Martin Woods Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Koosah Vineyard | 2022

Pronounced "Koo-Zaa," like a Koozie, the Koosah vineyard is a special place. Translating to "Beautiful Ceiling of the Sky," in an old native dialect, it was recently planted in 2016 by the French juggernaut, Louis Jadot. As the climate shifts warmer, newly planted vineyards are pushing the boundaries of elevation, once thought to be too high for grapes to ripen. Koosah is the highest site in the Eola-Amity Hills district, starting at 840 feet and stretching to 1,200. The crème de la crème of Oregon sources fruit from this volcanic site, including Jadot's Résonance project and Walter Scott. Evan Martin's Pinot vines are east-facing and winemaking is smooth-handed using 10% layered stems, long 26 day-plus macerations, less aggressive punch-downs, and maturation in older barrels. Koosah is pure Alpine in the glass, soaring with sweet resin and tall tree spice. On the palate, the fruit is a mix of cool red and blacks along with tangy blood orange. Perfectly ripe with long legs of acidity and melty tannins, Koosah is an outdoorsy delight, a next-level (literally) Pinot Noir to keep in your Oregon pocket for a very long time. ~Allegra A