Jessie James
Jessie James Vineyard Pinot Noir
The Wine
The Eola-Amity Hills is situated to the immediate east of the Van Duzer Corridor, the "air-conditioning" pathway through the Coast Range where marine air enters from the west and cools the Willamette Valley. the high-density (2,400 vines/acre), four-acre planting of vines at Jessie James is east-facing at high elevation‒ripening here is patient and harvest is usually the first week of October. Furthermore, the vineyard is in a rain shadow, allowing the grapes to reach peak maturity with less risk of botrytis rot. The Nekia soil (shallow, rocky volcanic basalt) provides appropriate stress to the plants, resulting in sparse canopies and loose clusters with small berries and thick skins. The wines display exceptional depth and complexity of structure and fruit, with freshness and compact intensity. We lease the vineyard from Jessica and James Lee, from whom the vineyard takes its name, and we farm according to organic principles.
Press
98 - Jeb Dunnuck: "Rich ruby-colored but transparent, the 2022 Pinot Noir Jessie James Vineyard is beautiful in the glass, with a floral and ripe perfume offering notes of framboise, light herbal notes, wild fresh herbs, and a touch of dark black fruit coming through, with black raspberries and dark stones. On the palate, it has a rich tannin structure, a ton of clarity (as all of Evanʼs wines tend to express), and a long finish. Itʼs going to benefit from more time. Drink 2026-2046..” - August 2024
97 - Decanter: "The Jessie James site is at over 200m in the Eola-Amity Hills. An eastern slope that's exposed to the cool winds of the Van Duzer Corridor. The vineyards were planted in 1996 and are organically farmed. Winemaker Evan Martin calls out the floral elements of the Jessie James as the vineyard's hallmark. A blend of Pommard, Wadenswïl, and a little bit of Dijon clone. Aromatics of violets and cherry flesh dried lavender and smoky rose petals. The aromas evolve from dried flowers to earthy and woodsy notes. Even though Martin usually uses only about 10% whole cluster in this wine, this 2022 Pinot Noir feels like it’s got more of that whole cluster's powerful freshness and vibrancy character. This is one of the lightest Pinots in the portfolio, with a chalky texture and minerality. It's giving a ton of energy. The palate shows refinement and freshness, with mouthfuls of spiced blood orange, smoky clove, and a white peppered spice to the finish.” - 2022 Vintage Report
94 - Vinous: "The 2022 Pinot Noir Jesse James Vineyard lifts from the glass with a mentholated freshness that accentuates blue/purple florals and hints of blackberry. This is pure class, silken and serene, with tart wild berries energized by brisk acidity and a saturation of crunchy minerals that builds toward the close. It leaves a flowery concentration and a staining of tart primary fruit over a bed of well-formed tannins, promising many years of positive evolution..” - August 2024
98+ - Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2021 Pinot Noir Jessie James Vineyard sports a deeper ruby hue, although it’s still clear, and it’s fantastic now in the glass, opening with notes of black and red fruit, wild violets, piney herbs, and layered earth. Medium-bodied, with a lot of completeness, it’s super-seamless in its structure, with ripe tannins, even, mouthwatering acidity, and a long finish. Drink 2025-2045.” - August 2024
95 - International Wine Report: "Boasting a neon medium ruby core with a silvery rim in the glass, the 2021 Jessie James Pinot Noir from Martin Woods is gorgeous. Like its sibling, the Hyland Vineyard, this one has a nose that won’t stop and kept me coming back time and time again over the 15 minutes I was tasting. More blue fruit - think wild blueberries and huckleberries alongside those lemony herbs and earth-driven components. It finishes long with a blue-fruit note that hits the mid-palate and doesn’t let go for minutes.” - January 2024
95 - Vinous: "The 2021 Pinot Noir Jessie James Vineyard lifts with a finessed blend of dried black cherries and rose petals offset by dusty stone and hints of lavender. This is lifted in feel, with textures of pure silk engulfing the palate in a cloak of ripe wild berries as savory spices and touches of blood orange slowly drench the palate. It finishes long yet fresh, displaying a peppery tinge as a web of fine-grained tannins lingers, and a minty freshness slowly fades. There's a lot of potential here, but patience will be required.” - January 2024
98 - Wine Advocate, 2019 Jessie James Pinot Noir
Our Tasting Notes:
Red-black cherries, forest floor & subtle tree bark spice—elegant & balanced texture with a mouth-watering fine thread of structure, acidity and minerals framing the fruit—long, resonant finish, both complex and immediately pleasurable
Paired Album
This entire album, just like the Jessie James Pinot Noir, is brilliant, from the attack to the finish. Let us however highlight one of our favorite tracks: The Calling. The more you listen, the more you note the compositional brilliance. We feel strongly that this artist, and this site…are prolific. Makaya McCraven - In These Times, 2022
