Cuvée Ruth is an Eola-Amity bottling to show the capacity of the Willamette Valley region to produce classic Pinot Noir. Fruit from several sites includes local ‘grand cru’ vineyards like Temperance Hill and X Novo. The clarity of red fruit is impressive, and aromas of wild lavender and alpine herbs meld with bright raspberry and cranberry notes. The palate leans heavily into freshness. Savoury chicory root notes and glinty minerality frame a canvas of wild red and blue berry fruits, all accented with a kiss of fresh wintergreen that lifts the finish.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Cuvée Ruth is sourced from several vineyards planted on volcanic soils, including Justice, Koosah, Sojeau, Temperance Hill, Witness Tree, Bracken and X Novo. A 5% dash of whole bunches was used and the wine matured for 10 months in 30% new French oak. It will require some time in a decanter for its initial flinty reduction to give way to strawberry, raspberry, blood orange, licorice, lavender and spices. The light-bodied palate is punctuated by bright pops of juicy, perfumed fruit and citrusy top notes. It has very fine, tea-textured tannins, shimmery acidity and a long, layered finish. 825 cases were made.

Darkly alluring and intense from the first tilt of the glass, the 2022 Pinot Noir Cuvée Ruth wafts up with a bouquet of dusty rose and ashen stones, giving way to lavender-laced blackberries and spice. This is wonderfully soft and round with ripe wild berry fruits and juicy acidity that maintains liveliness throughout. The slightest tug of fine tannin remains, along with hints of tart cranberry and orange zest, as the 2022 finishes staining and long yet still fresh. The Cuvée Ruth is wonderfully complex and refined, making it a fantastic value.