2024 Maloof "Thistle Vineyard" Pinot Gris, Dundee Hills, Oregon, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

The 2024 Thistle Pinot Gris is from the “Thistle Block” of Haaken Lenai Vineyard formerly “Thistle Vineyard” in the Dundee Hills AVA, part of the Willamette Valley Oregon. The vineyard is certified organic, all fruit is hand-harvested. For this wine, the grapes are direct-pressed (no skin contact), then fermented and aged in neutral Burgundy barrels. It’s left on the lees (sur lie) for many months and in typical Maloof fashion bottled unfined and unfiltered. This is a not an oaky or buttery white you’re getting fruit, acidity, and minerality more than wood-driven flavors. Because it’s bottled unfined and unfiltered, it may show a bit more texture or “personality” than highly manipulated wines, with potential slight haze or a more “alive” mouthfeel.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Maloof Wines is run by a husband and wife team run by Bee Maloof and Ross Maloof. Their backgrounds are very different and complementary, Ross came from a hospitality/wine-in-restaurants background (years as beverage coordinator in Philadelphia), while Bee was a materials-science engineer in the aerospace industry. Their transition into winemaking was gradual, Ross first worked a harvest in Oregon in 2015, then in 2016 they both committed to test the waters of winemaking. Their first “official” vintage under the Maloof name began in 2015. Maloof Wines leans heavily into white wines, especially single-site (or single-vineyard) expressions. Their interest is not in chasing the region’s famed Pinot Noir, but rather highlighting grapes they love and feel deserve more attention. Their winemaking style tends toward energy, brightness, clarity and often a more “natural” or less-manipulated aesthetic rather than heavily oaked or interventionist.