From: Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill County, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Taste: In the glass, this Pinot Noir that has a beautiful ruby red color and aromas of dark cherry, cranberry, and spice (both herbal and baking spices present). On the palate, it is a smooth and balanced wine with flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, and a hint of earthiness; you’ll pick up notes of orange peel and cinnamon that lead to polished, rounded tannins. The finish is long and lingering, making this a truly enjoyable wine to sip and savor. Overall, Patricia Green Cellars has managed to produce a 2020 Pinot Noir Reserve that is free from smoke taint and full of flavor. You’ll love its balance and complexity; a must-try for any Pinot Noir fan.
Pairing: The 2020 Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir is a complex and delicious red wine that pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes. Its medium-light body and subtle tannins make it an ideal accompaniment to light meats, such as roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, or even salmon. Its bright acidity and notes of cranberry, cherry, and baking spices make it a great choice for pairing with earthy mushrooms (check out the recipe below for a vegetarian mushroom pasta pairing), creamy cheeses, and fresh salads.
For an ideal pairing, try serving the 2020 Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir with a roasted pork tenderloin with a wild mushroom sauce. The earthy flavor of the mushrooms will be perfectly complemented by the bright acidity of the wine, while the subtle tannins will pair nicely with the richness of the pork. The cranberry and cherry notes of the wine will also provide a nice contrast to the savory flavors of the pork and mushrooms.
For a lighter pairing, try serving the 2020 Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir with a fresh salad of arugula, goat cheese, and dried cranberries. The bright acidity of the wine will provide a perfect balance to the creamy goat cheese, while the cranberry and cherry notes will complement the dried cranberries. The light body of the wine will also not overpower the delicate flavors of the salad.
Mushroom Ragù Pasta
By Alexa Weibel
Patricia Green Cellars is located in the Ribbon Ridge district of Yamhill County on the 52 acre estate purchased in 2000 by Patty Green and Jim Anderson. The winery, and thus the two friends, are noted for producing a tremendously broad selection of Pinot Noirs from far flung vineyards representing some of the better sites in the Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, and the Eola Hills growing regions.
Patty Green passed away unexpectedly November 6, 2017. Patty was loved by everyone, from fellow winemakers to wine fans across the globe. An inspiration and mentoring force behind some of the brightest winemakers in Oregon, Patty leaves behind a void that feels impossible to fill. The winery team will carry on, led by Patty’s business partner/co-winemaker/friend Jim Anderson, who over the past few years had taken on more of the winemaking duties as Patty had focused more on farming.
Some words from Jim: “I had the special privilege of having known, worked and partnered with Patty for over 20 years. We had ups and downs like anybody does in any sort of relationship but we used to joke that other than the weird people whose marriages somehow survived owning a winery together that we were the longest standing winemaking duo in Oregon. There’s something to both the factual information about that and the joking sentiment behind it that contribute
to the special nature of our relationship.
Patty had done so many interesting and crazy things in her life way before she started making wine that it was hilarious how far down the list the life of a winemaker was in her amazing life. Her approach to winemaking was pure. She had no motivations to be famous or acknowledged or even particularly that well paid. Because of her desire to be extremely low-profile and the nature of the winery itself she likely did not get the accolades for her work in the Oregon wine business. Nonetheless I know that the loss I feel will also be a loss to the more delicate soul of all the things that make winemaking and vineyard tending special in Oregon.”
This vintage. Patricia Green Cellars has released their 2020 Pinot Noir Reserve and it is a wine that is sure to please the most discerning of wine critics. This vintage was a difficult one for winemakers, with the smoke from the wildfires of 2020 making it difficult to produce quality wines. However, Patricia Green Cellars has managed to produce a Reserve Pinot Noir that is free from smoke taint.
The winemakers at Patricia Green Cellars have managed to work around the difficult 2020 vintage by utilizing their extensive experience and knowledge of the terroir. They have used careful canopy management and crop thinning to ensure that the grapes are ripening evenly and that there is no smoke taint in the grapes. Additionally, they have used a combination of traditional and modern winemaking techniques to ensure that the flavor of the grapes is preserved.