Evening Land La Source Seven Springs Estate Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2015

The 2015 La Source Pinot Noir comes from vines grown at the very top of Seven Springs. With the slope reaching 700 feet in elevation, Evening Land's Dijon clones of Pinot Noir struggle with rocky soils and daily wind from the Van Duzer Gap. The Dijon clones and the stressful conditions conspire to produce small berries and tight clusters resulting in a focused, complex, and mineral-driven expression that serves as a benchmark for Oregon Pinot Noir.

The La Source block at Seven Springs is harvested by hand. Gentle handling of the fruit throughout fermentation insures a supple, texturally finegrained wine. The 2015 La Source Pinot Noir was raised in 25% new French oak barrels and was bottled without fining or filtering.

Wine Spectator: 94
Polished and well-structured, with expressive rose petal and sassafras aromas and dynamic blackberry, licorice and spice flavors that billow toward plush tannins.

Wine Advocate: 92
Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir la Source Seven Springs Vineyard has a lovely savory nose with aromas of charcuterie, toasted cardamom, forest floor, potpourri, perfume and bramble berry. Medium-bodied, it has a great silky texture opening to tart wild blackberries, cracked pink peppercorn and savory/meaty touches, with a firm frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with mineral accents. The Seven Springs vineyard was planted in 1984 in Eola-Amity Hills and has been farmed biodynamically since 2008. The Anden Pinot Noir is made with the oldest fruit in the vineyard and which, after three very warm vintages, is beginning to succumb to phylloxera. 2017 may well be the last vintage of these old vines.

Wine Advocate: 92

Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir la Source Seven Springs Vineyard has a lovely savory nose with aromas of charcuterie, toasted cardamom, forest floor, potpourri, perfume and bramble berry. Medium-bodied, it has a great silky texture opening to tart wild blackberries, cracked pink peppercorn and savory/meaty touches, with a firm frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with mineral accents. The Seven Springs vineyard was planted in 1984 in Eola-Amity Hills and has been farmed biodynamically since 2008. The Anden Pinot Noir is made with the oldest fruit in the vineyard and which, after three very warm vintages, is beginning to succumb to phylloxera. 2017 may well be the last vintage of these old vines.