Bow & Arrow’s wine roster is loaded with insanely affordable talent, and if you’re unaware at this point, you’re simply not paying attention! We’ve spent years spreading the gospel by steadily rolling out their Oregon Pinot Noirs, Gamays, and cutting-edge blends, and have even gone so far as to offer three of their delicious cuvées in the past six months—more than any other producer this year. No, we’re not receiving kickbacks, nor do we have an equity stake in their business; we just love the wines. What makes Bow & Arrow truly special is that the wines are in no way reminiscent of typical, best-in-class “West Coast'' reds.
Owners Scott and Dana Frank are working in homage to the fresh, crunchy reds of Loire Valley, the silky pedigree of Burgundy, and the high-spirited energy of Cru Beaujolais. Amazingly, “Time Machine” marries all three: Not only is it an invigorating fusion of sustainably sourced Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cabernet Franc throughout the Willamette Valley, but it also expertly avoids oak spice and overripe fruit, all while clocking in at a cool 12.5%. The result is a thirst-quenching yet thought-provoking red blend that everyone can afford. That, however, doesn’t make it any less limited: What little is bottled mostly stays in Oregon and a fraction of that has only been shared with our Northern California market twice. This truly is a handmade, small-batch wine that doesn’t hang around long after release—act quick!
Scott and Dana Frank live in Portland, Oregon. By day, Scott is a wholesale wine distributor, and by night he is a stay-at-home father. Scott’s wife, Dana, trades off daytime parenting duties for a nighttime career as one of Portland’s most respected sommeliers and restaurateurs. On top of all this, the young family still finds a way to oversee a treasure trove of organically farmed vineyards with which they hand-produce a few barrels of exceptional wine under the label Bow & Arrow. Their single-vineyard Pinot Noirs are reliably outstanding and their Gamay is routinely included in lists dedicated to promoting the top wine value; today’s combines both of those grapes while infusing Cabernet Franc as well.
Bow & Arrow achieves this impressive balance and freshness by harvesting their Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cabernet Franc from their sustainable- and organic-farming partners throughout Willamette Valley. Next, they preserve terroir character by treating the wine very gently with no excessive technology or addition of sulfites. In the cellar, a portion of the fruit remained in whole clusters and the semi-carbonic vinification accentuates aromatics and freshness. After a brief maturation in both stainless steel vessels and properly used French barriques, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. You may notice there is no vintage designation for today’s—that’s entirely by design. We can safely assume this fruit came from 2020, Scott isn’t focused on calling out the vintage, instead, he’s concerned about what the end product tastes like. In order to produce as pure and expressive a wine as is humanly possible, Scott Frank bottles “Rhinestones” relatively early in its evolution. Consequently, you’ll discover a small amount of CO2 when you first pull the cork, meaning the wine requires proper rest before truly finding itself. Rest assured these are not “flaws” or mistakes. Rather, they are the results of a skilled winemaker who works without safety nets in the cellar.
As with most Bow & Arrows reds, “Time Machine” requires a touch of oxygen and the right temperature before showing its best. I suggest at least 30 minutes in a decanter (a carefree “glug-glug” decant is recommended) and then serving in Burgundy stems a bit cooler, around 55 degrees. This wine has so many comparisons: Imagine a marriage between Chinon, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, and Moulin-au-Vent but with the just-ripe notes and subtle minerality of an elegant Willamette Valley red of high quality. You’ll uncover delicate notes of damp wild strawberry, red cherry, huckleberry, plum skin, pomegranate seeds, tobacco leaf, crushed stone, struck match, lavender, and crushed rose petals. The live-wire palate is elegant, crunchy, and pulsing with wonderful energy that carries into a vibrant crescendo of soft minerals and nervy fruit. This is meant to be enjoyed now and often—that said, I’ve been delighted with the aging capacity of many Bow & Arrow bottlings in the past and wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it developing new dimensions of savoriness in 2-3 years’ time. Enjoy!
