Love & Squalor Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 (750ml) *

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir tends toward brightness and finesse rather than weight, and this 2021 bottling from Love & Squalor sits comfortably in that mold. It's a medium-bodied Oregon Pinot, made in a style that leans on freshness and lift, the kind of red that rewards a light chill and doesn't ask you to wait around for it.

Expect poppy-bright red fruit, wild raspberry, and a lick of licorice, framed by fresh rose petals and a dusty, earthy undertone. The acidity is snappy and vivid, giving the wine a juicy, fruit-forward energy that never tips into anything green or hard. There's a subtle staining concentration of primary fruit that lingers as the florals and berry notes fade. Fun to drink now and over the next couple of years.