Cameron Pinot noir Willamette Valley 2010

Review:

Attention! This dynamite value Pinot will be gone in a flash. Dark fruits and herbs, fuller in texture and structure while being totally sip-able. It took the winery a few hours (literally!) to sell their production of 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot noir. Our stash is in the warehouse - 6 cases unspoken for and then it's gone! - Marcus

2010 Vintage

We caught John Paul in the middle of pruning Nebbiolo vines in his Clos Electrique Vineyard, wearing his muddied Euro-racing-stripes jump suit/coveralls. We descended into the dank and chilly cellar to taste 2009's still in barrel. Hot damn - he's sitting on some killer juice, to be released in the fall...

What doesn't make it into Cameron's other Pinots becomes the Willamette Valley. All Dundee Hills, from the best neighborhood in Oregon (Worden Hill Road outside of Dundee), these misfit barrels band together. Drinks like a Bourgogne rouge, with high-toned red fruits, clove, and pepper that moves throughout the nose and palate. Simply put - a screaming deal.

About the Winemaker

John Paul is so low key, he's underground like a wine cave.

He's mentioned in the same breath as John Thomas (Thomas Wines), Russ Raney (Evesham), Doug Tunnell (Brick House), and Brian O'Donnell (Belle Pente). All are low key winemakers who dry farm, waiting patiently for years for their vines to develop the inimitable, elusive, unforgettable qualities of the best Pinot noir.

As founder of Oregon’s Dry Roots Coalition (all of the above winemakers are members,) John Paul is the state’s foremost practitioner of the philosophy of environmentally sound, low water usage dry farming of vineyards.