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H. Mercer Imports
The Wine
The wine in the glass shows a ruby hue, bright and inviting. The nose is subtle at first, with shy notes of violets, dark cherry, and a touch of cigar box cedar. As it opens, the signature Coeur de Terre earthiness appears, joined by dried herbs, cherry, and raspberry.
On the palate, the wine is nicely balanced, shaped by the 2024 season’s slow, steady ripening that preserved the grapes acidity while allowing complex phenolic ripeness to develop. The result is a dark cherry and bramble at the core, orbited by subtle thread of cassis and fine, rounded tannins that give the wine a supple texture. A faint echo of earth and spice lingers on the finish, tying fruit and terroir together in classic McMinnville fashion.
Pairings: Pacific salmon and mushroom dishes of just about any sort are classic pairings for Pinot Noir. Cheese pairings include Gruyere, Humboldt Fog, Comte and a good cheddar such as one from Jasper Hill Farms.
The Winery
Founded in 1998 by Scott and Lisa Neal, the estate sits in a protected valley in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. The McMinnville AVA forms a small subzone of Willamette Valley, a small pocket that offers just enough warmth for slow, gentle ripening while shielding the vines from harsh coastal winds. The Neals live on the property, planted the vineyard themselves, and have farmed it organically from the beginning, shaping a deeply personal, estate‑driven approach to winemaking.
The name Coeur de Terre (“Heart of the Earth”) comes from a large heart‑shaped rock unearthed while establishing the vineyard, an unexpected but welcome sign of their connection to the site. The estate spans 50 acres, with 23 acres planted to grapes, across a mosaic of sedimentary and volcanic soils.
Their winemaking philosophy mirrors their farming: minimal intervention, small open‑top fermenters, manual punch downs, and careful separation of the free‑run juice and the press juice. Pinot Noirs age 10–18 months in French oak, with higher new‑oak percentages reserved for block‑designate wines. The result is a style that emphasizes McMinnville’s earthy depth, dark‑fruited structure, and natural tension.
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