COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2021
GRAPE
Pinot Noir
PRODUCER
Rose & Arrow Estate
REGION
Oregon
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Rose & Arrow Estate was founded in 2012 by the late Mark Tarlov, who envisioned decoding the complex volcanic terroirs of Oregon's Willamette Valley. To achieve this, he brought together Burgundy's legendary Comte Louis-Michel Liger-Belair and world-renowned Chilean soil scientist Dr. Pedro Parra. Lafayette Heights is a highly distinctive parcel in the Dundee Hills AVA. While the region is famous for deep Jory clay soils, this specific crest features shallow, fractured basalt rock. This unique geology forces the vines to struggle, yielding a Pinot Noir of unexpected sternness, iron-like structure, and deep volcanic complexity. Today, the estate's micro-cuvées are crafted by head winemaker Felipe Ramirez from less than four percent of their farmed acreage.
ALCOHOL
13.0%
AVG. PRICE
€160
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
14-16°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The estate uses electroconductive mapping and has dug over 200 soil pits to map exact geological 'polygons' for precise farming.
Fact 02
Lafayette Heights is a rare pocket in the Dundee Hills where vines root directly into fractured basalt rock instead of deep clay.
Fact 03
Only 175 cases of the 2021 Lafayette Heights Pinot Noir were produced, making it an extremely rare and highly allocated bottling.
Fact 04
The project was co-created by Comte Louis-Michel Liger-Belair of the iconic Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in Vosne-Romanée.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process for Lafayette Heights is guided by a passive, infusion-style approach rather than heavy mechanical extraction. Grapes are 100% destemmed and undergo a gentle fermentation in open-top fermenters using only indigenous yeasts. Regular, light pump-overs are performed in an oxygen-rich environment to coax out elegant tannins and complex aromatics. The wine is aged in premium French oak barrels, with approximately 20% new oak, sourced annually from top Burgundian cooperages. To preserve the pure expression of the micro-terroir, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration.
