Sojourner

Immediately classy, this smells initially like something from one of the Cote d’Or’s more powerful communes, Nuit-St-George perhaps, with both floral and earthy notes competing with slightly wild, ferrous berry fruit. A sense of transparency runs through this.

On the palate there’s the tang of minerality that comes from volcanic soils, a richness that comes from earthy fruit, and then a dried flower and citrus rind note on the end. Over half an hour sees hints of Seville orange met with nori and a fascinating floral finish. The texture is fine silk; there are plums emerging with air and more orange peel notes married to a fine volcanic tang that says ‘Willamette Valley’. At once unctuous and fresh on the palate, the finish is long, complex, and lightly earthy with the fine, firm tannins lifting, rather than clipping, the lingering flavors.

A satisfying mid-palate weight also betrays an Oregon origin, but the overall shape is destined to appeal to those who love the tapering finishes of fine Burgundy. The Sojourner vineyard sits at 650ft directly in front of the Van Duzer corridor. It is one of the coolest sites Ken and Erica work with. They ferment with about 30% whole clusters and age the wine 15 months in 35% new French oak.