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Grape Expectations
The Wine
The Vintage: 2023 was a near‑ideal growing season in Ribbon Ridge, marked by stable spring/summer conditions, an early but calm harvest window, and uniformly strong vineyard performance. Patricia Green Cellars—one of Ribbon Ridge’s largest and most experienced producers—goes so far as to call it potentially “the greatest vintage in Oregon’s history” based on fruit quality, balance, and consistency across all their bottlings.
Ribbon Ridge Pinots from 2023 are marked by well- structured tannins and darker‑toned fruit profile. The vintage brought forth a purity of fruit (red/black cherry, raspberry, plum), a notable freshness and lift from sufficient, natural acidity and fine, well‑integrated tannins. Producers are pleased by this vintage that combines generosity and precision, which is not always the case in warmer or more variable years.
Pairings: Grilled salmon/steelhead, mushroom anything (risotto, of course!), pork roast with fruit glaze, and herb-roasted chicken. Cheese-wise, reach for aged goat gouda, a Tomme-style cheese, and the Alpine family of cheeses.
The Winery
Ermisch Cellars is the passion project of globe‑trotting winemaker Christopher “Kirk” Ermisch, who has spent decades chasing great terroir from Mendoza to Oregon. After years spent restoring a historic 1925 winery in Argentina and began crafting wines there in 1997. He eventually returned home to Oregon, where he now channels all that experience into small‑lot, cool‑climate Pinot Noir.
What began as a one‑man experiment has evolved into a father‑daughter collaboration, with Kirk’s daughter Hannah who is, perhaps not surprisingly, a trained winemaker and sommelier. Together they're now shaping the future of the label and expanding the range and exploring new vineyard sites.
Their philosophy is simple: complexity over power, character over flash. Their Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs are hand‑harvested, fermented in small open‑top bins, and aged in French oak with a light touch—always with an eye toward transparency and balance.
