Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Winderlea – Pinot Noir – 2021
Dundee Hills AVA – Willamette Valley, Oregon 🇺🇸

Overview
An elegant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, sourced from vineyards planted in the 1970s on the region’s hallmark volcanic Jory soils. Known for finesse and purity, Winderlea delivers a beautifully balanced expression of Pinot that showcases the red-fruited, spice-laced personality that defines classic Dundee Hills.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherry, wild raspberry, and cranberry purity, supported by notes of rose petal, subtle baking spice, and a whisper of forest floor. Nothing jammy, everything is lifted, clean, and precise.

Mouthfeel
Ultra-silky tannins with a soft, seamless texture. High, clean acidity keeps the wine energetic, refreshing, and food-loving. The finish is long, elegant, and gently spiced.

Food Pairings
The ultimate fondue Pinot: the wine’s acidity cuts through melted cheese, while its soft tannins and red-fruit delicacy elevate Gruyère, Emmental, raclette, or alpine-style cheeses. Also wonderful with mushroom dishes, roasted poultry, charcuterie boards, or herbed salmon.

Verdict
A benchmark Dundee Hills Pinot, refined, understated, and deeply expressive. Its purity of fruit, silky frame, and signature volcanic spice make it one of the most fondue-friendly reds in the game. A true pleasure to drink.

Did You Know?
Dundee Hills’ iconic red Jory soils, ancient volcanic ash, are famous for imprinting Pinot with subtle cinnamon-clove spice and a natural roundness. Many of Oregon’s pioneering vineyards were planted here in the 1970s specifically for these qualities.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: My go-to Pinot Noir for fondue night, nothing pairs better with alpine cheese than Dundee Hills elegance. — 22 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

A very decent Pinot Noir sourced from the Winderlea Vineyard, located right in the very heart of the Dundee Hills AVA, it is fully Biodynamic certified and the company is B Certified as well. The predominant soil and access to the vineyard is volcanic with a south-faced slope, and elevation up to 580ft above sea level. Some of the vines were planted as far back as 1974 utilizing Dijon clones from Burgundy.

Loved the aromatics and some of the complexity layers ranging from dark cherry fruit, floral notes and a mix of spices.
The acidity on the palate is bight, vivacious and concours with the nose on the dark cherries, blackberries and the array of spices. Pleased with the structure and mouthfeel, some subtle touch of herbs and nicely balanced. Feel youthful and fresh. Small production. Nice to cellar it. Cheers! — 8 months ago

Doggfather

9.2

Really nice. It’s a newer world meets old world Pinot. — 5 years ago

Andrew Formi

9.2

Perfect Pinot I hope it logged in correctly — a month ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

Lovely Rose, dry with soft tones of cranberry and strawberry. Nice finish. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Winderlea Vineyard & Winery – Chardonnay 2018
Willamette Valley, Oregon – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
This isn’t just any Willamette Chardonnay — it’s a benchmark. Crafted from a mosaic of top vineyards: Carabella (35%) in Chehalem Mountains, Hyland (33%) & Meredith Mitchell (23%) in McMinnville, and Winderlea Estate (9%) in Dundee Hills. Together, they deliver harmony and terroir depth that rivals fine Burgundy, while staying true to Oregon character.

Aromas & Flavors
Rich layers of peach, apricot, and crisp apple glide seamlessly into notes of citrus zest and a subtle kiss of toasted oak. The aromatic lift is both elegant and generous, hinting at orchard blossoms with a faint mineral streak.

Mouthfeel
Succulent and textured, yet framed with precision. Bright acidity keeps it vibrant, while a creamy mid-palate offers weight and length. Still radiant in 2018, showing both freshness and polish.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented and aged in French oak barrels with a Burgundian sensibility, highlighting texture over heaviness. A balance of fruit purity and oak finesse.

Food Pairing
Perfect with butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken with herbs, or creamy risotto with chanterelles. Its lively acidity also makes it a stellar partner for soft cheeses.

Verdict
A standout Chardonnay from Oregon, balancing Burgundian elegance with Willamette soul. Priced above regional peers, but every sip justifies it. Truly one of the finest examples of Oregon Chardonnay in recent years. Cheers! — 4 months ago

Eric Burkhart

9.2

I thoroughly enjoyed this. — 6 years ago

Tegan Marriott

9.2

Aged to perfection. The 2011 vintage got a lot of slack from the critics but I think this is a really beautiful noir drop tonight! 😍 Sous bois, raspberry coulis, it's got the requisite tannins but not amplified. — a month ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Apple, pithy lemon, toasted brioche and hints of stone fruit. Great acidity and balance. — 4 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Cherry, raspberry, cranberry, currant, loamy earth and oak. Light-bodied and soft tannins. — 4 years ago