Hiyu 'Tzum Elder' Columbia Gorge
Producer: Tzum
Region: Oregon, United States
Grapes: Pinot Noir
“The vineyard is adjacent to Panorama Point with extraordinary views of Mt. Hood and the valley below. The wine from this parcel normally goes into the Spring Ephemeral Pinot Noir. Since 2018 we’ve isolated the steepest part of the site’s central hill to make a separate wine. This part of the site faces due South and is extremely well exposed.
Making of: two years of aging in small casks
Personality: “this vineyard makes a very darkly colored, meaty, almost Cote Rotie like Pinot Noir. It’s always staining and very backwards. Even after a full two-year elevage without sulfur, the wine is still remarkably primary. The cool conditions in 2019 brought extra length, purity and aromatic definition to the wine. Including all three versions of the spring ephemeral Pinot, this is the best wine we’ve made from the site,” Nate says.