Antiquum Aurosa Pinot Gris 2025

Antiquum Aurosa Pinot Gris 2025 This distinctively textured wine is a single-varietal expression composed of 100% Pinot Gris, sourced exclusively from Antiquum Farm in the southern Willamette Valley. The 2025 vintage was characterized by a warm, dry growing season and an early, compressed harvest, which naturally reduced yields and fostered remarkable flavor concentration while preserving the region's signature cool-climate acidity. The estate's terroir plays a crucial role; situated on a west-facing knoll at 800 feet in elevation, the thin Bellpine soils and high sun exposure force the vines to struggle, resulting in smaller clusters with exceptionally thick skins. In the glass, the Aurosa presents a stunning, translucent deep copper-salmon hue that immediately signals its extended maceration, while the nose offers an exotic, highly perfumed bouquet of dried apricot, white peach, rose hip tea, and crushed almond. On the palate, this is a dry, medium-bodied wine that defies the typical lightness of the varietal, offering a substantial mouthfeel with a lithe, tea-like phenolic grip. Flavors of blood orange, wild strawberry, and wet stone minerality unfold with precision, supported by vibrant acidity that leads into a long, refreshing finish with a pleasant, savory bitterness reminiscent of grapefruit pith. The unique character of this wine is a direct result of farmer Stephen Hagen's pioneering Grazing Based Viticulture, a regenerative, zero-input farming method where sheep, geese, and chickens graze the vineyard year-round to build intense soil vitality. In the cellar, the fruit undergoes spontaneous fermentation with extended skin contact to extract its signature color and tannin structure, followed by six to eight months of aging on the lees in 100% neutral French oak barrels to build creamy textural complexity. Due to its structural grip and savory depth, this skin-contact Pinot Gris pairs exceptionally well with rich, American-leaning cuisine, serving as an outstanding match for hickory-smoked pulled pork with a tangy vinegar slaw or alongside a grilled cedar-plank salmon. While the 2025 vintage is still awaiting critical review, previous iterations have consistently earned 90-point scores from Wine Enthusiast, it remains a relatively affordable, highly allocated gem in its class.