# Rose & Arrow Gathered Stones (2020)

- **Producer:** Rose & Arrow Estate
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Oregon, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.8%
- **Average price:** €230
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, raspberry, strawberry, violet, rose, black pepper, vanilla, cloves, cedar, smoke, forest floor, wet leaves, mushroom, leather

## About this wine

Rose & Arrow Estate is a highly acclaimed project in Oregon's Willamette Valley, born from a collaboration between Mark Tarlov, legendary Burgundian winemaker Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, and terroir specialist Pedro Parra. The name represents the 'pleasure of paradoxes'—the tension between the soft elegance of the rose and the direct, structured force of the arrow. Sourced from the 'Gathered Stones' parcel within the Hopewell Hills vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, this wine is defined by its unique volcanic geology. The vines struggle in a topsoil-free stream of fractured vesicular basalt, forcing roots deep into mineral-rich crystal structures. The 2020 vintage represents a triumph of timing and bravery, harvested just two days before wildfire smoke settled over the valley, resulting in an incredibly rare, pristine expression of this exceptional terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The 2020 vintage was harvested exactly two days before devastating wildfire smoke settled in the valley, completely escaping any smoke taint.
- The 'Gathered Stones' parcel has virtually no topsoil, forcing vines to grow directly into a deep stream of fractured volcanic basalt.
- With only 99 cases produced globally for the 2020 vintage, this is one of the rarest and most highly allocated Pinot Noirs in Oregon.

## Food pairing

While Pinot Noir is traditionally paired with lighter meats, the unique volcanic terroir of Gathered Stones imparts a structured, heavy grip and intense acidity that allows it to stand up to richer, heavier red meats and game. The wine's pronounced earthy and mineral undertones make it an exceptional partner for dishes featuring wild mushrooms and truffles, while its vibrant red and blue fruit profile beautifully complements roasted duck or venison served with berry-based reductions.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Rose & Arrow is guided by resident winemaker Felipe Ramirez and consulting winemaker Louis-Michel Comte Liger-Belair, utilizing meticulous micro-plot mapping pioneered by geologist Pedro Parra. For the Gathered Stones cuvée, the grapes are harvested by hand at optimal phenolic ripeness. In the cellar, a low-intervention approach is favored to preserve the natural tension and mineral signature of the volcanic basalt soils. Fermentation occurs with native yeasts, followed by aging in carefully selected French oak barrels with a low-to-medium percentage of new wood to ensure the oak complements rather than masks the delicate fruit and mineral characteristics. The wine is bottled with minimal fining or filtration to maintain its structural integrity.