Abbott Claim Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District, USA 2018

VINTAGE : 2018

COUNTRY : USA

REGION/APPELLATION : Oregon, Yamhill-Carlton 

VARIETAL : Pinot Noir 

Before settler John F. Abbott “claimed” it, this swath of the Savannah Ridge was pristine meadow and forest. Then the Oregon Donation Land Law of 1850 brought settlers, farmers, and speculators here—to cultivate, abandon, and ultimately divide it. Over the years, we have reassembled the pieces into a vibrant mosaic of wild natural habitat and lovingly tended vines. History cannot be undone, but we have made it our mission to restore the ecology of this remarkable place.

When Alban Debeaulieu met Antony Beck, the two quickly realized they shared an intuitive understanding of the Willamette Valley’s promise, and an unwavering determination that drove them to fulfill this. Many philosophical conversations later, they began to design the Abbott Claim winery together, drawing upon their shared experience making wines in France, South Africa, and Oregon. For them, wine is not a luxury or novelty, but an essential part of life.

Alban was born outside of Paris and raised in the south of France in a family and landscape where wine was ever-present. He earned his master’s degree in Bourgogne and worked in Beaujolais and Beaune before coming to Oregon in 2013.

Vinous, Josh Raynolds 94 points