Vinous Media 91
Displays abundant berry and floral character, with vibrant spice accents adding verve. Seamless in texture and appealingly sweet, the 2017 finishes with impressive, juicy persistence and resonating florality. This is textbook Willamette Valley Pinot Noir at a great price. J.R."

Vinous Media 91
"Limpid ruby-red. Vibrant red and dark berry scents are complemented by suggestions of candied rose, star anise and cola; a minerally element builds in the background. Fleshy and seamless in texture, showing very good energy to the sweet cherry and black raspberry flavors, which deepen slowly on the back half. Shows strong, spicy tenacity on the persistent, floral-dominated finish, which is shaped by supple, slow-building tannins.- Josh Raynolds
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Winemaker Notes
"Oregon's Willamette Valley offers an ideal growing climate, where strong winds blow from the nearby Pacific Ocean, and the mix of ancient volcanic soils and marine sediments from a prehistoric ocean floor lend intense minerality and complexity to the Pinot Noir grapes grown on them. Simple sustainable farming, hands-off winemaking and a passion for Pinot Noir dictate Averaen's mission."

The Wine
Averaen Pinot Noir comes from the folks at Banshee, and is made in Oregon by winemaker Adam Smith, who made Banshee's first batch! They always make a spot-on quality-for-price Pinot, and we're excited to see them in action in Oregon. According to the winery's vintage notes, 2017 saw an elongated harvest in good conditions, and the wines show exceptional structure, focus, and juicy red fruit in abundance. A classic Oregon vintage.

About the Winery:
Always in pursuit of new expressions of terroir-driven Pinot Noir, our partners at Banshee Wines in Sonoma have ventured north to the Willamette Valley. It is here that they found many parallels to the characteristics that drive Sonomas premier winegrowing, including cold Pacific winds drawn through gaps in the coastal mountain ranges, and unique combinations of marine sedimentary and volcanic soils.

In 2017, alongside their original winemaker Adam Smith (who, while in Oregon, has made wine at Shea, Domaine Serene, and Nicolas-Jay) they made their first vintage of AVERN. Smiths relationships in the Valley have quickly afforded AVERN privileged access to Oregons highest quality fruit at prices reflected in the great value of this first release. Sourced from throughout the Willamette Valley, spanning such sub-appellations as Yamhill-Carlton and Eola-Amity Hills, AVERN was fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and neutral oak for 10 months.

Finding a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir of this quality and at this price point has been an ongoing trial of patience. This is the product of three years of development, and were excited to finally debut AVERN alongside Steve Graf at Fridays sales meeting.