Today we share the great Pinot Noir wines of Fullerton, founded back in 2012. Head winemaker and founder Alex Fullerton produces a wide range of wines that have now expanded into Washington State. Alex has a longstanding industry history, formerly working for Penner-Ash, as well as Drylands in New Zealand, Alex began making his own wine out of his garage in 2011.
I recently had the chance to sample the range of new wines by Fullerton and they were very good across the board. I love the new value driven 2022 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris (OB, 90) which offers fabulous wine for an inexpensive price. I adored the new 2022 Fullerton ‘Brvtvs’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is big and burly, 100% stem inclusion Pinot Noir. Learn more about these wines at http://www.fullertonwines.com Here are the great new releases from Fullerton Wines:
2022 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris- This is a bright and juicy edition of the 2023 ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris. Copious minerals combine well with green apple, sour kiwi and papaya notes on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2028- 90
2022 Fullerton ‘Hvid’ White Wine- This white blend combines 60% Sauvignon Blanc with 35% Pinot Blanc and the remainder Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It is well-made and sturdy with a soft mouthfeel. Melon and citrus fruits combine with a nutty edge on the palate. Drink 2025-2029- 90
2022 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Three Otters’ Chardonnay comes from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley. This offers straightforward peach and apricot notes alongside shades of saline dusted apple on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2022 Fullerton ‘Lux’ Chardonnay- A barrel selection wine, the 2022 ‘Lux’ is drinking marvelously now at the three year mark. This comes off beautifully textured and wonderfully nervy, with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Salted wet rock combines with juicy pear, nectarine and brioche notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, showing good tension and aging potential, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 Fullerton ‘Dupee Vineyard’ White Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Dupee Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA, this white Pinot Noir is both soft and mineral-laden on the mouth. Juicy orchard fruits mingle well with wild strawberry and shades of buttered French bread on the palate. Delightful now, enjoy over the next six to eight years to come. Drink 2025-2032- 91
2023 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Noir is a really nice wine that is drinking well in its youth. Delicate red fruits combine with orange rind and tobacco leaf, with copious minerals on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2022 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Five Faces’ is really well-done value from this slightly cooler vintage. Medium-bodied tart red fruits march on the palate, alongside bergamot and forest floor accents. Smooth and silky, with good minerality, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2032- 92
2022 Fullerton ‘Johan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 Pinot Noir was sourced from the Johan Vineyard which is located in the Van Duzer Corridor. Shades of black truffle mark the nose alongside tart black fruits and dusty soils. The palate is really enjoyable and fresh with a vibrant tension that runs through the core of red and dark fruits. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2022 Fullerton ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ comes from the Ribbon Ridge AVA, as this location is set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. The palate comes off ver pretty with bright red raspberry and pomegranate seed flavors alongside red rose water and orange peel. Delightful now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2022 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The 2022 ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site set on Willakenzie soils. It is generous, round and delicious on the mouth, with loads of finesse. Black and red fruits greet you with shades of bergamot and forest floor accents. Complex and delicious, this is drinking really well in its bright youth. Drink 2025-2037- 94
2022 Fullerton ‘Nemarniki Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2022 Fullerton ‘Nemarniki Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from the Laurelwood AVA, as this site is set on a setter western facing slope. Pretty guava and red currants mark the palate alongside salty soils and kumquat zest notes. Complex and delicious, with plenty of minerality, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 Fullerton Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Bjornson Vineyard is set on volcanic soils in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Wonderful rocky soils mark the palate, alongside a collection of black and red fruits, with good acidity and a soft texture. With more air orange zest and pine needle accents entice, as this is drinking really well already now at the three year mark. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2022 Fullerton ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2022 ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from a slightly cooler location in the Coast Range region, utilizing Wadenswil clonal selection. The palate is vibrant with plenty of finesse, yielding juicy red cherry and red raspberry fruit flavors, with shades of blood orange zest and salty soils. Medium-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2036- 93
2022 Fullerton ‘Nicolas Family Vineyard - Bella Vida’ Pinot Noir- This wine comes from the Nicolas Family Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. It is wonderfully rocky on the nose with wild mushroom, red currants, menthol and shades of orange peel. The palate is lithe and polished with excellent tension. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 Fullerton ‘Brvtvs Pinot Noir- The 2022 ’Brvtvs’ was sourced from the Fir Crest Vineyard and is named after the rebel and leader that took down Julius Ceasar. A Pommard selection Pinot Noir, this saw 100% stem inclusion, opening with plenty of tart red fruits on the nose alongside peat moss and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is plush and refined with a soft texture and beautiful sense of verve. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 Fullerton ‘Tenebris’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Tenebris’ is an outstanding wine crafted by Alex Fullerton. This is a barrel selection wine that has a range of clonal selections. It comes off elegant, silky and refined on the palate, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Red currants mingle well with salty and rocky soils alongside ripe strawberry and forest floor notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, this will be a two decade wine. Drink 2025-2042- 95
2022 Fullerton ‘Hallowed Stones Vineyard’ Syrah- Coming from the Walla Walla Rocks District, the 2022 ‘Hallowed Stones Vineyard’ Syrah offers hoisin sauce and umami on the palate with wet rock, orange peel, red currants and shades of charcuterie. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2022 Fullerton ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah is smooth and soft throughout the drinking experience. Concentrated black fruits mingle well with black rock, stony minerals and hints of flint with tobacco leaf on the palate. Neatly textured and round, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2022 Fullerton ‘Summit View Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Summit View Vineyard which is a high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley. Nicely yxftqred, this offers medium bodied blackberry, cassis and black cherry fruit flavors alongside good freshness and herbal accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 92
2022 Fullerton ‘Gertrud’ Sauvignon Blanc- A brilliant late-harvest Sauvignon Blanc from the Columbia Gorge AVA, this delivers sweet peach and apricot jelly notes on the palate, with nutty and stony accents. Full-throttle and still showing some bright underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93