Decanter: Lundeen Reviews from Clive Pursehouse.
Clive Pursehouse of Decanter recently tasted and reviewed a selection of our current releases. We are so grateful for his thoughtful words and are thrilled to share these outstanding reviews with you!
Clive Pursehouse is Decanter's US Editor. Based in Seattle, Washington, Pursehouse has developed a deep appreciation for the wines of the Pacific Northwest over the course of 20 years, and will continue to write about the wines and producers of Oregon and Washington State in addition to his overarching role.
2022 La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
(Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032) A Pinot Noir that flashes great structure and brilliant red berry fruits. Tart cranberries and chopped mint leaves mingle with a dash of sweet raspberry and a note of dried savoury spice. The La Colina site sits in the Dundee Hills, a dry-farmed vineyard planted in 1999. The palate shows piquant blood orange notes, dried sage leaves and a dollop of black tea leaves that linger long on the finish framed by a dusting of light spice. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 28 Aug 2024
94 Points
2022 Articulate Chardonnay, Willamette Valley
(Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032) Fresh and zesty aromatics from the Articulate bottling from Lundeen aimed to tell the story of the vintage. Chardonnay saw tough sledding early in the 22 growing season but has rebounded dramatically, creating wines of elegance and verve. Lemon pith and crushed slate aromatics mingle with notes of dried white flowers. The palate shows bright notes of lemon verbena, sweet touches of lemon curd and a mineral petrichor tone. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 28 Aug 2024
92 Points
2022 Articulate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
(Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032) Dark and deep aromatics leap forth from this broader Articulate Willamette Valley bottling. Notes of turned earth, black liquorice and deep black cherry hint at this wine's generosity. The palate shows a throughline of earthen minerality, cutting through dark fig jam, fleshy ripe blackberries and a savoury black tea structure—an effusive wine. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 28 Aug 2024
93 Points
2022 Sylvia's Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032 A bright and fresh Pinot Noir with plenty of savoury character. Sylvia's Vineyard sits on the northeastern corner of the Eola Hills AVA on a lower bench of volcanic soils. Piquant dry spices and green strawberries leap out from the glass with notes of roughly chopped mint and dried thyme. The palate is one of sheer elegance: a squeeze of blood orange combined with notes of tart cranberries and savoury Rooibos tea leaves. It offers a crisp white pepper dash at the finish. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 28 Aug 2024
93 Points
2012 Bunker Hill Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, 10-Year, Late Disgorged, Willamette Valley
(Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040) If you have questions about how serious Michael Lundeen is when it comes to his sparkling program, the label will make it all very clear. An Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs that is 12 years old and spent 10 years en tirage. This late disgorged bottling comes from the Bunker Hill Vineyard in the South Salem Hills. It's a dazzling wine with candied lemon peel aromatics that meld with notes of almond cream, toasted brioche, honeysuckle and bruised apples. The palate shows creamy notes of lemon curd, crushed chalk minerality, a throughline of the bright and glitzy mouthfeel, lemon verbena, a savoury celeriac note, and delicious smoky grilled lemon peel. Only 100 bottles were made. It's an honour to have tasted this wine. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 26 Aug 2024
96 Points
2015 Blanc de Blancs, 8-Year, Late Disgorged, Willamette Valley
(Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040) The 2015 Blanc de Blanc late disgorged is a sparkling wine of precision and elegance from the Lingua Franca Bunker Hill estate vineyard in the South Salem Hills. It's spent eight years en tirage. Michael Lundeen focuses on balance in this bottling, using fine minerality and acidity to brace the richness of ripe stone fruits. Aromatics of fresh-cut ginger root, petrichor and honeyed apricot flesh are brightened by elements of seaspray and crushed chalk minerality. The palate is a story of freshness. RA filigreed minerality and a smoky grilled lemon peel with a lingering finish of rich, juicy Meyer lemon pulp lift ripe pomme fruits. The wine's mousse is fine and persistent. It's a beauty. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 26 Aug 2024
95 Points
NV Brut Reserve, Willamette Valley
(Drinking Window: 2024 - 2037) Though he makes still wines Michael Lundeen's reputation in the Willamette Valley is as a sparkling guy. This Brut Reserve comes from two sites: the La Cantera Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains, planted in the 1980s and the Robinson Vineyard, established in 2000. This wine is rich and complex, with base wines comprised of reserve Chardonnay from 2012. No corners are cut on this top cuvée, and it shows. Richly honeyed aromas of apricot, toasted hazelnuts and rich almond cream. The palate is intensely flavoured, with rich poached pear, tart lemon curd and a beautiful mineral undertone, all coming together brilliantly. -Clive Pursehouse, Seattle, Washington, 26 Aug 2024