Today we share the wines of Fullerton. 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 love the great value, 2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris (OB, 90) which packs a punch for the price. Another serious value is the 2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is an amazing new Chard for the price Learn more about these wines at http://www.fullertonwines.com Here are the great new releases from Fullerton Wines:
2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris- A killer value, the 2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Pinot Gris shows kiwi and gooseberry on the nose alongside green apple notes. The palate is polished with a smooth mouthfeel and vibrant acidity. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2024 Fullerton ‘Hvid’ White Wine- A kitchen sink blend of mainly Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, this delivers good depth with citrus and melon fruits alongside nutty accents on the palate. This is really intriguing and complex stuff. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2023 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Three Otters’ Chardonnay offers starfruit and pear notes on the nose alongside shades of salted walnut. The palate is fresh and viscous with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters Amber’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 ‘Amber’ is a skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc. It is round and smooth on the mouth, showing peach pit and citrus fruit flavors alongside grassy accents. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Five Faces’ comes from a range of clonal selection Chardonnay planted on several different soil types. This is round and generous with rich pastry crust notes alongside baking spices, banana, papaya and shades of salted Macadamia nut. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2024 Fullerton ‘Three Otters’ Rose- Made from a combination of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, the 2024 ‘Three Otters’ Rose delivers juicy pear and strawberry notes alongside excellent tension and salty nuances. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90
2023 Fullerton ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- A really nice value, the 2023 Fullerton ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir offers plenty of forward and ripe red fruits that mingle well with fresh sage and stony accents on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2024 Fullerton ‘Cuvee d’ Oregon’ Pinot Noir- Coming from several sites in the Willamette Valley, the 2024 Fullerton ‘Cuvee d’ Oregon’ Pinot Noir offers fleshy black and red fruits that collide with wet stone, dried herbs and suggestions of kumquat rind. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Fullerton ‘Five Faces’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites across the Willamette Valley. This is smooth and generous upon entry, loaded with orange zest alongside bright red fruits with salty/stony soil accents. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2021 Fullerton ‘Dupee Vineyard’ White Pinot Noir- Coming from the Dupee Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA, this white Pinot Noir opens with walnut notes alongside bright pear, starfruit and strawberry notes. The palate is soft and mineral-laden with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2021 Fullerton ‘Johan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Johan Vineyard is set in the Van Duzer Corridor as this 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes clonal selections 667 and 943. This is deeply concentrated stuff with serious tension and racy acidity. Rich and tart red and black fruits parade with salty and stony soils, tobacco and worn leather notes. The earthy tones make you think of a top notch Barolo. Drink 2024-2038- 94
2023 Fullerton ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ was sourced from this southern facing spot in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. This is delicious stuff with rich red fruits that collide with salted stone, pipe tobacco and shades of orange rind. Polished and layered, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2023 Fullerton ‘Nicholas Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Dundee Hills AVA, the 2023 Fullerton ‘Nicholas Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes off fleshy and dense on the mouth with tart red fruits that parade with sea salt, bergamot and shades of mandarin orange rind. Drink 2025-2036- 93
2023 Fullerton ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the 2023 Fullerton ‘Bjornson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir delivers some solid flavor density with red raspberry and pomegranate seed flavors alongside salty nuances on the palate. Lush and ripe, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2021 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA the Fir Crest Vineyard was planted on ancient Willakenzie soils. This offers a beautiful core of black and red florals alongside orange peel, salty soils and shades of baking spices on the nose. The palate is rich and dense with a fantastic underlying freshness, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. This is already really nicely evolved. Full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2036- 94
2021 Fullerton ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Momtazi Vineyard is a truly unique hillside spot that has both volcanic and marine sedimentary soils. This 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon clonal selections 114 and 777. It offers sea salt drenched red fruits on the palate, alongside baking spices, black tea and suggestions of kumquat zest. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2038- 94
2021 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2021 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from the Chehalem Mountains AVA as vines are set on Dupree soils. Juicy and rich, this offers a polished texture with black raspberry and black cherry flavors alongside shades of cola. Full-throttle and forward, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2024-2036- 93
2021 Fullerton ‘Apollini Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Appolini Vineyard is located in the Tualatin Hills AVA in the northwestern corner of the Willamette Valley. This outstanding wine is 100% Pommard clonal selection Pinot Noir. A deep core of black and red fruits greet you on the palate alongside allspice, orange peel and shades of salty marine soils. Full-bodied, and beautifully poised and textured, this is a total stunner that is drinking so well now. Drink 2024-2038- 94
2021 Fullerton ‘Brvtvs Pinot Noir- The 2021 ’Brvtvs’ comes form the Fir Crest Vineyard and is named after the rebel and leader that took down Julius Ceasar. This Pommard selection wine underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. It is big, bold and juicy, loaded with tart pomegranate seed and Linzer torte flavors alongside a silky texture and good sense of weight. Fresh and smooth on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94
2021 Fullerton ‘Clavdivs’ Pinot Noir- Named after the Roman emperor, this 2021 Pinot Noir utilizes clone 943 from the Arbor Brook Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The palate is lush and rich, showing a gorgeous combination of wild boysenberry, black currants, ripe strawberry and freshly tilled salty soils. Full-bodied and showing good tension and texture, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 94
2021 Fullerton ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Yellowjacket Vineyard’ Syrah is sourced from this site in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Inky in the glass, this delivers umami and hoisin sauce alongside milk chocolate, beef drippings and tar with menthol notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2021 Fullerton ‘Summit View Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Summit View Vineyard which is a high elevation site in the Walla Walla Valley. This is inky in the glass, offering anise and dark currants alongside black cherry compote on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93