James Suckling Awards 100 Points to Rose & Arrow Estate 2023 Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Touchstone During AVA’s 20th Anniversary Year, Suckling’s First Oregon 100pt Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills, OR – May 26, 2026 – Cementing its status as one of the world’s premier wine-growing regions, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA is celebrating a monumental achievement during its 20th anniversary year. Rose & Arrow Estate has been awarded a perfect 100-point score by renowned critic James Suckling for its 2023 Rose & Arrow Estate Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Touchstone. This is the first time James Suckling has given 100 points for an Oregon Pinot Noir.
This marks the second perfect 100-point score achieved by an Eola-Amity Hills wine in the past year, proving the volcanic terroir of the region consistently produces wines of extraordinary caliber. In August 2025, Bethel Heights “The High Wire” Chardonnay earned Oregon’s first-ever 100-point score from Decanter Magazine.
“These perfect scores are a testament to the unique geological magic of our region and the relentless dedication of our winemakers and winegrowers,” said Kathy Lauer, CEO of Bryn Mawr Vineyards and President of the Eola-Amity Hills Winegrowers Association. “Achieving this during the 20th anniversary year of the Eola-Amity Hills is the ultimate validation of our world-class terroir.”
In her review, JamesSuckling.com’s staff writer and taster, Courtney Humiston, praised the wine’s “power and structure,” noting its “deeply mineral” character layered with “fresh yet ripe dark fruit, fine tannins and spice,” calling the wine “built to age forever but compelling and delicious right now.” Touchstone 2023 comes from a vineyard site defined by vesicular basalt soils, a hallmark of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA’s volcanic identity.
“It feels good to have this recognition,” said Rose & Arrow winemaker, Felipe Ramirez. “Fifteen years ago, we started a dream with Mark Tarlov, and today we are seeing the results of commitment and hard work to make unique Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley.”
Ramirez also noted the exceptional quality of the 2023 vintage across the winery’s portfolio.
“Most of our wines from 2023 received outstanding scores,” he said. “Harvest 2023 was early and compacted, with slightly below-average yields but very high quality. Because we had warm and dry conditions throughout the summer, we worked hard and fast to preserve freshness throughout the process, resulting in wines driven by fresh red fruit and mineral tones. The wines from 2023 are built for long aging while also offering great drinkability today.”
With its first vintage in 2016, Rose & Arrow is a collaboration between renowned soil scientist Pedro Parra, Burgundian winemaker Louis-Michel Liger-Belair and the late filmmaker and vintner Mark Tarlov, with the goal of crafting wines that transparently express the volcanic terroir of the Willamette Valley. Today, winemaker Felipe Ramirez continues that vision through site-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines rooted in soil expression.
In celebration of the AVA’s 20th anniversary, Eola-Amity Hills wineries and vineyards will host a variety of special celebratory offerings. To learn more about how member wineries are celebrating, visit www.eolaamityhills.com/20th-anniversary. For all other info regarding Eola-Amity Hills AVA and upcoming events, visit www.eolaamityhills.com.
ABOUT EOLA-AMITY HILLS AVA
Located in the northern Willamette Valley of Oregon, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, founded in 2006, is renowned for its world-class vineyards and distinctive wines. Characterized by rolling hills, volcanic soils, and a unique cooling influence from the Van Duzer Corridor, the region produces grapes with exceptional balance, complexity, and expressive varietal character. Home to celebrated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other cool-climate varietals, Eola-Amity Hills has earned recognition among the top wine-growing regions in the world. Its thriving community of dedicated growers and winemakers reflects a commitment to craft, sustainability, and innovation, making the AVA a cornerstone of Oregon’s dynamic wine landscape. Equinox in the Eola-Amity Hills is an annual wine and food tasting event celebrating producers and winemakers across the AVA on May 2, 2026.
The Eola-Amity Hills Winegrowers Association is a nonprofit organization governed by a collective board of vineyard owners and industry professionals, united in their mission to promote and showcase the AVA.
