In July, Vinous shared reviews of six Bells Up wines. Editor Eric Guido (pictured above) tasted through all of our newest releases, which were—for the first time—entirely sourced from our estate vineyard property. The wine writers and reviewers at Vinous publish coverage of new releases daily.
Guido’s most recent review of Willamette Valley wines principally covered the 2024 vintage. Since the wines we submitted were 2022s (our 2024s are nowhere close to being ready to release), we went back to see what he had written two years prior. Here’s what Guido had to say about an unusual year in his article, “Oregon 2022: The Rollercoaster Vintage”:
“The 2022 vintage in Oregon was a nail-biter and a head-scratcher for winemakers throughout the Willamette Valley. It was a growing season fraught with challenges that tested the skills and decision-making abilities of growers and winemakers in ways never seen before. Being a competent enologist or agronomist wasn’t enough to deal with the curveballs Mother Nature threw at the region. Patience, perseverance, ingenuity, lack of bias and adaptability were all vital to turning out a successful range of wines. In the best-case scenarios, there are many outstanding success stories.”
He’s not wrong. Here’s Winemaker Dave’s recap of the 2022 growing season, which we include on every wine’s page and tech sheet:
The 2022 growing season was another roller coaster ride for Willamette Valley growers. A mid-April freeze at budbreak, followed by unseasonably cool and wet May and June weather, delayed harvest into mid-October for the first time in a decade. Fortunately, our vineyard avoided frost damage to the primary buds and the resulting clusters were much larger than normal, with high seed counts per berry. Summer was milder overall, but the warmest and driest September and October on record gave the fruit the opportunity to develop the rich, complex flavors we’ve come to expect from our estate fruit.
Vinous’ Reviews of Bells Up’s Wines
Here are Guido’s notes on the wines we submitted…
2024 Pinot Blanc Rhapsody
The 2024 Pinot Blanc Rhapsody is moody in the glass, mixing flowery underbrush with wet stones and musky nectarine. This is soft textured with a strong mineral component and subtle white pit fruits. Short yet juicy, the 2024 leaves the palate refreshed.
2025 Rosé of Pinot Noir Prelude
The 2025 Rosé Prelude opens with a mix of crushed strawberries and musky citrus. It sweeps across the palate with juicy white cherry-berry fruit. Brisk acidity maintains a lively personality as the 2025 tapers off with medium length.
2022 Jupiter Pinot Noir
The 2022 Pinot Noir Jupiter opens with a spicy blend of balsamic black cherries, savory herbs and incense. Silken textures are quickly contrasted by tart red and blue fruits, further enhanced by brisk acidity. Edgy tannins linger with an air of licorice as the 2022 tapers off.
2022 Pinot Noir Maestro
The 2022 Pinot Noir Maestro mixes rose petals with cedary spice and dried strawberries to form its dusty bouquet. It opens with balanced inner sweetness as pure wild berry fruits and red florals build toward the close. Hints of citrus and blackberry emerge as the 2022 finishes with nuanced tannins and admirable length.
2022 Pinot Noir Titan
The 2022 Pinot Noir Titan opens in the glass with citrus-laced blackberries and balsam herbs. It is tart, round and wiry on the palate, with wild berry fruits complemented by sour citrus. This leaves a subtle tinge of heat as hints of licorice fade.
2022 Pinot Noir Candide
The 2022 Pinot Noir Candide is understated and coy, showing glimpses of blackberry and clove in the glass. It is juicy in character, with hints of cold and black fruit over a crunch of minerality. The cheeks pucker as the 2022 finishes with a tart citrus inflection.
