2017 DION Old Vines Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., $60. This winery produces an exceptional lineup of wines from the 60-acre estate DION Vineyard. This limited release bottling is produced from vines planted in 1976 on the 10-acre Winery Block. The Pommard vines are self-rooted and non-irrigated. The winery’s most special wine. · Clearly a special wine, with aromas of exotic spices, black stone and berry fruits along with dark rose petal. Bolder and riper in this vintage in a mid-weight plus style offering delicious flavors of black raspberry and blackberry fruits framed by modest fine-grain tannins. Impeccably balanced, with a surge of black cherry goodness exhumed over time in the glass on the long finish. A very classy old vines treasure that scores in the 93-94 range. Note: the 2015 Old Vines Pinot Noir ($55, my score 93) and 2016 Old Vines Pinot Noir ($60, my score 96) are still available. The winery’s Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, based on Dijon clones, is also a consistent star in the winery’s Pinot Noir lineup. I am not sure this wine has been released as of yet. Score: 93-94. Reviewed February 17, 2020

Winery: DION Vineyard
From article: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay I Highly Recommend