Located in Willamette Valley's Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the family’s highly prized soils produce Pinot Noir
of exceptional finesse and longevity, crafted by acclaimed Oregon winemaker Eric Hamacher. It's also known for the namesake ghost that is said to haunt the environs.
According to legend, in the late 1800s, a gold prospector on his way to sell his ore in Portland camped at the top of a wooded hill, on what is now known as Savannah Ridge. In the dark of night, a bandit attacked and killed him and his horse, stealing away the gold. Some say the miner’s ghost still wanders the hill in search of his stolen treasure.
Brothers Daniel and Samuel Bayliss bought the land in 1906 and operated a dairy until Samuel’s son and his wife bought them out in the 1930s. The land was used for growing wheat, hay, clover, and peas, and raising sheep. Their son Mike Bayliss and his wife Drenda raised cattle and hay but opted for producing Pinot Noir to keep the farm in the family.
They started with a goal of providing grapes to other wineries but established an excellent reputation and decided to make their own wine. Today, Mike and Drenda live in the original farmhouse and get help operating the farm from the fifth generation: their son Michael, daughter Bernadette, and son-in-law Cameron Bower. They produce around 1,200 cases of 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir annually.
Eric Hamacher, one of Oregon’s most respected and sought-after winemakers, took over Ghost
Hill winemaking with the 2015 harvest. He favors traditional winemaking techniques and favors wild fermentation and minimal intervention. The winery also benefits from a favored position, atop Savannah Ridge. The 16-acre estate vineyard is 400 feet in elevation and features Willakenzie series soils on top of marine sediment bedrock. The soil type, the best known in Willamette Valley, is ideal for growing Pinot Noir.
During a recent International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association webinar, we had a chance to taste the 2023 Pinot Noir Blanc. This is the best-selling wine for Ghost Cellars and was originally produced so that the winery could offer a white wine in its tasting room. It is whole-cluster-pressed, providing a great depth of flavor, and finished in neutral oak. In the glass, it is a beautiful rose gold color. On the palate, there are juicy stone fruit flavors with notes of citrus and pear.
It's a delectable wine that is outstanding as an aperitif or a companion for a shellfish entree. The retail price is $34.
Ghost Hill Cellars offers a spirited lineup of Pinot Noir. We recommend them highly.
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