Above the Clouds
A bright and expressive Willamette Valley blend.
Above the Clouds
A bright and expressive Willamette Valley blend.
“...Bright cherry and raspberry notes, courtesy of the Dundee Hills, mingling with the darker plum and subtle savory hints characteristic of the Eola-Amity Hills. A touch of violet and fresh earth from the Chehalem Mountains adds aromatic complexity, while a grounding note of dark berry and a hint of spice from the Yamhill-Carlton provides depth.”
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Vineyards
A blend of four distinct Willamette Valley regions: Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity, Chehalem Mtns, and Yamhill-Carlton.
Tasting Notes
A darker‑styled Pinot Noir from this producer, the 2023 Above the Clouds from Benmar opens with the juicy richness of black cherry and black raspberry, warmed by cedarwood spice and enlivened by tangerine peel and grapefruit zest. The nose deepens with crushed raspberry, wild cherry and pomegranate, offset by wild herbs, rose petal and forest‑floor. On the palate, sinewy, crisp tannins support a saline‑tinged core that pulses with redcurrant, cranberry and strawberry fruit. Intense minerality and a whisper of black tea anchor the mid‑palate, while the finish drifts into cocoa‑powder, conifer and lingering brine—a hauntingly savoury, vibrant expression of high‑elevation Willamette Pinot.
Food pairing
Seafood, grilled or roast meats, root vegetables and risotto.
Wine rating
95 points Decanter
95