PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
REX HILL calls this bottling "far from an entry-level Pinot," and once you understand how it's actually built, the claim holds up. Rather than sourcing from a single vineyard or even a single sub-AVA, this Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a deliberate blend of grapes from more than ten distinct vineyards spanning every corner of the entire Willamette Valley appellation — including sites outside REX HILL's own estate holdings that rank among the most well-regarded in the entire region. It's a genuinely different philosophy from the single-vineyard bottlings REX HILL has built its 30-plus-year reputation on, but the same commitment to complexity and terroir expression carries through: this is a wine engineered specifically to showcase what blending across sites, rather than isolating a single one, can achieve.
The Willamette Valley itself is one of the most consequential Pinot Noir regions in the world, often described as the bridge between California's fruit-forward style and Burgundy's more restrained, earth-driven tradition — a cool, moist climate shaped by Pacific Ocean influence, subdivided into six distinct sub-appellations including Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, and Yamhill-Carlton, with two-thirds of its vineyards farmed sustainably and more than half certified organic. The 2021 vintage draws its character from precisely that diversity: spice-driven, with restrained fruit, herbal undertones, and pretty floral notes of lavender and violet running throughout — a wine built for genuine layered complexity rather than simple, straightforward fruit.
Wine Spectator awarded 93 Points, calling it "sleek and expressive, with vibrant cherry and pomegranate flavors that take on rose petal and spiced tea accents as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast's Michael Alberty found "blackcap raspberry and orange-peel aromas arrive first, followed by earthy notes of oregano, rosemary and wet cedar bark," a medium-bodied wine where "moderate acidity and grippy tannins support damson plum, strawberry and cinnamon flavors," specifically recommending it with a pork bánh mì sandwich. A separate tasting found the wine opening "with an alluring bouquet: steeped plums, sage and ashen stones." Wine.com's own consolidated notes describe ripe red cherry and juicy raspberry on the nose, with a subtle hint of pine tips adding freshness, the scent of wet ferrous soil bringing genuine terroir presence, and brambly black berries, black tea leaves, and sweet tobacco layering in depth — the palate delivering fine, round tannins and a finish graced with subtle vanilla bean. This is precisely the kind of thoughtfully assembled, genuinely complex Pinot Noir that makes the "entry-level" label feel entirely wrong.
REX HILL has been making elegant Pinot Noir for more than 30 years in the Willamette Valley, at what the winery itself describes as the gateway to Oregon's wine country. While the estate is best known for honoring exceptional single vineyards through its more prestigious bottlings, the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir takes a deliberately different approach: a blend drawn from more than ten vineyards spanning every corner of the Willamette Valley AVA, including outside grower sites that rank among the most well-regarded in the entire region, alongside REX HILL's own estate holdings.
The Willamette Valley AVA is Oregon's largest and most influential wine region, stretching from the Columbia River in the north down to Eugene in the south, subdivided into six recognized sub-appellations: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton District, and Eola-Amity Hills. The region's mild, cool, and moist climate — shaped by the cold winds of the nearby Pacific Ocean — provides consistently ideal conditions for Pinot Noir, and Willamette Valley producers have led the way on sustainability, with roughly two-thirds of the region's vineyards farmed sustainably and more than half certified organic. The 2021 blend is specifically crafted for complexity and weight, drawing on the range of terroir the broader appellation offers rather than concentrating on a single site.
Wine Spectator — 93 Points:
"Sleek and expressive, with vibrant cherry and pomegranate flavors that take on rose petal and spiced tea accents as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins."
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points (Michael Alberty):
"Blackcap raspberry and orange-peel aromas arrive first, followed by earthy notes of oregano, rosemary and wet cedar bark. This is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir, where the moderate acidity and grippy tannins support damson plum, strawberry and cinnamon flavors. Try it with a pork bánh mì sandwich."
James Suckling 91 Points:
"Plenty of fruit with strawberries, crushed raspberries, cherries and some grilled herbs. Medium-bodied with silky tannins. Round, juicy and fruity, with such a delicate touch on the palate. Smooth and well balanced with a delicious finish."
Vinous 91 Points:
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley opens in the glass with an alluring bouquet: steeped plums, sage and ashen stones. This juicy, soothing effort has a core of brisk acidity enlivening its wild berry fruits. Sweet herbs combine with savory spice through the long and refreshing finale as hints of fine tannin add youthful poise."
Nose
Blackcap raspberry and orange peel lead, joined by ripe red cherry and juicy raspberry brightness, with a subtle hint of pine tips adding freshness. Earthy notes of oregano, rosemary, and wet cedar bark ground the fruit, alongside steeped plums, sage, and ashen stones. Pretty floral notes of lavender and violet add delicate lift.
Palate
Medium-bodied, with vibrant cherry and pomegranate flavors taking on rose petal and spiced tea accents as the wine builds richness through medium-grained, grippy tannins. Damson plum, strawberry, and cinnamon carry through, layered with wet ferrous soil, brambly black berries, black tea leaves, and sweet tobacco for genuine depth and complexity.
Finish
Fine and round tannins carry the close, with subtle notes of vanilla bean gracing the finish. Sleek and expressive throughout — moderate acidity keeps the wine lively rather than heavy, a genuinely layered close for a wine built from more than ten distinct vineyard sites.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Willamette Valley AVA — Oregon |
| Variety | Pinot Noir |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Winery | REX HILL |
| Estate History | 30+ years making Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley |
| Sourcing | Blend of 10+ vineyards across the entire Willamette Valley AVA, including estate and outside grower sites |
| Region | Oregon's largest AVA, spanning 6 sub-appellations |
| Sub-Appellations | Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton District, Eola-Amity Hills |
| Farming (regional) | ~2/3 sustainably farmed, >50% organic across the Willamette Valley |
| Critics | Wine Spectator 93 Points · Wine Enthusiast reviewed · James Suckling reviewed |
| Style / Identity | Spice-driven, layered, multi-vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — restrained fruit, herbal, floral |
| Aromas & Flavors | Blackcap raspberry, orange peel, oregano, rosemary, wet cedar, damson plum, strawberry, cinnamon, cherry, pomegranate, rose petal, spiced tea, lavender, violet |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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