2024 Lange Winery Pinot Noir Members Only Dundee Hills 750 ml

“I’d bet the farm that major critics are going to wax effusive over the outstanding 2024 vintage.”

Jesse Lange didn’t beat around the bush when we caught up with him this week. Powering through his 47th day of harvest, running on a lot less sleep and much more caffeine than normal, he was neck-deep in this year's harvest—but happy to glance back and revisit the glory of last year’s Willamette Valley Pinot harvest.

“It was a Goldilocks year—not too hot or cold, nice and even, a classic Dundee Hills vintage with some real structure to it,” he said, as we tailed him from bin to bin of actively fermenting Pinot. “The wines have incredible color to them, really vibrant, purple tones. They showcase outgoing fruit characters, but also a kiss of class and restraint.”

“And this wine will drink great upon release, if you want a sneak-peek at this incredible vintage.” he added.

The conversation about Members Only started on a warm day a few springs ago. We were on the deck overlooking Lange’s Legacy Vineyard, in the heart of the Dundee Hills. The backdrop was a snow-capped Mount Hood, 70+ miles in the distance but looking like you could reach out and touch it.

Three hours later, we had a plan. And three visits later, the Lange Estate Members Only Pinot—our first-ever custom Pinot—officially existed. 

Think of it as an NDA wine in its sourcing, but with no NDA to hold us back. We’re fully allowed to talk about the wine’s provenance—and provenance doesn’t get better than this. 

“This is the backyard where David Lett and Dick Erath started our industry in the 70s,” Jesse said, gesturing to the hills surrounding his family’s estate. No boasting, just facts: To sit at Lange Estate is to be in the cradle of the Willamette Valley’s wine industry. 

Jesse’s folks, Don and Wendy, started with a 30-acre parcel back in 1987 and have slowly added prime parcels in the neighborhood over time, and this 2024 Members Only comes solely from their estate parcels. It’s 100% Dundee Hills fruit—Pinot clones 777, 115, Pommard, and Wadenswil—grown on 100% Jory soil by an estate that’s been a mainstay of the Willamette Valley for 40 years.