Résonance, Willamette Valley (Oregon) Pinot Noir 2018

($35):  In 2013, the venerable Beaune-based négociant, Maison Louis Jadot, made their first acquisition outside of Burgundy when they purchased the 20-acre Resonance vineyard located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA.  It was a unique site since it had been planted almost exclusively to Pinot Noir, and had always been farmed organically and without irrigation, according to Pierre-Henri Gagey, the President of Maison Louis Jadot.  They used name of the vineyard for the project, adding the accent over the first “e,” which has the potential for some confusion among consumers since now they make more than one wine.  They’ve gradually expanded by buying other vineyards and building a winery.  Their focus remains on Pinot Noir, with three separate bottlings, two single vineyard ones, one from the Résonance Vineyard and one from a more recently acquired site, Découverte Vineyard in nearby Dundee Hills AVA, and this one, a blend of their grapes and purchased ones from other sites in the Willamette Valley.  Think of this one as a négociant bottling as opposed to the other two, which are estate wines.  A more delicate style of Pinot Noir compared to ones from California, Résonance’s Willamette Valley bottling is fruit-focused at this stage.  A hint of savory notes — enticing herbal ones — emerge as it sits in the glass.  Fine tannins make it perfect for current consumption.
90 Michael Apstein Dec 1, 2020