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Crowley Wines 2015 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
2015 Pinot Noir
This Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is truly a blend of vineyard locations. The wine is made from grapes grown at the La Colina and Tuckwilla vineyards in the Dundee Hills and the Four Winds Vineyard in the coast range.
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, baking spice, and a hint of tannin, it’s a perfect complement for a great Thanksgiving meal.
A Cellar 503 selection in November 2017, Thanksgiving Wines Willamette Valley | Pinot Noir