The lovely Weber Vineyard, home to Western bluebirds and one of the older vineyards in the Dundee Hills, was first planted by the Weber family in 1978 on an unusual geological formation from land they purchased from their neighbors and friends, the Maresh family. Vivian Weber told me one of the stories of how it all began as we drank hot tea on her front porch (the view and the birdsong and the overall energy felt and looked like some other time in a paradise on this early summer morning). The short of it is that once her late husband, Art Weber, knew he wanted to plant a vineyard, he began searching for David Lett (The Eyrie Vineyards). This was in 1972. Art ended up asking someone at the local hardware store where he could find Mr. Lett, but the man refused to tell him where he lived. Knowing David as I did, this is no surprise! So, Art and Vivian went driving up Worden Hill Road, and up the hill they saw a handwritten sign advertising land for sale. I believe it was about 21 acres. They were sure this must be David Lett, and they pulled over. As it turned out, Jim Maresh Sr. happened to be out and about on his and Loie’s farm (Maresh Vineyard), and that is how the Webers purchased their vineyard land from the Maresh family and how they became friends. I met Art and Vivian long ago at the Maresh Red Barn when they had get-togethers with friends and neighbors on the hill. In 1976 the Webers bought an additional, adjoining 65 acres from their neighbor, Nita Moyer.

This is my fifth Pinot produced from Weber Vineyard, a beautiful vineyard just down Worden Hill Road from Maresh Vineyard that I have prized for a very long time. The vines in this block were planted in 1983 on their own roots. Strong, old Oregon oak trees and towering big leaf maples guard the southern part of my block for this wine, while the eastern border of my block is a wild, mixed forest filled with unseen songbirds singing during the light hours. The Weber 2022 is a medium-dark, youthful, rich red with brilliant transparency. This Dundee Hills beauty has a nose of dark red and blue berries along with minerals and subtle spices. There is a cool depth and intensity from the beginning that continues in the mouth with even darker fruit. This is a serious wine that is both gorgeous and elusive, and the finish is long and silky with great composition and tension.