2014 Purple Hands, Pinot Noir, Holstein Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Like the Etzel kids, Cody Wright is one of the next generation in Oregon wines, the son of Ken Wright, he is now one of the hot young winemakers to look for with his Purple Hands label, and he has reached a new level with the release of his 2014 single vineyard Pinots! After tasting through his awesome lineup, I was hard pressed to pick the best wine, honestly each and everyone of these 2014’s were beautifully detailed and exciting wines, especially this Holstein Vineyard from the red hills of Dundee, and the Latchkey Vineyard, also from Dundee fruit, but you need to check them all out, including the Shea, Freedom Hill, Stoller and the Barron-Wahl! I maybe chose to focus on the Holstein, because it was a touch more open and exotic with expressive fruit and gorgeous layered textures, but the Latchkey was not too far behind, these are rocking good wines that show the vintage’s glory to perfection. The Holstein starts with a mix of wilted rose, violet and flinty mineral along with racy red fruits as well as a sexy spicy presence, leading to a dense palate of red and black berry and cherry fruit as well as strawberry, dusty plum and tangy black currant. Young and fresh with vibrant vitality the Holstein Vineyard is all about the pure fruit, but the background notes of cedar, cinnamon, anise, minty herb and iron hint at the progressive future in store, this is going to be a complex and intriguing wine to watch over the next 15 to 20 years, it has everything in place to age well, balance, velvety, but firm tannins, a core of acidity behind the impressive rich fruit density, this is not a Pinot to miss, nor is this vintage in Oregon, it is beyond classic! After years helping his dad, Cody has picked out his own ideas and style, and he is crafting some very fine wines, Purple Hands should be on your radar.
($48 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
