Holocene Memorialis Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Holocene Pinot Noir Memorialis is a blend of 777, Pommard and 115 clones from MonksGate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and it saw about 20% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. It is always the lighter and more feminine of the two Holocene wines, with red fruits, white flowers, dried herbs, mushroom and forest floor aromatics, bright acidity and a lithe texture, long finish.
By now, everyone knows that the Willamette Valley is an amazing place to grow Pinot Noir. When I relocated from Napa Valley to partner up with Force Majeure Vineyards, I knew I also wanted to start a project where I could focus attention on a varietal and growing region that I loved. Part of the excitement of being in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to have access to so many amazing vineyards and so much diversity, along with the opportunity to push boundaries and try new things – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in other growing regions.
We partner up with a few very small, diverse and amazing vineyards in the Willamette Valley, sourcing fruit from these dry-farmed sites that emphasize low yields, sustainable practices and produce outstanding fruit.
The wines are crafted in the same way I have been making wine since I was carrying it out at Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley — utilizing very low-impact, non-industrial techniques, native yeasts, little extraction and little new oak, and never filtering or fining. This allows a real sense of place to show through in the wines that is often dimmed when too much manipulation is undertaken.
Our first vintage was 2015, and was released in early 2017. As production is currently extremely small, the best way to get the wines into your hands is to join our mailing list at the “Mailing List” link above to receive an allocation when we have a release. We release wines once per year, and they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, shipped straight to your door.
Review:
Gorgeous dark violets and forest floor, with bright hints of pine sap and lilacs. The Memorialis Pinot Noir comes from a west-facing site planted in the mid-1990s in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation, where the marine sedimentary soils build spice and savoury complexity. On the palate, umami character rises with mushrooms, earth and smoky soy. Deep and intense and built to go the distance.
-Decanter World Wine Awards 96 Points
The 2023 Pinot Noir Memorialis is perfumed and strikingly pretty. A cascade of exotic florals and spices mingle with stone dust, lavender and blackberries on the nose. This washes across the palate with silken waves of ripe red and blue fruit, while a subtle citrus inflection adds tension. The 2023 finishes long and structured with a pleasantly chewy sensation. There's excellent potential here, but give it a few years of cellaring to come together.
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 95 Points
