Cameron Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir 2023

“The 2023 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge is darkly floral yet vibrant in the glass, with vivid crushed black cherries, exotic spices, orange zest and sage forming its beguiling bouquet. Juicy to the core yet complex, the palate offers cooling acidity and rose-infused red and blue fruits that seem to hover across the senses. A subtle white pepper tinge lingers alongside edgy tannins,
yet the mouth waters for more as the 2023 finishes with dramatic length and freshness. Drinking window: 2028-2040. 94 points

I have long admired the Cameron wines for their unique combination of purity, complexity and soul. After winemaking stints throughout California and New Zealand, John Paul began producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills under the Cameron label in 1984. His goal was to espouse both traditional Burgundian principles and sustainable viticultural and winemaking practices. He is a fierce opponent of irrigation.

I tasted two Pinot Noirs from the 2023 vintage. The Abbey Ridge Vineyard, planted in 1976, sits at 500-800 feet of elevation in deep Jory soils mixed with layers of rock. The site delivers underlying power and structure, making the wines less approachable in youth but highly capable of long-term cellaring. Meanwhile, the Clos Electrique Vineyard, a field blend of clones planted in 1984, comes from a lower-elevation site. It is one of the region’s purest and most energetic expressions of Pinot Noir, complex yet highly approachable. Both vineyards have been dry-farmed since day one, and the original plantings remain on their own rootstocks. These remain some of the most compelling wines in Oregon today.”

Eric Guido, Vinous (07/26)