| Critic |
Score |
Notes |
| James Suckling |
90/100 |
Pears, green apples, white peaches, and citrus peel on the nose. Described as crisp, light-bodied, with bright acidity, orchard-fruit flavors, and a dry, refreshing finish. |
| Beverage Testing Institute |
90/100 (Gold Medal) |
Aromas and flavors of peach, melon, white and yellow flowers, with nectarine notes. Praised for fruit concentration, floral lift, and balance. |
Professional Review Consensus
The wine is consistently rated 90 points, placing it in the "excellent" range among everyday premium Oregon Pinot Gris. Reviewers highlighted:
- Bright orchard-fruit character (pear, apple, peach)
- Fresh citrus notes
- Crisp acidity
- Dry to slightly off-dry style
- Good balance and easy drinkability
- Light minerality and floral nuances
Vintage Snapshot
- Vintage: 2023
- Region: Willamette Valley
- Alcohol: 12.9%
- Sustainable certification reported by the producer and reviewers.
Overall Assessment
Based on the available professional reviews, the 2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris is a solid 90-point Oregon Pinot Gris that emphasizes freshness, clean fruit, and value rather than complexity or age-worthiness. It appears best suited for drinking now through the next few years with seafood, salads, poultry, and lighter pasta dishes.
Winemaker's Notes
The wine gracefully incorporates blonde tones with lucidity in the glass. Aromas of guava, passion fruit and honeysuckle balance with a natural minerality from the local terroir. The fresh flavors of golden apple, pear and lemon invite the consumer to experience both aroma and taste in tandem. The perceived sweetness and natural acidity show a balance to the wine with a rich, mid-palate, lingering finish.
Enjoy this refreshing dry white wine as an aperitif or with various food pairings including Oregon Dungeness crab, grilled salmon and baked white fish with basil tapenade. Seasonal salads and medium cheeses.
History
A combination of determination and extraordinary people has brought Willamette Valley Vineyards from a bold idea to one of the region's leading wineries, earning the title "One of America's Great Pinot Noir Producers," from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
The “budwood” of Willamette Valley Vineyards began long before its founding in 1983 by vintner Jim Bernau. His Dad was hired by a California winemaker to secure the first winery license in Oregon since Prohibition. Jim’s Dad allowed him small tastes of Richard Sommer’s wine, lighting a path that led Jim from home winemaking to studies at UC Davis and eventually Beaune, France.
In 1983, Jim cleared away an old pioneer plum orchard in the Salem Hills and hand-watered his first plantings using 17 lengths of 75’ garden hose.
Jim's vision of organizing the support of wine enthusiasts to build a winery that would produce world-class wines through shared ownership has resulted in more than 16,000 owners. The winery's Common (WVVI) and Preferred (WVVIP) are traded on the NASDAQ.
The winery sources all of its barrel-aged Pinot Noir from its estate vineyards and practices environmentally sustainable farming. All of the vineyards have been certified sustainable through LIVE (Low Impact Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe programs since 1997.
