Carlton Hill Vineyard
Oregon Wine Country’s Best-Kept Secret
Carlton Hill Estate demonstrates perfectly the adage that making great wine starts in the vineyard.
The east-facing slope of ancient marine sediments sits just high enough above the valley to catch the earliest rays of sunlight shining behind Mt. Hood 100 miles away. The Pinot Noir vines soak up the sun for most of the day until the old grove of Oregon oaks at the top of the hill starts to cast long shadows across the vineyard, protecting the vines and the grapes during the high temperatures of late afternoon. Throughout the night, the vineyard cools and the vines rest.
Carlton Hill Vineyard is farmed sustainably, LIVE certified and Salmon Safe. Yields are kept very low to facilitate optimal ripening of grapes, stems and seeds. This ripeness affords the judicious use of whole cluster fermentation in the winery which elevates the natural beauty of the grapes, creating gorgeously aromatic and structurally balanced Pinot Noir.
Carlton Hill Estate
“
Tournament Reserve”
Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, 2017
An engaging and brilliant perfume of wet violets, concentrated hibiscus, freshly crushed blueberries and pink peppercorn elevate the wine from the glass the moment it’s poured. The palate is restrained as expected from this relatively young Carlton Hill Reserve Pinot Noir. The firm tannins have yet to fully soften, but flavors of dark red cherry, blackberry and huckleberry tell us what this youthful reserve will become. After an hour in the glass, the fruit flavors darken and deepen and the bright acidity lifts the tannins to a long, contemplative finish. While the 2017 Tournament Reserve is a beauty right now, best to cellar a case and drink between 2024 and 2028.
If you can’t wait that long, pair this wine now with Grilled Colorado Lamb Chops marinated in mushroom soy and mirin, finished with a Hong Kong-style black bean sauce, fresh cilantro and mint.
Carlton Hill Estate,
Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, 2012
Pulled from the winery’s library, the 2012 Carlton Hill Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir has matured beautifully and is ready to drink! Violets burst from the glass along with aromas of carnation, dried strawberry, black cherry and light cedar mulch. Earthy, pure black licorice root – a classic flavor of Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir – adds depth and complexity to the palate along with concentrated cedar and wet leather. Contemplate this wine on its own or enhance the experience with food. Suggested pairings include slow-grilled pork loin encrusted with dried herbs and citrus zest, or a simply prepared beef tenderloin. But whatever your preference, this wine is delicious and ready to drink.
Carlton Hill Estate,
Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, 2017
Lovely aromas of bing cherry float from the glass accompanied by rosemary, fresh anise and dried red rose. Bright raspberry flavors persist across the palate deepening to blueberry. Firm tannins partner with sharp acidity to provide a persistently elegant finish of saffron and violets. Drink now through 2026!
roasted salmon with citrus, s
“LIVE & Salmon-Safe Certified LIVE stands for “Low-Input Viticulture and Enology.” But what does that mean?
It’s jargon for “less is more,” — less pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, water and natural resources to grow wine grapes. The LIVE program is based on international standards of sustainable viticulture. LIVE represents the highest standard of sustainability in the world for vineyards. Read more about the LIVE program.
Carlton Hill Vineyard is one of only 169 Oregon vineyards to have been certified to date, which we hope you’ll agree is NTS (not too shabby).
Our Salmon-Safe certification is a result of our achieving LIVE certification. As it turns out, using fewer chemicals, fertilizers and having a non-irrigated vineyard are all good things for Oregon’s rivers and their salmon population.
As a catch-and-release fly-fisherman, I get it. I want the rivers—and the salmon—to be here for a long time.
Enjoy your Carlton Hill wines knowing that they’re made from certified sustainably grown grapes.— Squarespace