2019 Ashlyn Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 750 ml

The 2019 Ashlyn Pinot Noir—primarily sourced from an Eola-Amity Hills vineyard located three miles from the winery—is one of the top Willamette Valley Pinot values we’ve ever offered.

Winemakers Bryan and Shellie Croft, both alums of Napa’s renowned Silverado Vineyards, specialize in no-frills, quality-obsessed winemaking that often results in some of the very best deals coming out of Oregon.

Their passion is for delicate, elegant, low-alcohol Pinot, and in 2019—described by Vinous as belonging in “a golden age for high-quality Pinot Noirs from across Oregon”—they hit a grand slam.

Putting aside all the comparisons and regional pedigree, just pour yourself a glass and you’ll understand just how outstanding this wine is. The light touches—a subtle nose, a finely layered palate, and notes of dried flowers and herbs, citrus rind, forest floor, and savory spices—reflect a Burgundian sensibility, yet there’s quiet power here too.

Thanks to the Crofts’ dedication to organic farming and their meticulous care of the vines, you get the unfiltered effect of Eola-Amity Hills terroir: The low-fertility soils—shallow layers of sedimentary rocks mixed with volcanic basalt formed by ancient lava flows—give grapes that are small and packed with intensity, while the cool, marine-influenced climate guarantees fresh acidity.

Bryan and Shellie did everything right, down to the judicious use of 15 months in just 10% new oak—but it was Mother Nature that sealed the deal.

According to Vinous, 2019 continued the winning streak Willamette Valley has experienced almost continuously over the past two decades, so you’ll have to look pretty far before you find another Pinot like this one.