Lucidwild Estate Recognized As One Of Oregon’s Premier Wineries By Renowned Wine Critic Owen Bargreen
Acclaimed Wine Critic “Blown Away” With Overall Quality of LucidWild Estate’s 2024 Vintage, Awarding Top Scores Up to 97 Points to the Single-Vineyard, Dry-Farmed Wines from the Iconic Dundee Hills Estate
LucidWild Estate, an immersive, design-forward winery nestled in Oregon’s highly celebrated Dundee Hills, announced today it has received critical acclaim from renowned wine critic Owen Bargreen in his first professional evaluation of the estate’s 2024 vintage single-vineyard estate wines.
In a comprehensive report published on his globally read publication, Bargreen declared that “LucidWild is now clearly one of the premier players in Oregon wine,” praising the estate as “one of the most impressive new wineries that I have tasted from anywhere in the past year”. Reflecting on his initial professional assessment of the portfolio, he noted that he was “honestly blown away with the overall quality”.
Founded in January 2021 by proprietors Blair and L.J. Nicholas, LucidWild Estate transformed the iconic vineyard into an architectural and viticultural marvel. The single-vineyard estate features a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot tasting room with breathtaking views of the estate vines and the Willamette Valley from its SkyTerraces, which are perched at an elevation of over 800 feet and integrated with subterranean structural WineCaves. However, its true foundation lies within the 28-year-old, dry-farmed, heritage vines set on the complex, volcanic Jory soils that define the heart of the Dundee Hills AVA.
Leading Bargreen’s stellar reviews is the 2024 LucidWild ‘Chosen’ Pinot Noir, which achieved an extraordinary score of 97 points. Bargreen lauded the micro-production bottling as a “total masterclass” and “a world-class wine that rivals some of the greats in Oregon”. He described it as a “head-turner that will appeal to anyone who loves top class Oregon wine,” prioritizing the wine’s character as “silky, opulent and stunning stuff… filled with tension and texture” with a finish that is “exceedingly long with rich strawberry, black currants and stony minerals alongside Satsuma orange zest”.
“[Y]ou are going to be amazed with its precision, its poise, richness and flavor density. It is a head-turner… Lush, round and irresistible, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come.” – Owen Bargreen’s review of the 2024 ‘Chosen’ Pinot Noir
The estate’s white wine program reached parallel heights with the 2024 LucidWild ‘Hidden’ Chardonnay, which earned 95 points. Sourced from estate blocks set on fractured rocky soils, Bargreen called the Hidden Chardonnay a “total stunner” and a “stunning new bottling,” highlighting its nose of “rich melon and mango notes combine[d] with clove dusted shortbread” balanced beautifully on the palate with a “silky mouthfeel and loads of salty minerality”.
Bargreen’s comprehensive reviews extended across the estate’s entire collection of small-production Pinot Noirs, each demonstrating the remarkable range of the 28-year-old vines and meticulous clonal block selections:
2024 ‘Beast’ Pinot Noir (95 Points): A selective barrel compilation described as “big and bold as the name suggests, loaded with dense loganberry and black cherry fruits that combine with stony soils”. Bargreen praised it as “very refined texturally, with plenty of weight and length”.
2024 ‘Renegade’ Pinot Noir (95 Points): Utilizing partial whole-cluster fermentation, this expression was highlighted for coming off “very savory with dried herbs and black olive tapenade notes,” resulting in a “full-bodied, rich and viscous” profile that is “drinking marvelously right now”.
2024 ‘Fusion’ Pinot Noir (94 Points): Crafted from several distinct blocks across the estate vineyard, it was lauded as “rich, viscous stuff with loads of salty and rocky soil character,” seamlessly melding flavors of pomegranate seed, bergamot, orange peel, and hints of peat moss.
These exceptional scores solidify LucidWild Estate’s position at the epicenter of regional viticulture, earning some of the highest ratings of the vintage. The stellar reception highlights the incredible capability of the estate’s 28-year-old, dry-farmed vines located in the heart of the Dundee Hills. Renowned worldwide for its unique, iron-rich Jory soils and protective microclimates, this iconic ridge is frequently referred to by connoisseurs and critics alike as the “Grand Cru” region of the Willamette Valley.
“We are deeply honored by Owen Bargreen’s meticulous review and high praise for our 2024 vintage portfolio wines,” said Blair Nicholas, Co-Proprietor of LucidWild Estate. “When L.J. and I took stewardship of these 28-year-old vines, our mission was to honor this historic Dundee Hills ground by crafting world-class wines that express deep texturing, tension, and a distinct sense of place. Seeing our single-vineyard estate bottlings recognized alongside the region’s historic icons is a testament to our viticultural team’s devotion to regenerative farming practices and commitment to minimal winemaking practices that honor the raw power and elegance of our 28-year-old vines”.
