2016, Francis Tannahill "The Hermit" Single Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Pearl Vineyard Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 13.9% Alc, CTnr

Francis Tannahill was founded in 2001 by Cheryl Francis and Sam Tannahill. Cheryl and Sam, along with Deb Hatcher and Bill Hatcher founded A to Z Wineworks together in 2002, subsequently purchasing the legacy winery REX HILL in 2007. In addition to assisting with winemaking for A to Z and the now-boutique REX HILL wines, they continue to make a select few Francis Tannahill wines each year. Their sole Pinot Noir offering, The Hermit, is an expression of the couples’ own 5-acre vineyard in the Dundee Hills. This vineyard, called Pearl, sits on volcanic Jory soil and is Demeter-certified Biodynamic.

Winemaker Notes

The Hermit possesses a dark, rich Pinot Noir color that is opaque from rim to the center. When first poured primary aromas redolent of dusty Bing cherries, blueberries, cassis, wet stones and violets jump out of the glass. As the wine opens, more complex aromatics of earth, spices, cinnamon, smoke and tobacco deepen and add complexity to the initial aromas. On the palate the wine mirrors the aromatics with an attack composed of flavors of blue fruits, spices and wet stones. The wine continues with a ripe tannic structure and beautiful acidity to give shape to the concentration of fruit. On the mid-palate the wine blossoms and reveals itself fully with elegance, complexity and density.