There are wines you drink, and there are wines you wait for. Archery Summit falls squarely into the latter category—a winery that doesn’t just make Pinot Noir, it makes you rethink time.
Our story with Archery Summit began years ago in the Dundee Hills AVA, the beating heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Back then, we were curious: How long should you age an Oregon Pinot Noir? Five years? Eight? Ten? We decided to gamble with patience—and the payoff was unforgettable.
Take the 2011 Arcus Estate Pinot Noir. A cool vintage, a decade in the cellar, and a glass that whispered Burgundy while speaking fluent Oregon. Aromas of rainy autumn forest, mushrooms, and even a hint of barnyard mingled with ripe strawberry, cherry, and dark chocolate. Vanilla and cedar from new French oak framed the wine’s elegance, while age added tobacco and dried flowers. On the palate? Sour cherry, raspberry jam, black tea tannins, and a finish that lingered like a well-told story. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely—though we admit, maybe a year earlier would have been perfection.
Then came 2012, another challenging year. We opened Archery Summit’s Archer’s Edge and Renegade Ridge after years of anticipation. Both single-vineyard Pinots delivered bright acidity, earthy mushroom notes, and a rare balance of tannin and fruit. Proof that even in tough vintages, skilled winemakers can turn adversity into art.
But Archery Summit isn’t just about Pinot Noir. Their Pinot Gris deserves its own spotlight. We still remember tasting the inaugural vintage in their underground cellar—a creamy blend of orange rind and pear nectar. Fast forward to the 2021 Pinot Gris, and the wine practically danced out of the glass with peach, passion fruit, and mineral notes. A riper, more expressive vintage that stole the show.
What ties these wines together? Precision. Archery Summit’s approach—fruit thinning up to 40%, meticulous maceration, and aging in new French oak—creates concentration and depth. Add biodynamic farming and a commitment to single-vineyard expression, and you have wines that rival Burgundy in complexity while staying true to Oregon’s soul.
