Biodynamic Excellence: Exploring Landlines Estates’ Great Circle Pinot Noir

Landlines Estates, Part of the Montinore Family

Landlines Estates is the second label for Montinore Estates, an Oregon-based wine brand with over 200 planted acres in Oregon.

While Montinore Estates has been around for over 40 years, the Landlines project is fairly new. The label, which includes bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, came about in 2016 when Montinore owner Rudy Marchesi was approached with an offer to buy a beautiful 30-acre plot of prime vineyard called Tidalstar in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA.

Until Rudy purchased Tidalstar Vineyard, the land had been farmed using synthetic chemicals and conventional vineyard practices, but Rudy and his team have since transformed the soil with Biodynamic practices that they use across all of their vineyard sites. 

After years of hard work, Landlines Estates’ vineyards now have three sustainable certifications: Demeter-certified Biodynamic®, CCOF Organic, and LIVE-certified.  

Montinore Estates – The First Wine Brand

The land that makes up Montinore Estates has been farmed since the early 1900s when the first owner, John Forbis purchased the property. While the property has changed hands several times over the years, grape vines were not planted at Montinore Estates until 1982. Four years later, in 1986, the grapes produced their first harvest, and Montinore Estate wine was born.

1998 saw a significant change in how the vineyards were managed when Rudy Marchesi was hired to manage all 200 acres of the estate’s vines. Rudy fell in love with the property, like so many others before him, and purchased the brand (and the land) just two years later! Under Rudy’s leadership

Winemaker Stephen Webber

Winemaker Stephen Webber’s winemaking style has been called classic and restrained by those who love his wines. His light touch and appreciation for the region’s rich terroir is a good match for crafting classic Oregon Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Oregon Rieslings. Stephen landed at Montinore as the Head Winemaker in 2006.

Yamhill-Carlton AVA

Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, located within the larger Willamette Valley region, is renowned for producing some of the finest wines in the state. This AVA is particularly known for its exceptional Pinot Noir wines, which thrive in the region’s unique microclimates and soil composition. If you ever have a chance to travel up to Oregon wine country, it is an exceptionally beautiful place.

Wineries in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, like Landlines, benefit from a maritime climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean, which is just a stone’s throw away. The cool temperatures, ample rainfall, and dramatic temperature fluctuations create ideal conditions for growing high-quality grapes. It’s also worth noting that the AVA is characterized by long, warm summers and mild, wet winters, which provide a balanced growing season that helps grapes achieve optimal ripeness while retaining acidity. Basically, it’s perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The soil in Yamhill-Carlton is predominantly marine sedimentary in nature, consisting of the ancient Willakenzie and Yamhill series. These soils are well-draining, nutrient-rich, and perfect for cultivating grapes that express the terroir of the region. The unique combination of microclimates, soil types, and elevation variations within the AVA contributes to the complexity and diversity of wines produced here.