Description
Antiquum Daisy Pinot Gris 2023
This wine is a pure expression of 100% Pinot Gris, sourced exclusively from the Antiquum Farm estate in the southern Willamette Valley. It stands as a singular interpretation of the varietal, distinct from the mass-produced Pinot Grigio style, offering a level of texture and complexity that rivals premier cru white Burgundies. The 2023 release marks a significant chapter for the estate, being the first vintage crafted by new winemaker Sam Ecencia, formerly of Littorai, who has seamlessly translated the farm's unique energy into the bottle.
VINTAGE & TERROIR
Grown at a high elevation of nearly 800 feet on Bellpine soils—a rare, silty clay loam over ancient marine sandstone—this vineyard is dry-farmed to force deep root growth. The 2023 growing season in the Willamette Valley began with a cool, late spring that delayed bud break, followed by a warm, dry summer that allowed for extended hang time. This combination preserved electric acidity while developing full physiological ripeness. The unique Bellpine soil contributes a distinct savory undertone and structural tension that prevents the fruit from becoming cloying.
SENSORY DESCRIPTORS
In the glass, the wine presents a shimmering pale green-gold hue with excellent clarity. The nose is highly aromatic and "electric," bursting with primary notes of lime zest, white peach, and lemon verbena, layered with complex secondary aromas of honeycomb, fresh-cut hay, and crushed gravel. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, bone-dry wine that defies expectations with its paradoxical balance of racy precision and voluptuous weight. The texture is intricate and mouth-coating, a result of the lees aging, carrying flavors of green apple, pear skin, and wet flint. The finish is remarkably long and saline, leaving a mouthwatering impression of ocean spray and minerals.
WINEMAKING & FARMING
Antiquum Farm is world-renowned for its proprietary "Grazing-Based Viticulture," a regenerative farming system developed by proprietor Stephen Hagen. Instead of tractors and fertilizers, the vineyard is managed by a rotational flock of sheep, pigs, geese, and chickens—the latter being the namesake of this wine, named after Hagen's daughter Daisy and her escaped flock. This closed-loop ecosystem creates intense microbial diversity in the soil. For the winemaking, the fruit was hand-harvested at night and fermented with native yeasts. The wine was aged for six months on its lees in a combination of 75% stainless steel and 25% neutral French oak barrels, a technique that builds structural width without masking the fruit.
FOOD PAIRINGS
This wine's combination of bright acidity and rich texture makes it an incredibly versatile companion for American cuisine. It pairs exceptionally well with a classic Maine lobster roll; the wine's citrus zest cuts through the mayonnaise and sweet lobster meat while the textural weight stands up to the buttery bun. Alternatively, try it with pan-seared scallops over a corn purée, where the wine's saline minerality will echo the sweetness of the scallops. For a terrestrial option, a roast chicken with lemon and herbs creates a thematic and flavor harmony with the wine's savory herbal notes.
SCORES & REVIEWS
The 2023 vintage has already garnered significant acclaim, most notably receiving a massive 96 points from wine critic Paul Gregutt, who named it one of his "twelve most memorable wines of 2024." He praised it as a "multi-dimensional wine with layer upon layer of beautifully orchestrated components." Despite this high praise and the labor-intensive farming required to produce it, the wine remains a remarkable value in its class, often outperforming domestic white wines at double the price point.
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