful concentration of flavor in the mouth—creamy citrus, honey and crème fraîche—with a wicked line of acidity, finishing long and minerally. Drink date 2018-2025. 91+ points.

2015 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Richard’s Cuvee

From a vineyard planted in 1990, the 2015 Chardonnay Richard's Cuvée Whistling Ridge Vineyard opens with tangy Greek yogurt aromas on the nose over a core of baked yellow apple and yellow pear with hints of toast and spice. Medium to full-bodied and creamy textured, it has wonderful concentration of warm yellow fruits over tangy crème fraîche flavors and just enough freshness, with lots of toast and spice coming through on the long finish.  Drink date 2018-2024. 91 points.

2015 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2015 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is pale to medium ruby in color with a very pretty nose of rose petals, violet and spice over a core of dried cherries and cranberries plus earthy notions of fresh tobacco, underbrush and autumn leaves. Light to medium-bodied, it's packed with juicy red fruits flavors, spice and floral perfume, with a great frame of grainy tannins and freshness to lift all that flavor, finishing very, very long. Drink date 2018-2028. 94 points.

2015 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

From a vineyard planted in 1990, the pale to medium ruby colored 2015 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard has a spicy nose of coriander, warm cinnamon, potpourri and dried leaves over a core of baked cranberry and red cherry fruit with meaty/savory touches. Light to medium-bodied, it has spice-laced red fruits in the mouth, with a great frame of fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and very spicy.  Drink date 2018-2027. 93 points.

2015 Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Fir Crest Vineyard is scented of black cherry and bramble berry preserves with cardamom and nutmeg spice, pretty dried red flowers, orange peel and earthy accents. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with concentrated, juicy dark fruit preserves, with wonderful grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing very long and accented with earthy notions. Gosh, that’s good!  Drink date 2018-2026. 93 points.

The Wine Advocate 232,  Lisa Perrotti Brown,  August 2017

2014  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay,   Richard's Cuvee

The 2014 Chardonnay Richard's Cuvee knocks it out of the park with a nose of ripe apricots, pink grapefruit and guava underscored by fresh ginger, baking bread, beeswax and yeast extract hints with a waft of jasmine. Medium- bodied, the palate is very elegant and refined, with incredible freshness and depth wrapped in a lovely satiny texture, finishing with long lasting mineral and spices layers. Wow!  Drink date 2017-2024.     95 points.

2014  Durant Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2014 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard delivers an intense minerally/struck match and crushed stones nose over a core of lemon pie, orange blossoms and grapefruit plus hints of toasted almonds and brioche. Medium-bodied, very fresh and very fine, the palate reveals a gorgeous creamy texture and wonderful flavor intensity, with the citrus, savory and mineral flavors lingering long and multi-layered in the mouth. Drink date 2017-2023.     95+ points.

2014  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pale ruby colored with a hint of purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard has stewed tea, fragrant earth and red roses notes on the nose with a core of cranberries and red cherries. Medium-bodied with bags of finesse and expression, it has a chewy frame of tannins and lively line of acid, finishing long and earthy.  Drink date 2017-2022.     91 points.

2014  Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Very pale ruby colored with a hint of purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard has a very pretty perfume of violets and rose hip tea with a core of fresh raspberries and wild strawberries plus a touch of damp soil. Medium- bodied, fine, fresh and elegantly played on the palate, it gives great flavor intensity and impressive depth.  Drink date 2017-2023.     92+ points.

2014 Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir

The 2014 Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge has a very pale ruby color and notes of dried Provence herbs, dusty earth and garrigue over a core of fresh cherries and red currants plus a floral waft. The medium-bodied palate delivers an impressive structure, with firm, fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone supporting the quietly intense fruit, finishing long.  Drink date 2017-2022.     91 points.

2015 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir is scented of roses, wild thyme and lavender with a core of Bing cherries and warm cranberries plus an earthy/forest floor waft. Light to medium-bodied, the palate provides a wonderful intensity of perfumed red berry flavors with silken tannins and a long earthy finish.  Drink date 2017-2023.     92+ points.

Vinous,  Josh Raynolds,  February 2018

2014  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay

Vivid straw-yellow. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas of fresh peach, pear and melon carry a suave floral overtone. Shows very good intensity and clarity on the palate, offering an array of sappy orchard and pit fruit flavors that are firmed by a spine of tangy acidity. Finishes spicy and very long, featuring lingering floral and smoke notes and a hint of anise.  Drinking window 2018-2023.     93 points.

2014  Durant Vineyard Chardonnay

Limpid yellow. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes fresh pear and melon, pungent flowers, iodine and smoky minerals. Chewy and broad on entry, then more taut in the midpalate, offering intense, smoke-tinged citrus and orchard fruit flavors with honeysuckle, bitter quinine and toasty lees nuances. Delivers a solid punch but comes off lithe, displaying strong closing grip and resonating mineral and floral notes.  Drinking window 2019-2025.     92 points.

2015  Willamette Valley Chardonnay

Brilliant straw-yellow. Fresh citrus and orchard fruit aromas, along with hints of dried fig, lemon zest and buttered toast. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering pear nectar and Meyer lemon flavors sharpened by a hint of spicy ginger. Finishes long and smooth, displaying a hint of smokiness and a building floral quality.  Drinking window 2019-2023.     90 points.

2015  Whistling Ridge Blanc  (Matello label)

Light bright yellow. Pungent dried pear, lemon pith and beeswax scents carry a subtle floral overtone. Chewy and dry on the palate, offering bitter pear skin and quinine flavors and a touch of Meyer lemon. Finishes with very good focus, cut and persistence, leaving a suave honeysuckle note behind.  Drinking window 2018-2021.     90 points.

2013  Deux Vert Vineyard Syrah "Fool's Journey"  (Matello label)

Bright violet. Smoke-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers on the nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that take a sweeter turn on the back half. Dusty tannins make a late appearance and add gentle grip to the smooth, energetic finish.  Drinking window 2019-2024.     90 points.

Vinous,  Josh Raynolds,  January 2018

2014  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Deep bright-hued red. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and red berry liqueur scents, along with a hint of candied flowers in the background. Fleshy and broad on entry and then more taut in the middle, offering bitter cherry, raspberry and rose pastille flavors that become more energetic and sweeter on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and spicy lift on the floral-accented, gently tannic finish, which leaves a suave Asian spice note behind.     92 points.

2014  Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

Brilliant red. Smoke-accented raspberry, cherry cola and candied rose scents, along with hints of star anise and white pepper. Silky, sweet and focused on the palate, offering juicy red fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that pick up a hint of cocoa on the back half. Sleek, harmonious tannins add shape to a smooth, persistent finish that leaves behind sappy red berry liqueur and Asian spice notes.       92 points.

2014  Bishop Creek Pinot Noir

Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, cherry, candied flowers and musky earth, backed by a touch of smokiness. Lively black raspberry and floral pastille flavors pick up hints of bitter chocolate and licorice with aeration. The clinging, focused finish features fine-grained, slow-mounting tannins and repeating floral character. Give this one a little air time.     91 points.

2014  Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir

Deep red. Lively and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh red fruit, floral and white pepper scents and a deeper cola nuance. Sappy and penetrating in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that turn sweeter with aeration. Blends depth and energy with a steady hand and finishes very long and smooth, displaying resonating spiciness and supple tannins that lend gentle grip.     91 points.

2014  Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Bright red. Aromas of fresh red berries, cola and five-spice powder are given depth by hints of licorice and cola. Silky, appealingly sweet and lively on the palate, offering raspberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. In the elegant style that marks Marcus Goodfellow's work, showing very good clarity and gentle tannins on the persistent finish.     90 points.

Purely Domestic Wine Report,  Doug Wilder,  Volume 5.3

2014  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay,  Richard's Cuvee

The nose is fresh, precise and full of bright citrus, pineapple sap and toast accented with pristine golden and green tree fruit. The palate shows beautiful layering on entry with subtle fruit that goes from crisp to ripe. The overriding character is one of wholeness without being overdone.  Drink 2016 – 2022.     94 points.

2014  Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

From vines planted in 1973, the nose is a bright and deeply extracted red fruit with licorice and spice box and notes of graphite. The palate is ripe and juicy on entry with fresh strawberry, cherry and floral. Silky with good acidity reminding of NECCO mint wafers. Drink 2016 – 2022.     91 points.

2014  Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

If looking for a great value, here it is! The nose is tomato, cherry and graphite all beautifully layered. Don’t let the light color hue dissuade you. The palate is lean and fresh with subtle and well-integrated cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Lively texture and nice balance.  Drink 2016 – 2023.     92 points.

International Wine Report,  Owen Bargreen,  Oregon: Vol. II  April 2017

2015  Pinot Gris Reserve,  "Clover"

This straw colored Pinot Gris wine begins with aromatics of nectarine, pink grapefruit blossom, freshly cut hay and suggestions of baked apple. There are rich flavors of ripe pear, strarfruit, wild mushroom risotto, orange zest and hints of nutmeg. This is lovely Gris from a hot vintage. Best 2017-2022.     90 points.

2014  Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

This limited production Pinot Noir is sourced from vines set on volcanic soils from a vineyard first planted in 1973. As it begins to open it releases rich aromatics of guava puree, black cherry, black tea and pomegranate seed. There are ripe flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, eucalyptus, forest floor and strawberry jam. Fruity and mineral driven, this shows wonderful range. While exceedingly delicious now, this wine will show beautifully for at least another decade. Best 2017-2027.     92 points.

2014  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2014 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir begins with lovely aromatics of black cherries, black tea, cola and black truffle which are all beautifully replicated on the palate. This has wonderful fruit forward flavors, while maintaining elegance and is slightly less earthy than the ’13 bottling, but is every bit as good.  Best 2017-2024.     90 points.

2013  Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Durant Vineyard is a historic site that was planted in 1973 and is set on Jory soil. This lovely Pinot Noir begins with aromatics of red cherry, Rose petals, guava purée and hints of orange rind. The palate is lithe and polished, showing rich flavors of guava, pomegranate seed, blood  orange, red cherry and cranberry sauce. The rich texture shows its class in this generally challenging vintage for Pinot Noir. There is a seamless quality to this wine that accentuates the gorgeous red fruit flavors.  Best 2017-2027.     92 points.

2013  Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Sourced from the Whistling Ridge Vineyard, a small, 14 acre site, which is set on Willakenzie soil, this translucent colored Pinot Noir wine begins with aromatics of cola, black truffle, forest floor and black cherry. There are rich flavors of cranberries, pomegranate, cherry pie and forest floor. Enticing and delicate, this is a wonderful Pinot Noir to drink approach now.  Best 2017-2024.     90 points.