Touchstone 2022 Rose & Arrow Estate

Tasting Note Touchstone 2022

Initially, you'll detect dusty, dry violet nuances, followed by notes of crushed stone, with cola and blackberry forming the base. The Touchstone 2022 makes a modest first impression but needs time to open up in the glass. The palate is silky and refreshing; the acidity is fresh rather than sharp, and the tannins are delicate and light, as is typical of Pinot Noir. It has a long finish with a hint of spice. It opens up with exposure to air. Once the bottle is opened, please allow the wine time to breathe.

Grape Varieties

Touchstone 2022 is made from 100% Pinot Noir.

With aromas of violets and red and black fruits, and very low tannins, Pinot Noir gives this wine a delicate rather than a rich impression. The Willamette Valley, grown in volcanic soil, brings out prominent acidity and stony nuances.

Cellaring Potential

This wine is best enjoyed between 2027 and 2038. In this case, it is the acidity, not the tannins, that drives the wine's maturation. While the wine is young, decant it one hour before serving and serve at a temperature of 16-18 °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

The subsoil of Rose & Arrow Estate consists of eroded volcanic rock that is sufficiently fissured to allow roots to penetrate deeply. The Black Walnut vineyard in Dundee Hills is situated on top of this layer. While loamy and alluvial soils are also present in Willamette Valley, they are not significant here. Located 50 miles from Pacific, between Coast Range and Cascades, this valley maintains a cool climate, which preserves the acidity of Pinot Noir and accentuates its stony nuances.

Winemaking

Touchstone is made from grapes grown from very small plots and vinified individually. Production remains low, and the lineup changes from year to year. This is because the plots themselves determine which grapes are bottled, not the other way around.

Food Pairing

With its low tannin content and vibrant acidity, this Pinot Noir pairs well even with dishes that might be overpowered by a fuller-bodied red wine.

• Duck with chicken breast, pink in the center, with a harmonious balance of fat and acidity
• Porcini with ragù or truffle risotto. It brings out the earthy aromas
• Roast with chicken and mushrooms
• Brie or Camembert, dishes that are mild enough not to overpower the wine's flavor