Date: 02/2025
My tasting at Violin Wines was a journey through nuance, elegance, and expressive detail. With a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Oregon’s most compelling sites, each bottle reflected a thoughtful and restrained winemaking approach. The wines spoke with quiet confidence—layered, site-driven, and finely textured—capturing both the beauty of the vintage and the soul of the vineyard.
2022 Violin Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, leather, cranberry, violet, cassis, licorice
Tasting Notes: Red fruit, dark fruit, smooth, intense
Characteristics: Elegant, deeper, rich, more masculine than Africa Terra; layered, complex, integrated
Pairing: Duck confit, mushroom tart, or grilled salmon
My Rating: 95 points
2022 Violin Chardonnay (Willamette Valley)
Varietal: Chardonnay
Nose: Citrus, tropical, stone fruit, melon, lemon curd, vanilla, orange peel, floral (white flower)
Tasting Notes: Creamy but bright
Characteristics: Layered, acidic, weight in body, light reduction, interesting, unique
Pairing: Scallops in lemon butter, goat cheese salad, or grilled chicken with citrus glaze
My Rating: 91 points
2022 Violin Temperance Hill
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Tart, juicy, earthy, reductive
Tasting Notes: Red and dark fruit, cherry
Characteristics: Needs to air out or lay down for a bit
Pairing: Roasted pork loin, lentil stew, or rosemary-crusted lamb
My Rating: 94 points
2021 Violin Koosah
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Dark cherry, stewed fruit, mixed berry, jammy, savory, floral (lavender), some vegetal
Tasting Notes: Broody
Characteristics: Lovely aromatics, acid chilled out, round, layered, juicy, deeper, rich
Pairing: Braised short ribs, wild mushroom risotto, or aged Gruyère
My Rating: 97 points
2022 Violin Polk County Cuvee (Blend)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Beautiful, rich nose
Tasting Notes: Smooth, rich, easy, tart, red and dark fruit
Characteristics: Layered, developed, smooth
Pairing: Roast duck, truffle flatbread, or charcuterie
My Rating: 96 points
2022 Violin Pinot Noir X-Omni
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Bright, acidic, strength, power, fruity
Tasting Notes: Cranberry, pomegranate, rich red fruit, borderline sour, tart, tangy cherry, vanilla, oak, yummy
Characteristics: Will be so smooth and juicy and beautiful in 5 years
Pairing: Grilled lamb chops, balsamic-glazed portobello, or seared tuna
My Rating: 96 points (potential)
2022 Violin Justice (Mature Vines)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Beautiful nose
Tasting Notes: Dark fruit, red fruit, violet, floral, leather, elegant, delicate, slight cherry cola, stewed fruit
Characteristics: Rich, smooth, layered, deep, like in body, elegant yet beautifully integrated
Pairing: Ham, pork, mild spice
My Rating: 95 points
2022 Sojeau
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Cranberry, raspberry, red fruit, spice, oak, vanilla, floral, saline, cherry cola
Tasting Notes: Juicy, acidic, bright, lush, elegant
Characteristics: Whole cluster, layered, red fruit forward with some creaminess in taste (not body), French oak
Pairing: Herb-crusted pork tenderloin, mushroom risotto, or beet and goat cheese salad
My Rating: 94 points
2022 Violin Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, leather, cranberry, violet, cassis, licorice
Tasting Notes: Red and dark fruit, layered and complex
Characteristics: Elegant, deeper, rich, more masculine than Africa Terra; smooth, intense, integrated
Pairing: Premier Cru Sides
My Rating: 95 points
2022 Violin Chardonnay (Willamette)
Varietal: Chardonnay
Nose: Citrus, tropical, stone fruit, melon, lemon curd, vanilla, orange peel, floral-white flower
Tasting Notes: Creamy but bright
Characteristics: Light reduction, layered, acidic, good weight in body, interesting and unique
My Rating: 91 points
2022 Violin Temperance Hill Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Tart, juicy, earthy, reductive
Tasting Notes: Red and dark fruit, cherry
Characteristics: Needs to air out or lay down for a bit
My Rating: 94 points
2021 Violin Koosah Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Dark cherry, stewed fruit, mixed berries, floral, lavender
Tasting Notes: Jammy, savory, some vegetal, broody
Characteristics: Lovely aromatics, acid chilled out, round, layered, juicy, deeper, rich
My Rating: 97 points
2022 Violin Polk County Cuvee Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Blend)
Nose: Beautiful, rich, smooth, easy
Tasting Notes: Tart, red and dark fruit
Characteristics: Layered, developed, smooth
My Rating: 96 points
2022 Violin Pinot Noir X-Omni
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Bright, acidic, strong, fruity, red fruit forward
Tasting Notes: Cranberry, pomegranate, tart, long cherry, vanilla, oak
Characteristics: Will be smooth, juicy, and beautiful in 5 years
My Rating: 96 points (potential)
2022 Violin Justice Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Dark fruit, red fruit, violet, leather, cherry cola, floral
Tasting Notes: Elegant, delicate, stewed fruit
Characteristics: Rich, smooth, layered, deep, elegant yet powerful, beautifully integrated
Pairing: Ham, pork, molasses, spice
My Rating: 95 points
2022 Violin Sojeau Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Nose: Cranberry, raspberry, red fruit, spice, oak, vanilla, floral, saline, cherry cola
Tasting Notes: Juicy, acidic, bright, lush
Characteristics: Elegant, layered, red fruit forward with a touch of creaminess in taste (not body)
My Rating: 94 points
2022 Violin Chardonnay Sojeau
Varietal: Chardonnay
Nose: Citrus, honeysuckle, floral, lemon, tropical, green apple
Tasting Notes: Acidic, bright, clean with some weight
Characteristics: Clean and balanced
Pairing: Pasta with clam sauce, shrimp, scallops, fish, cheese
My Rating: 92 points
2023 Violin Chardonnay Sojeau
Varietal: Chardonnay
Nose: Green apple, citrus, white peach, tropical
Tasting Notes: Bright, clean, acidic, Burgundian
Characteristics: Slight reductive flavor profile that will mellow with time. Delicious now or can wait.
My Rating: 93 points
2021 Violin Black Walnut Chardonnay
Varietal: Chardonnay
Nose: Crisp, clean, acidic, bright, slight reduction, tropical, lemon, mineral, floral
Tasting Notes: Honeysuckle, lemon curd, tropical
Characteristics: Chiseled acid, easy drinking, doesn’t need food, special—should be celebrated on its own
My Rating: 96 points
