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Crowley Wines 2014 Pinot Noir
"We cannot improve on nature."
Tyson Crowley and Evan Roberts are serious wine geeks. But in the best possible way. If you're lucky enough to spend some time with them in the winery, you'll find yourself immersed in the best techniques of winemaking with none of the pretension.
You'll also find yourself talking to two guys who are as passionate about where the grapes come from as they are in process of making it. In fact, for a pair of guys who don't own one, they're pretty obsessed with finding exactly the right vineyards.
As proud members of the Deep Roots Coalition, Tyson and Evan are committed to working with family-owned vineyards that don't irrigate and practice low-impact farming. The vineyards they partner with are LIVE Certified or certified organic, and they work closely with their growers to ensure that the grapes in their wine truly represent the land, climate, and season.
When making wine, they take a very light touch - eschewing additives, using native yeasts, and neutral oak. As Tyson puts it, "we value purity of expression over stylized wines and hold essential the belief that we cannot improve on nature."
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Crowley Wines, Portland, Oregon
2014 Pinot Noir
This Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is truly a blend of vineyard locations. The wine is made from each of the storied sites that that Tyson and Evan purchase fruit from: La Colina Vineyard, Tuckwilla Vineyard, and Gehrts Vineyard, all in the Dundee Hills.
And this wine is 100% free run. In other words, the juice was extracted through the weight of the grapes in the tank, not by using a mechanical press to force the juice out. The free-run approach makes for lighter-bodied wines that have more sweet fruit flavors.
The Crowley edition is a classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, approachable and easy to drink. Bursting with cherry flavor, it makes a statement - but with layers of cranberries, spice, and a touch of earth, it's a perfect complement for a great Thanksgiving meal.
A Cellar 503 selection in November 2016, A Friendsgiving Thanksgiving Willamette Valley | Pinot Noir