I’ve been on the hunt for “cool local wine” and this is exactly what I had in mind. Winemaker Alex Nealy is “producer of neo-natural non-interventionist experimental wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.” Lagrein is a northern Italian varietal that apparently does very well in the costal mountains of the Willamette Valley. This is local natural wine at its best -- gently foot trodden daily for a week, nothing added, and only 66 cases produced in 2021.
This is my top red wine pick for Fall 2023. Serve with a slight chill and you’ll get a surprise burst of juicy fruit in your mouth with each sip. With a nose you’ll want to plunge into and a palate that springs you right back, it’s like jumping on a wine trampoline!
Grapes: Lagrein 100%
Region: Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Good To Know: ENJOY CHILLED! Single Vineyard Old Wagon Road, Organic, LIVE Certified Sustainable, ambient yeast, unfiltered, neutral oak aging