Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir

Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir is a 100% Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon, bottled at 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scoring 91 points from both Wine Enthusiast and Jeb Dunnuck, this multi-vineyard blend represents one of the Willamette Valley's most consistent and compelling introductions to site-driven Oregon Pinot Noir.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon  |  100% Pinot Noir  |  Winery: Patricia Green Cellars

Production & Heritage

Patricia Green Cellars was founded in 2000 by Patty Green and Jim Anderson, quickly establishing a reputation for vineyard-specific Pinot Noir from Oregon's most respected growing sites. The Reserve bottling draws fruit from multiple vineyards, including parcels in the Dundee Hills, the estate vineyard, and the acclaimed Freedom Hill Vineyard. Despite carrying the word "Reserve," this wine actually serves as the winery's entry-level offering — a naming convention rooted in the cellar's early history. From 2000 to 2005, the wine was labeled simply "Oregon," but in 2002 the team identified ten barrels that were exceptional yet not quite single-vineyard caliber, bottling them separately as "Reserve." By 2006, the Reserve designation stuck as the foundation of the portfolio, with single-vineyard and block-designate wines sitting above it in the lineup.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe blackberry and red cherry before shifting toward orange peel and cacao nibs. Behind the fruit sits a quiet layer of wildflowers and sweet earth that deepens with time in the glass.

Taste: The palate enters with dense black cherry and tangerine that knit together at mid-palate, developing savory complexity with notes of clove, white tea, and cinnamon. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, the wine carries a sense of purity through each layer. Licorice, red plum, and a thread of red spice emerge as it opens up further.

Finish: The finish is smooth and moderately long, carried by velvety tannins and lingering echoes of cola and bramble. A subtle earthy quality persists alongside the fruit, anchoring the wine's final impression.

How to Drink the Reserve Pinot Noir

This Pinot is best served slightly below room temperature — around 58–62°F — and rewards 20–30 minutes of breathing time in the glass. Neat and unadorned is the ideal starting point to appreciate the vineyard complexity.

• Classic Pinot Noir pairing, neat with roasted duck: The wine's cherry fruit and earthy undertones mirror the richness and savory depth of duck preparations.
• Alongside mushroom risotto: The sweet earth and spice in the wine amplify the umami character of wild mushrooms.
• With herb-crusted salmon: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir's bright acidity and medium body pair naturally with the richness of Pacific Northwest salmon.

Best For

• Introducing a wine-curious friend to serious Oregon Pinot Noir
• Weeknight dinners where quality matters but single-vineyard pricing doesn't
• Building a Willamette Valley vertical collection across vintages
• Gifting to a Burgundy enthusiast exploring New World alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Patricia Green Reserve taste like? It leads with ripe black cherry and tangerine, layered with clove, white tea, and a thread of cinnamon, all carried on medium body with crisp acidity and velvety tannins.

How does Patricia Green Reserve compare to entry-level Burgundy? Oregon Pinot Noirs in this range are frequently compared to Bourgogne-level Burgundy; the Patricia Green Reserve tends to show riper, darker fruit and more overtly generous texture, while Burgundy at a similar tier often emphasizes minerality and higher-toned red fruit. Both styles prioritize terroir expression, but the Reserve leans toward the New World end of the spectrum while maintaining Old World restraint.

Is Patricia Green Reserve good for sipping neat? Yes — its balanced acidity, medium body, and layered fruit-to-spice complexity make it thoroughly enjoyable on its own, especially with a few minutes of air.

Where is Patricia Green Reserve made? Patricia Green Cellars is located in the Willamette Valley AVA of Oregon, sourcing fruit from several notable vineyard sites including parcels in the Dundee Hills and the Freedom Hill Vineyard.

What foods pair well with Patricia Green Reserve? Roasted duck brings out the wine's earthy cherry tones; wild mushroom dishes amplify its savory spice; herb-crusted salmon matches its acidity and weight; aged Gruyère complements its tannic structure; and charcuterie boards with cured meats echo the cola and bramble notes on the finish.

What sizes does Patricia Green Reserve come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Patricia Green Reserve worth the price? As the entry-level wine from a winery celebrated for vineyard-designate bottlings, the Reserve positions itself in the accessible tier of quality Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, delivering multi-vineyard complexity and 90+ point critical recognition at a price well below the single-vineyard wines in Patricia Green's own portfolio.

Why Patricia Green Reserve?

The Reserve's real distinction lies in what it borrows from the bottles above it. Because Patricia Green Cellars produces dozens of single-vineyard and block-designate Pinot Noirs each vintage, the barrels that feed the Reserve represent fruit from some of Oregon's most respected sites — Dundee Hills, Freedom Hill — that simply didn't fit the strict parameters of a vineyard-specific release. The result is a blend with more dimension than most entry-level Oregon Pinot Noirs can claim, validated by consistent 90–91 point scores from Wine Enthusiast and Jeb Dunnuck. For drinkers looking to understand what Willamette Valley Pinot Noir can achieve without committing to single-vineyard pricing, this is a benchmark starting point.