Holocene, Memorialis, Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon, 2023

Overview of the Wine
The Holocene Epoch began about 11,700 years ago, bringing a warm, stable climate after the last Ice Age. The stability allowed humans to start farming – and eventually, grow grapes and make wine. Our Mission is to craft terroir-driven wines that are delicious, fresh, complete, textural, age-worthy, and true reflections of place and time.

We value the connections that wine has provided us along the way.

We are a small, family-owned wine brand with two generations at the helm. We source from dry-farmed vineyards using organic practices, and where sites possess a unique terroir. And while Holocene is focused on the varied soil types of the Willamette Valley, we also make wine in a few regions in France.

Sustainable.

Winemaker
Todd Alexander

Grape / Blend
100% Pinot Noir

Origin
Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
This is the original wine for Holocene – the Memorialis bottling, which began in 2015 and has become our largest production wine at a whopping 360 cases.  The fruit for this wine comes from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. As it has been for quite some time, it is 100% whole cluster fermented. This vineyard is now farmed completely organically as well.

The vineyard faces west, and we pull from a good number of blocks in this vineyard, which is about 18 acres – not very big. It is in a sweet spot in Yamhill-Carlton and gets the beautiful afternoon sunshine and breezes from the west. It was planted in the mid 1990s, the soils are marine sedimentary and produce generous, complex fruit that we endeavor to transmit to the bottle.

98 Points - Wine Enthusiast
A Bing cherry aroma slinks its way up from the glass, followed by spicy whispers of cardamom and cinnamon. Straw and chalkboard dust scents seal the deal. After a tannic black tea note materializes on the palate, the wine’s cranberry and raspberry flavors punch the tart button. You can feel the tannins, but they aren’t grippy. The acidity, however, lets you know it is ready for juicy business. Memorialis is quietly becoming one of Oregon’s best Pinot Noirs.

96 Points - Owen Bargreen
Initially first made in 2015, the 2023 ‘Memorialis’ is a 360 case production wine from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. It is 100% whole-cluster fermented and stored in mainly neutral oak barrels before bottling. This is concentrated, gorgeous stuff, loaded with crunchy red fruits that parade with menthol, white pepper, exotic spices and shades of blood orange zest. Full-bodied and beautifully-textured, enjoy this beauty now and over the next twelve plus years to come. Give this 30 plus minutes in the decanter if enjoying in its heady youth. Drink 2025-2040

Product size: 750ml