2017 Winter's Hill Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Willamette Valley 750 ml

This is one of the biggest Pinot bargains we offer—not just in the Willamette Valley, but California, Burgundy, bar none. 

The follow-up to the bottle named one of Wine & Spirits Magazine’s Year’s Best U.S. Pinot Noirs, the 2017 Winter’s Hill is a mouthwatering classic, a Dundee Pinot from a family-run estate that shares prime Willamette Valley terroir with blue-chip neighbors Archery Summit and Domaine Drouhin. 

This price for an estate-grown Pinot reminds us of Oregon’s early days—and one sip will remind you why the Dundee Hills are home to some of the state’s Pinot greats. The nose is centered around red fruits like candied raspberry, red cherry, and crushed red plum. It’s vibrant and juicy, with tones of cherry cola, hibiscus flower, and tamarind, and a streamlined mouthfeel that’s clean, elegant, and lifted. 

The Dundee Hills AVA is where the viticultural pioneers of Willamette Valley planted the first vines over 50 years ago, and it has proven itself as an epicenter of Pinot Noir that shows Burgundian grace. The Winter’s Hill property, which has been in the Gladhart family for seven decades, boasts a location that would be the envy of any grower.  

“At 500-750 feet of elevation, we’re at a sweet spot for Pinot Noir,” winemaker Russell Gladhart told us, as we looked down upon some of their more famous neighbors. “We’re sloped to the south, on the western side of the AVA, so we get a little more of the ocean breeze. That makes it a slightly cooler site, which is a real benefit, especially in warmer vintages.” 

That coolness, plus the red, volcanic Jory soil that is prized for producing the most delicate and ethereal Pinots in the country, pays off in a Winter’s Hill wine of gorgeous grace. The stellar vineyard qualities give Russell little reason to look beyond his family’s 35 acres of vines. 

“What’s special about us is that we are 100 percent estate,” Russell said. “As a winemaker, it allows me to learn from the vineyard year after year. You get more comfortable with the vines, how they react to different vintages.”

Wine Access Pinot fans know to keep an eye out for Russell’s exceptional Pinots every vintage. Boasting a level of all-estate quality at an unheard-of price, this is a Willamette Valley Pinot made to pack away by the case. Get in on it, and get in on one of the best-kept secrets in the Willamette Valley.