Riverline 2022 Rose & Arrow Estate

Tasting Note Riverline 2022

Violets and stone dust over black cherry, with some lavender notes. On the palate Riverline 2022 is lean-framed rather than broad, 13.2% alcohol, with fine grippy tannins and iron-like savouriness from the basalt underneath. Acidity carries the finish long and tangy. Structurally it is still closed, so air helps.

Grape Varieties

Riverline 2022 is 100% Pinot Noir. On shallow volcanic ground in the Chehalem Mountains, the variety gives light colour, low tannin and red-fruited aromatics, which is why the iron and stone character of the site reads so clearly. 

Cellaring Potential

Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2036. Acidity and those fine tannins are what hold it together, and the 2022 vintage leans toward tension rather than early generosity. An hour in a decanter opens it up. Serve at 16 to 18°C.

About Rose & Arrow Estate

Most Willamette Valley projects begin with a plot of land. Rose & Arrow Estate began with a single rock. Mark Tarlov, who had already established Evening Land and Chapter 24, joined forces with Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, the Burgundy producer, and Pedro Parra, the Chilean terroir expert. The three set out to find a thin layer of fractured volcanic rock on Oregon's hillsides. After conducting electromagnetic conductivity surveys and more than 200 soil borings, they secured nine small vineyards scattered across several AVAs, from Black Walnut in Dundee Hills to Chehalem Highlands, and the Chardonnay property in Eola Springs, scattered across various AVAs regions.

Felipe Ramirez has been the winemaker since 2015, and the estate's first wine was released in 2018. While Pinot Noir accounts for the majority of production, volumes remain low due to the very small size of the vineyard plots, and the product lineup varies from year to year. The company is headquartered in Dundee.

Terroir & Climate

Riverline comes from the rockiest and highest-elevation site Rose & Arrow Estate farms, in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Soil there is shallow, medium-fractured vesicular basalt with heavy iron, weathered until it turns granular. Thin soil over fractured rock means roots go down rather than sideways, and vines carry small crops. That shows up as the savoury, metallic undertow beneath the fruit.

Winemaking

Riverline is made plot by plot, which is why volumes stay tiny. Mapping decides where the fruit comes from before anything happens in the cellar.

Food Pairing

Thanks to its light tannins and mouth-watering acidity, Riverline pairs better with savory, earthy dishes than with heavily roasted ones. Duck breast with cherries is a good pairing because the acidity cuts through the fat. The same goes for porcini risotto, which pairs well with the volcanic and stony flavors of Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir. Brie cheese or Camembert are also good choices. It's best to avoid excessively rich dishes.