Matello Pinot noir Willamette Valley 08
Matello Pinot noir Willamette Valley 08 - A "here today, gone tomorrow" wine. After Matt Kramer (Wine Spectator, The Oregonian) wrote this up last Sunday, the small production has all but disappeared. Why? The wine rocks. A distinctive nose of anise, dusty dark cherries, and cedar carries through to a surprisingly dense wash of dark fruits. Precise and vibrant, the Matello makes you think...about how you wish there was twice as much in your glass. In demand, and very limited. - Marcus
"A beautifully made wine with a lovely mid-palate density with a core of wild cherry and berry fruits, Matello "Willamette Valley" Pinot Noir 2008 shows just what the 2008 pinots are all about. Dense yet balanced, with supple tannins and ideal acidity, it's also still pretty tightly coiled. What you taste today is only a hint of what will emerge if the wine is given additional aging in a cool space."
At $19.95, it's a standout deal in terrific 2008 Oregon pinot noir. Oh, by the way, only 336 were produced. Get it while you're here -- and while you can." - Matt Kramer, The Oregonian
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2007 Vintage Tasting Notes
Matello Pinot noir Willamette Valley 07 - Raspberries, cream and earth combine into a seemless, drink-me-know Pinot. Marcus Goodfellow's Matello wines continue to impress us for their style, substance, and value. - Avalon
MORE INFORMATION
Indie”Producer with Hands-off Approach to Pinot
Matello is produced by one of the smallest wineries in Oregon, the Mad Wines Company, but still makes 4 Pinot Noir bottlings with a total production of around 500 cases. Proprietor and winemaker Marcus Goodfellow who has become a darling of the “indie” wine set in Portland, and is well-known in the food and beverage circles there.
Goodfellow has developed his winemaking skill through working closely with Amy Wesserman and David Autrey of Westery Winery. Matello sources fruit from several locations in the Willamette Valley, but in particular from one vineyard, Whistling Ridge in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, which lies directly above Beaux Freres Vineyards.
Marcus’ philosophy in winemaking is to let it be. That is a goal to allow the natural beauty of the fruit to be center stage and build up a perfectly balanced wine around it without manipulation. As such, Matello does not inoculate their fermentation with yeast, and they use little new oak for aging to add texture, without overwhelming the wines. This all makes for more interesting wines, even if it is a little more risky!
