WTN: All in the Family

[David M. Bueker]

• 2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Heritage No. 7 Whistling Ridge Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (6/17/2025)
  I have a fair bit of Pinot Noir from Goodfellow in my cellar, but most of it is very young. I know from a prior library release that the wines reward aging, so “hands off” is my general approach. Last night I finally gave in to temptation, six years after first trying this bottling (at the time the first Goodfellow wine I had ever tasted). Leaving aside my disappointment that I now only have one bottle left I am quite glad I opened this. It’s not fully developed, but it’s open, and the tannins are not an issue. There’s still plenty of fruit, but the wine is picking up touches of earth and herbal notes that expand the aromatic and flavor spectrum, along with a citrus zest hit of freshness that brightens the finish. Fruit and structure are evolving at the same pace, so I have little concern about waiting another six years for my final bottle.