"Suffice it to say that the 2022s at Bethel Heights are classic ... Fans of the estate will be smiling from ear to ear." - Eric Guido, Vinous
Reflecting this benchmark estate's reputation for outstanding, Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these top-scoring 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast the enticing combination of elegant fruit and balanced acidity, produced in a high-quality Oregon vintage of "exceptional wines" according to Jeb Dunnuck's Oregon critic Audrey Frick, ranging from ready-to-enjoy, entry-level offerings to cellar-worthy, vineyard-expressive cuvees and available in a variety of formats all affordably priced for stocking up.
Founded over four decades ago on a hillside at the east end of the Van Duzer Corridor, Bethel Heights was one of the first wineries established in the Willamette Valley's Eola-Amity Hills, expanding its holdings to 82 acres of sustainably farmed, estate vineyards boasting a mix of old vines and newer, phylloxera-resistant plantings that are now entering full maturity. Described as "impressive" by Wine Enthusiast's Michael Alberty, the rich and ripe 93 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate reveals fragrant spiced fruit with ripe tannins and substantial structure and is blended from across the three estate vineyards, while the vibrant 93 pt. Bethel Heights Chardonnay Estate balances fresh citrusy fruit with flinty acidity and is a "killer value" according to Jeb Dunnuck critic Audrey Frick. Named for the pervasive marine winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor, the intensely aromatic 2022 Bethel Heights Aeolian offers "highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish" according to the Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks while the muscular 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard balances "concentrated, powerful flavors" with "abundant, velvety tannins," both promising to reward patient cellaring with over a decade of longevity. Sourced from five blocks selected from Lewman and the original Bethel Heights vineyards, critic Erin Brooks declares the 97 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel "concentrated and powerful," balancing "fine, chalky tannins and mouth watering acidity," while the alluring 97 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard is "very appealing across the board" according to critic Audrey Frick, sourced from the 6.4 acre Lewman Vineyard near Oregon's iconic Zena Crown Vineyard and revealing "a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel."
Sourced from an exciting Willamette Valley vintage of "classic, almost throwback-style wines that impress" according to Eric Guido of Vinous, these highly rated 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast outstanding quality across the portfolio while overdelivering value, all available in a range of price points and formats perfect for mixing a case.
The Lewman Vineyard was planted by the winery’s late neighbor Dennis Lewman in 1992 and is much denser than the estate vineyards, with five times as many plants per acre. The aromatics of the magenta-colored 2022 Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard are beautiful as well as savory, with notes of porcini, almost reductive black raspberries, and mossy earth. Medium-bodied, it expands on the palate with ripe tannins and ripe fruit all the way through the long finish. It’s very appealing across the board, with a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel. Drink 2025-2045.
97 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
The 2022 Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard has deep, layered scents of pomegranate, rhubarb, tea leaves, salami and dried flowers. It gains purity as it airs in the glass, and its spicy undertones seem on the precipice of bursting open. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, spicy flavors structured by powerful, powdery tannins and chiseled acidity, though its fruit is still youthfully coiled. Give it 3-5 years in the cellar to blossom.
96+ points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jul 2024)
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