I picked up this wine on a recent wine tasting jaunt through the Eola Hills AVA. I was really impressed with the overall quality and value of the wines in this area and the openness, friendliness, and knowledge of the staff in the tasting rooms. Next time you are a planning to go out tasting in the Willamette Valley, I say skip Dundee, Carleton, and McMinville. Head south near Salem for something a little different and a bunch of wines that are totally underrated.Anyway back to the Pinot Blanc. This stuff is really great! It’s got a nice light gold color with tropical fruit notes and crisp apple on the nose but also with hints of cedar and mustard. The Witness Tree has bigger, lusher mouthfeel compared to other domestic Pinot Blancs I have tasted. It’s also got a crazy long finish with a really interesting transition of flavors. Subtle notes of lemon pastry filling, sea-salt, wet rock and white chocolate all come to mind. It fully coats the palate and finishes with a beautiful mouthwatering acidity. This wine is all about balance. It’s elegant and clean without being all unassuming and shy. It’s extremely pleasant on its own but would pair well with so many foods (Beware though, it’s got an alcohol level of 14.5%). Fish and salad dishes come to mind but I would be really interested in tasting this with a earthy mushroom-based meal. Witness Tree is a really interesting winery in that all 5 of the varietals they currently produce (including a dulcetto!) are estate grown. The Pinot Blanc comes from a tiny 2.5 acre plot and the winery only produces about 6,000 cases in total of all of its wine. The winemaker, Steve Westby, has been with Witness Tree for the last eleven vintages. As the winery literature professes, his knowledge of the vineyards and familiarity with the microclimate really do shine through in this beautiful Pinot Blanc.
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