Yamhill-Carlton Due North Pinot Noir

The Due North Pinot Noir from Abbott Claim is a site specific and ltd bottling, produced from the first vines planted atop the ridge in 2001. As the name suggests, the vineyard parcel faces north, a unique aspect on the property. 

The vines are also surrounded by trees, notably a dense forest to its western border that blows cool air through the block, where a seasonal creek runs and white truffles grow. With a singular microclimate, the soil at the top of the hill is also a little deeper and richer. Unfined and unfiltered.

To preserve the integrity and natural character of the vineyard, grapes were strictly hand-sorted, completely destemmed, and then fermented using native yeast in an oak vessel. The wines were then aged eighteen months in French oak barrels and kept unfined and unfiltered ahead of bottling.

The result is a reference point Oregon Pinot Noir, with bags of tension and structure. A core of pure and sappy black and red cherry fruit make for an attractive wine today, but this is clearly built for the long haul. 

"Abbott Claim’s ascent has been exciting to watch over the years. The 2023s set a new benchmark for quality. The team produces a small, focused range of wines that excel from top to bottom. I look forward to tasting the Temperance Hill Chardonnay from the Eola-Amity Hills and the Due North Pinot Noir from Yamhill-Carlton each year." Vinous