HEAD AND THE HEART

2015 Luke Jefferson – Head & Heart Pinot Noir – Eola Amity Hills – Willamette Valley – Oregon. $99.95 per bottle . 
Luke Jefferson is a side project from Steve Doerner, winemaker for Cristom, and his wife Irene Steh-Doerner. Named partly for their son, Luke, and partly for Thomas Jefferson. 

“The Head and the Heart bottling pays homage to Thomas Jefferson, whose thoughtful dialogue contrasts reason and emotion. Nestled on the eastern slopes of the Eola-Amity Hills, our tiny 2.5 acre Pinot noir vineyard was planted in 2000 to five clones. With a strong belief that traditional handling techniques result in the most complexity, the wine was bottled unfiltered.” – Steve and Irene

94 points Vinous Media: “Ripe red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of exotic spices, cola and smoky minerals. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated red fruit liqueur, cherry cola and spicecake flavors that gain depth with air while picking up a deeper licorice note. Sweet, seamless and focused on the impressively long, red-fruit-dominated finish, which features fine-grained tannins and a late jolt of minerality.

2019 Luke Jefferson – Symbion Pinot Noir -Eola Amity Hills  – Willamette Valley – Oregon
$47.95 per bottle – 6 packs.
Vibrant red currant, boysenberry and cherry aromas mingle with suggestions of vanilla, savoury herbs and baking spices. Complex and suave on the palate, offering red and dark berry, bitter cherry and spice cake flavours. Finishes on a repeating cherry note, with gentle, nicely integrated tannins that add subtle grip.