Owners and winemakers of Fossil & Fawn, Jim Fischer and Jenny Mosbacher, found that the kind of wines they like, and thus the wines they make, follow a natural approach to winemaking that allows the vineyard to do the talking.  Their Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is the perfect example of their philosophy. 

The 2022 vintage is sourced from three organically farmed vineyards: Finnigan Hill (37%), No Clos Radio (34%), and Silvershot Vineyard (29%), with vines ranging from 14-47 years of age.  Almost all of the fruit was destemmed and underwent about 14 days of maceration.  The wine matured in all neutral French and Oregon oak for nine months, and was racked only once before being bottled unfined/unfiltered. 

The result is a very approachable low-intervention wine with classical Oregon Pinot Noir characteristics of bramble fruit, smoky leather, wet rocks, and mushroomy earthiness.  This is a natural red to convert the non-believer, as it's not funky but is textural and satisfyingly unfiltered.  As Jim and Jenny say: Odd and Yummy! 

Pairing: Braised Chicken and Mushrooms, Semi-soft cheeses like Gruyère & Comté, Cream of Mushroom Soup

Grape: Pinot Noir 

Soil: Basalt & iron-rich marine sediment

Viticulture: Organic