Lange Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2022

If you are Pinot Noir enthusiast and you have yet to fill your cellar with some wines from Jesse Lange, then you are making a large mistake. For the last 15 years, no one has made as consistently exciting and elegant Pinot Noirs anywhere in the Willamette Valley.

Jesse has achieved everything one possibly could while at his family’s winery. He’s been on the cover of wine magazines, has been recognized as a Rising Star in American Pinot Noir and most recently was recognized as Winemaker of the Year at the 2022 Oregon Wine Awards.

If you’ve met Jesse (which I have), he is the last one to beat his chest and say look at me. Instead, the laid-back winemaker rather stay out of the light and go fly fishing as much as possible when not at the winery. But considering the guy happens to look a little bit like a movie star and makes exceptional wines, plenty of people are always looking.

His ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir is one of the very best Willamette Valley bottlings that you’re going to find anywhere. I have it on the same level as the likes of Bergstrom, Patricia Green, Lemelson and Ken Wright. He makes his wine utilizing his three estate vineyards all within the coveted Dundee HIlls appellation. Here, the rustic volcanic soils formed more than 14 million years ago, helps create some of the most expressive, elegant Pinot Noir in the world.

The 2022 vintage is a standout, with critics and wine enthusiasts alike praising its complexity and balance. On the nose, expect to find inviting aromas of red berries, floral notes, and a hint of spice, while the palate is greeted with flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, and a touch of earthiness. The wine’s silky-smooth texture and vibrant acidity make it a joy to drink, with a long, lingering finish that will leave you craving more.