2014 Goodfellow Family Cellars, Pinot Noir, Bishop Creek Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Delicately layered and spicy the 2014 Bishop Creek is a pretty effort, especially for a richer vintage in Oregon, made by Marcus Goodfellow, the ex-Evesham Woods and Westerly man is coming into his own as a talent, inspired by Doerner of Cristom and John Paul of Cameron, you can see the style showing through here. Bishop Creek, planted to Pommard and Wadenswil (old Swiss clone), now owned by Nicolas Meo of the famed Burgundy Domaine Meo-Camuzet for his American Nicolas-Jay winery, in the Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton, not far from Shea Vineyards, formed this wine with it’s distinct strawberry and racy red cherry core along with the mixed spice, mineral tones and light wood influence, it’s southern exposure and Willakenzie soils (dark rocky marine sediment) gives warm and grace, planted in 1988 the vines ripen without flamboyant extraction, allowing more finesse to show through and at 13.9% this medium weight wine offers fine detail, opulence and restrained almost earthy soulfulness. Hints of bitter herb, cedar and candied citrus rind add a tangy note to the whole and the finish echoes the red fruits in subtle fashion with a touch of wilted roses lingering on. I was turned on to this lovely wine by the gang at Vinopolis Wine Shop in Portland, and it came highly recommended, and it shines right now, though best to enjoy it with cuisine to match as it a tad shier than other 2014 Oregon Pinots (I’ve tried) and needs time and coaxing to reach it’s beautiful peak, best from 2018 to 2022.
($30-40 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive
