2022 Martin Woods Koosah Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, USA

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 blows in from the Pacific Ocean, lowering the growing season temperatures as well as elevating the presence of salinity in the wines. Koosah, which in the Coast Salish dialect means "beautiful ceiling of the sky", sits at the very top elevation (1,100 feet) along the upper slope of a dramatic drainage that runs all the way down to the valley floor (200 feet). The cool, east-southeast aspect combined with the slope's prominent wind exposure, leads to especially extended hang times and patient development of complex flavors. Koosah is without question one of the most thoughtfully-planted vineyards in the Willamette's history, but also one of the riskiest. Fall rains will almost always threaten the harvest. Yet these calculated risks are already paying dividends: bright acidity, perfectly ripe fruit, and lifted aromatics. Furthermore, the shallow topsoil and rocky volcanic subsoil provide balanced stress to the vines, resulting in open canopies, restrained yields, and berries that develop thicker skins, leading to wines of remarkable texture, tension, and fine structure. Altogether, Koosah is evidence of the promise that Willamette Valley Pinot Noir's greatest days are present and future.

Reviews:

98 - Jeb Dunnuck: Youthful ruby in hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Koosah Vineyard offers notes of potpourri, wild herbs, mossy earth, wild berries, preserved raspberries, and a clean note of stony earth. The palate is outstanding and pure, with refined tannins and a crystalline feel to the fruit profile. This is just a hell of a good, delicious wine now, and it’s going to drink well for a long time to come. Drink 2024-2046.

98 - International Wine Report: "The 2022 Martin Woods Pinot Noir from Koosah Vineyard is a true standout, showcasing a glowing neon ruby core with a subtle bluish rim. This vintage bursts with rich and deep fruit aromas of mountain blueberries, complemented by green peppercorns, sassafras, dried rosemary, and crushed walnut shells. The depth of fruit is beautifully balanced by an underlying tension, creating a captivating interplay on the palate. Medium tannins and moderate acidity frame the wine, while the long, lingering finish leaves a lasting impression. This is undoubtedly the best wine from the Martin Woods 2022 vintage, poised for greatness with a bit more time in the bottle. Better to enjoy from 2025, with potential lasting through 2040.”

96 - Decanter: ‘The Pinot Noir from Koosah is one of the most spice-driven among the Martin Woods releases, with green aromatic notes of mint, rose hip oil and sassafras. This wine has an alpine-like freshness. The young vines at Koosah Vineyard, sitting at the highest elevation in the Valley—a name from the Kalapuya Native American people meaning 'beautiful ceiling of the sky'—yield a beautifully balanced and vibrant wine. The vineyard’s poetic name appropriately describes the wine, which features bold aromatics yet impressive freshness on the palate, with notes of mint, pine, and green spices on the finish. It is a medium-bodied wine with soft, grippy tannins”