2016 Gathered Stones Hopewell Hills

Just 225 cases of single-vineyard wine made by Mark Tarlov's Chapter 24 outfit, with advice from Louis-Michel Liger-Belair of Vosne-Romanée. Similar to Highland Close, this parcel is a complicated place of black, red, and white fractured basalt with barely any topsoil. Time has worn the ancient rocks into small flat stones that wind like a river around the belly of the vineyard’s 1.47 acres (0.6 ha). 340 feet (104 m) elevation. Smells as though there may have been a bit of whole bunch in here. Very stony nose and then followed by masses of really quite opulent, intense fruit. Really quite rich. Tastes as though the summer was quite warm but it finishes clean and zesty. Raspberry-liqueur notes. (JR)

This is one of Rose & Arrow's "articulate" wines. Sourced from a vineyard at 340 feet in elevation planted on black, red and white basalt, the medium to deep ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Hopewell Hills—Gathered Stones opens with some tarry/sulfur aromas, giving way with aeration to a black fruit and dark earth core. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with warm black cherries and dried blackberry fruit with touches of violet, dried leaves and earth plus a strong line of rocky minerality. It’s structured by powerful but elegant tannins, juicy acidity and a very long, layered finish. Those reductive aromas dissipated by the second day the bottle was open. 225 cases produced.

The new project from the Chapter 24 team that focuses in on niche areas of Willamette Valley rather than creates regional blends as seen in the Chapter 24 wines. These are a surprising jump in quality and nuance thanks partially too to a shift in the local winemaking team, and the consulting work of Pedro Parra to identify unique blocks of vineyards in the area, which are then vinified and bottled in small quantities. Iron and crushed black rocks on the nose with an ultra-stony presence on the palate. More bones than flesh compared with the Worden Hill Black Walnut Pinot Noir, but quite pleasing with a serious mineral drive. Ultra-savoury at the front of the palate followed by a savoury, energetic, long finish. An exciting wine and unique for the region. (ECB)