{"title":"Ribbon Ridge AVA","description":"\u003cp\u003eRibbon Ridge is prized for its understated elegance and precision. Compared to more powerful or structured neighboring AVAs, it delivers a softer, more refined expression of Oregon Pinot Noir built on balance, delicacy, and detail.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"somm2403-pgc22estoldvin-750","title":"2022 Patricia Green Cellars, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir \"Estate Old Vines\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMuch as we think we’ve got our fingers on the pulse, we’re nevertheless guilty of the occasional oversight. Case in point: This is the first Pinot Noir we’ve ever offered from Willamette Valley legend Patricia Green. We don’t know how this could be, exactly, but let’s not dwell on that—all that matters is that we’ve got a great one for you today. This is as “benchmark” as wine gets, regardless of region, and when you taste it, you’re reminded in no uncertain terms why Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has catapulted into the world’s top rank. This is a soulful, layered, soil-expressive Pinot Noir—one that even the most prideful Burgundian would be proud to call his\/her own—and it is priced well below what it could (and would) command if the label were French rather than Oregonian. It’s best-in-class stuff—our only regret is not getting you some sooner. Don’t miss out!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLocated in the Ribbon Ridge sub-ava of the Willamette Valley, Patricia Green Cellars was founded by namesake “Patty” Green and Jim Anderson, who purchased their 52-acre estate in 2000. Patty, who died suddenly in 2017 at just 62 years of age, was known as a tireless tender of her vines and a champion of sustainable viticulture—whether her fruit sources were her own, in Ribbon Ridge, or from contract growers elsewhere in the Willamette (the winery has long been known for its rather wide range of vineyard-designate Pinot Noirs from far-flung sources). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnderson has continued to produce the estate’s wines in the most natural and thoughtful manner possible, with this “Estate” bottling being perhaps the most idealized expression of their vision: The source vineyard for this site is dry-farmed (i.e. not irrigated), containing vines planted between 1984 and 2000. For this bottling, they incorporate between 50% and 100% whole grape clusters during fermentation (depending on the vintage), and age the wine in mostly used barrels, to let the fruit and soil character shine through. Here’s how Anderson describes it:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“The difference between the older and younger blocks here is always pretty amazing to people. As the vines continue to age, these older vines continue to sink deep root systems into the soft sandstone sub-soil. Our water is spring-fed and very minerally in nature. That is what these older vines have tapped into and that is what they pull up and put into the fruit.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis ’22 is, obviously, still “young,” but its class is evident from the first sip: The use of whole grape clusters is readily evident in the texture, which displays the kind of grip usually only found in high-end French Burgundies. But of course, the joy of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is that the loamy, sandy soil character is complemented by plenty of exuberant (but not over-ripe) American fruit. It’s packed with ripe black cherry, black raspberry, spiced Damson plum jam, and wild strawberries that soar out of a glass alongside candied violets, dewy rose, baking spice, forest floor, and wet rock. In the short term, give it a splash decant and serve it at 60-65 degrees in Burgundy stems, but don’t hesitate to lay down a few bottles for the longer term. This wine is just getting started—a fitting tribute to one of the visionary greats of Willamette Valley wine. Raise a toast to Patty Green and enjoy!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41975780802614,"sku":"SOMM2403-PGC22ESTOLDVIN-750","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2022PatriciaGreenCellars_WillametteValleyPinotNoirEstateOldVines_MainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1707843857"},{"product_id":"2023-ayres-ribbon-ridge-pinot-noir-perspectivesomm2502-ayr23pntper-750","title":"2023 Ayres, Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir \"Perspective\"","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you’ve been a Daily Discovery reader for longer than a year today’s feature should seem like an old friend, returned from a long journey, whom you are delighted to see. That’s because the Pinot Noirs made by Brad McLeroy under his label Ayres are among our most consistent best sellers of all time. If you’re a recent subscriber let me tell you why: Brad crafts some of the most engaging, elevated, and complex expressions of Willamette Valley terroir out there. And somehow he manages to do that at prices that are far below those of his peers and neighbors. The Ribbon Ridge “Perspective” was $30 five years ago, and it is $30 still today. It seems completely illogical (zero inflation here!), but ours is not to question, just to enjoy. That’s why we’ve offered this wine for so many vintages, and it’s also why you should grab as much as you can! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike the other sub-appellations of the Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge is a distinguished geological formation of uniform soils—a unique seabed uplift from the northwest peak of the Chehalem Mountains. It’s not the coolest place in the Willamette, nor is it the warmest, but hangs its hat on being one of the driest, with a long consistent growing season less susceptible to temperature spikes and uneven ripening. And with Pinot Noir, the less climatic twists and turns, the better. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter several years making wine under the brilliant wing of Veronique Drouhin (Domaine Drouhin) in the heart of the Dundee Hills, Brad McLeroy started out with just a few acres and has since built it to 20, mostly east-facing vines on ancient Willakenzie sediments. The McLeroys are the fortunate gatekeepers of their land. They farm their own vines, they make the wines on-site, and they live there—it doesn’t get more “artisanal” than that. No herbicides or pesticides have ever been used at the Ayres farm. All the vineyards are dry-farmed implementing organic practices, and the estate has been certified sustainable since 2007. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Perspective” is a blend of Ayres’ original estate vineyard, as well as the Armstrong vineyard, both are Ribbon Ridge sites. All hand-harvested fruit for this cuvée fermented with natural yeasts, with a small portion of whole-cluster fruit to enliven texture and add complexity in the finished wine. Before bottling, the wine spent just under one year in French oak, 15% new. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll this means dark-fruited, plush Pinot Noir that’s worlds away from being thick and extracted. Theirs is a Burgundian style that is remarkably light-handed. So, I recommend that you choose a Burgundy stem and pull the wine from a very cool cellar temperature (55F). After a quick 15-30-minute decant, the wine will warm slightly and its stunning aromas will unfurl. High-toned notes of fresh violets and crushed rose petals fill the immediate air, followed by ripe black cherry, wild raspberries, and a wonderful mix of black and red plums. Tea leaves, crushed stone, herbs, forest floor, and subtle baking spices also waft by with an elegant stride. On the palate, Ayres’ 2023 “Perspective” separates itself from the masses: Medium, silky-smooth tannins and lifted acidity are the essential framework but its the vibrant fruit and Ribbon Ridge minerality that serve as the enticing decorations. It’s an absolute joy to drink now, but these wines are no slouches in the aging department—should you want to track its evolution, you can expect 5-8 years of perfect cellaring. Enjoy this remarkable value!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43476275920950,"sku":"SOMM2502-AYR23PNTPER-750","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2023Ayres_RibbonRidgePinotNoirPerspective_MainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1739309243"},{"product_id":"1993-chehalem-pinot-noir-ridgecrestsomm2510-chlm93pntrdge-750","title":"1993 Chehalem, Pinot Noir, \"Ridgecrest\"","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"169\" data-end=\"531\"\u003ePlanted in the early 1980s in Ribbon Ridge, the site has rich soils, gentle slopes, and a cool climate that produces wines with balance and clarity. Chehalem Winery, founded in 1990, has always highlighted Ridgecrest as one of its best sites, and the 1993 Ridgecrest Pinot Noir captures that vision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"533\" data-end=\"1023\"\u003eThe 1993 vintage was cool, allowing the grapes to develop structure and depth. The wine shows a medium ruby color with hints of garnet. The nose offers black cherry, raspberry, forest floor, and subtle spice. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with firm, fine tannins, bright acidity, and flavors of dried red fruit, tea leaf, and earth. The finish is long and precise. This is a mature Oregon Pinot Noir that reflects the vineyard and the vintage, offering elegance and a sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44272748691510,"sku":"SOMM2510-CHLM93PNTRDGE-750","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/ChehalemPinotNoirRidgecrestVineyard.png?v=1761775228"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/collections\/willamette-valley-oregon.png?v=1778010623","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/collections\/ribbon-ridge-ava.oembed","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}