2021 Pinot Noir Earth

I met with Clare Carver and Brian Marcy at their relatively new tasting room in Carlton instead of their fully regenerative farm and winery outside of Gaston. I’ve personally been loving all of the discussions about regenerative farming, and I’m happy to see it flourishing in Oregon as well. The energy and purity of Big Table Farm wines sets them apart. Sometimes, when tasting through a portfolio, I feel that the wines transcend from an alcoholic beverage into something more spiritual, almost healing, and I got that feeling here. The Wild Bee Chardonnay and Laughing Pig Rosé are perfect examples. What’s more, these wines offer terrific value for what this husband and wife team is placing into the bottle. At this time, all of the fruit is purchased as Big Table Farm waits for their estate vineyard to come online between 2025 and 2026. When asked about the 2021 vintage, Clare Carver added, “This is a longer cellaring vintage compared to those warmer, more fruit-driven years.” To prove her point, she poured all the wines from a freshly opened bottle and one opened the day before. In all cases, the earlier opened wines showed impressive freshness and complexity. I highly recommend a long decant on these wines if opening them younger. While Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the primary focus, readers also owe it to themselves to check out their Syrah from the Funk Vineyard in the Rock District.