Newsletter 07/03/2023

Wine Advocate 98+ Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is an arresting wine that grows in bottle over several days, offering singular expression, purity and a touch of magic. Medium ruby, the nose is very complex and offers something new with each return to the glass. A deep core of pomegranate and cranberry sauce blossoms to orange peel, tea leaves, mossy bark and lilac with an array of amaro-like undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and has tremendously concentrated flavors for its harmonious, velvety frame (this sits at only 12.8% alcohol). Layered, dynamic and very long, it stands out as one of the best expressions of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.”

Tan Fruit Tank Fruit Chardonnay 2021 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Tank Fruit is composed of fruit from the White Walnut Vineyard, a relatively new vineyard comprising eight acres planted around 2015 in the Dundee Hills. “The genetics that produced this is rare,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains, noting that the diverse clonal material in this vineyard includes 10 different heritage selections. The White Walnut Vineyard cuvée was fermented in oak and finished in stainless steel—the opposite of this 2021 Chardonnay Tank Fruit, which also comes from the White Walnut Vineyard but is fermented in stainless steel and finished in oak—although both wines offer singular exoticism. The Tank Fruit is bursting with intense aromas of peaches, fruit cocktail, lemongrass and orange oil with streaks of spice and herbs. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and seamless, gaining amplitude in the mouth as it releases wave after wave of concentrated fruit. It has a soft frame of flinty accents, and its fresh acidity calls you in for another sip on the long finish.”

Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vyd Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $109 special, 2 bottles available
Not available online… call or visit us in person to purchase
Winery note “When the first few blocks were planted in 1988, no one could have predicted the consistent magic that would spring forth for decades to come. The old 1940s dairy pasture is now fully transformed to 25 acres of Pinot Noir vines whose forest perimeter creates a nearly mystical landscape. The 2021 wine is full of classic features: ripe, dark cherry skins, orange zest, and subtle white flower and miso notes.”

Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $39.50 Special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve offers generous aromas of cranberry sauce, floral potpourri, blood orange and wafts of dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate is youthfully gregarious and focused on generous allspice flavors, although its chalky, tensile frame and long, latent finish suggest this has more to give with additional time in bottle.”

Eyrie Pinot Noir Sisters Vineyard 750ml 2019 750ml $47.50 special, 9 bottle available
Wine Advocate 96 Points
“Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sisters has a delicate perfume of raspberries, rhubarb, tar, orange peel and tea leaves with touches of flint. The light-bodied palate is powdery and fresh with fragrant floral character and a long finish.”

Vinopolnote “Fantastic purity of fruit. Fleshy red berries, brilliant acid, punches far above its weight. Is this the best-selling Pinot Noir in Oregon? It is for however long we can keep it in the shop.”
 
Cameron Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir 2020 750ml $75 special, 9 bottles available
Vinopolnote: “Deep plummy red in color, this has elegant notes of black raspberries and violets.”
 
Cameron Clos Electrique Blanc Chardonnay 2020 750ml $69 special, 22 bottles available
Vinopolnote: “Winemaker’s Note “There is truly something about the Clos Electrique terroir that chardonnay loves! While Abbey Ridge Chardonnay is a rendition of Chablis, Clos Blanc is reminiscent of the great wines of Meursault.”
 
Cameron Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2021 750ml $24 special, 26 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “This saporous potation is predominantly vinified from 42 year-old Abbey Ridge chardonnay with a smattering of Clos Electrique grapes, deeming it worthy of the Dundee Hills appellation as well as a google synonym search.
 
Cameron Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2021 750ml $24 special, 33 bottles available
Winery Note “Predominantly vinified from 42 year-old Abbey Ridge chardonnay with a smattering of Clos Electrique grapes, deeming it worthy of the Dundee Hills appellation as well as a google synonym search. It displays aromas of meyer lemon, lime leaf and lemon crème brûlée and has a rich and a velvety mouth with moderate acidity.   Perfect for sipping while you prepare dinner and a splendid accompaniment for almost any dish.  Consider it a gateway drug for our single vineyard chardonnays!
 

Crowley Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2020 750ml $24 special, 21 bottles available
Winery Note “Lemon-lime aromatics burst from the glass, laced with a touch of floral wood. Quenching salinity on the palate stretches long, eventually giving way to chalk and balanced acidity. Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1993 to Wente clone Chardonnay (1.5 acres) and Dijon clone Chardonnay (.75 acres), and beginning in 2017 (2.5 acres) of Draper clone. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed.”

Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $36 special, 28 bottles available
Winery Note “This wine has an herbaceous and citrusy nose, with traces of cranberry, graphite, allspice and pomegranate. The palate is full of ripe raspberry, plum, and anise framed by striking acidity.  Generous and playful the 2021 Entre Nous embodies our favorite trait for Pinot…accessibility without sacrifice.”

Crowley Four Winds Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 32 bottles available
Winery Note “In the glass this wine shines translucent red with amber hued edges. Herbs and dried flowers greet the nose, then give way to black cherry and watermelon. As it opens up, traces of pencil shavings give this wine.
 
Crowley La Colina Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 32 bottles available
Winery Note “The 2021 La Colina introduces the results of a technique that brings our Pinots ever closer to the refined aim we aspire to…maximum polish with a searing terroir presence. Pumpover cap treatment during fermentation (much like a pour-over coffee experience) delivers delicate but powerful fruit essences.”

Crowley Phoebe Four Winds Chardonnay 2020 750ml $55 Special, 16 bottles bvailable
Winery Note “Aromas of Asian pear, lemon chiffon, honeysuckle, mint and a trace of eucalyptus. The palate has the typical Four Winds high tension and firm acidity combined with mineral to complete its austerity. Richness from barrel enters mid palate and merges with silky texture and creamy fruit to a complete high energy finish. Beeswax lingers as does lime-pie. Wente & Draper clones. Native fermentation.”

 

Composition Pinot Noir WV 2021 750ml $89 special, 13 bottles available
Composition Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, 3 bottles available
Vinopolnote “The Composition Wines are now a project of Bertrand de Villaine. Yes, the de Villaine family that brought us the famed Domaine de Romanee-Conti. The vineyard sits on a south-facing ridge in the southern Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The terroir evokes volcanic soils, cooler temperatures, and an ideal elevation range Dry farmed and biodynamique.”
 
 

 
Ovum Big Salt White Blend 2021 750ml $17 special, 8 bottles available
Winery note “Big Salt™ is a white wine that embodies a day at the beach. It’s bright, fresh, dry and a bit salty (although no salt is added of course!) – once it’s done you’re left wanting more. We achieve this experience by letting mother nature create complexity – that is to say we allow all of the grapes to ferment together, with native yeast..rather than making a blend in the laboratory. Finding the right vineyards throughout oregon that share the same cool climate is what it’s all about.”
 
Coquina Wines Pinot Gris 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Vinoplnote “Formerly of Kosta Browne and Failla, winemakers Dana Benn and Nicole Staples came to to the Willamette valley to make something that was truly their own. Like a cross between Pinot Grigios of the Italian Alps and a fine Alsatian Pinot Gris. Structured and very complex.”

Illahe Estate Gruner Veltliner 2022 750ml $24 special, 6 bottles available
Winery Notes “Aromas of apple pie, pear, white peach, apricot, cinnamon, baking spice, almond, fortune cookie, freshly cut hay, with a white pepper, and a baking spice mouthfeel. Cold soaked on the skins for 24 hours and then gently pressed. Fermented in 60% acacia and 40% stainless.”
 
Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 12 bottles available
Vinopolnote Sauvignon Blanc is only very lightly planted in Oregon with well less than 100 acres currently existing in the state and less than 50 in the Willamette Valley AVA. This is classic Sauvignon Blanc provided you do not think this variety should smell like cut grass and cat pee. This has high-toned and heavily fruited aromatics with a distinct limey/citrus tinge along with the hint of straw and minerals which is what ripe Sauvignon Blanc should have as its varietal typicity.
 
Shiba Wichern Willamette Blanc 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 11 bottles available
Vinopolnote “A blend of 72% neutral oaked Auxerrois, 19% stainless steel fermented Pinot Gris, and 9% Pinot Noir rosé. This is a zippy wine with a nicely balanced body, perfect for food pairings.”
 
Bow & Arrow Chenin Blanc Union School Vineyard 2021 750ml $24 special, 9 bottles available
Winery Note “2020 Chenin Blanc is 100% sourced from Union School Vineyard, the same place we get the Sauvignon Blanc for Fool’s Gold. I travelled to Matthew Rorick’s Heritage Vineyard a few years back and collected cuttings from his Chenin block after finding a grower willing to graft for me. The site is perfect for SB and Chenin – slightly warmer, good drainage, crotchety old German at the helm… I ripen till the fruit turns yellow and speckled like a bird’s egg and then direct press to large 500 liter casks for fermentation and aging. The goal is to make a dry but extracted expression more akin to Savennière rather than say a Vouvray Sec.”
 
Kelley Fox Gruner Veltliner 2022 750ml $34 special, 11 bottles available
Winemaker Note ‘The Grüner was a really fun wine to produce, and I’m happy to offer this very small bottling to you. This wine was tank-fermented and is ML-complete. The colour is a highly transparent, radiant spun gold. I love looking at it in the glass. The nose is full of fresh, lush citrus with minerals. The texture is both rich and weightless, and yes, it has the classic Grüner finish of a touch of white pepper. It has wonderful acidity one might expect from an alpine wine.”
 
Ovum Rare Form For Love Nor Money 2020 750ml $51.90 special, 23 bottles available
Winery note “Under the fresh fruit layer sits a brooding sea of herbs – lemon verbena, eucalyptus, sage. There’s even notes of bittering agents like wormwood and cassia bark, yet they’re not present on the palate. A lightning bolt of acidity strikes your palate upon first taste, and then begins the cascading flavors of salted lemon and white pineapple soaked in chamomile tea. The finish is dry, and layered with dried herbs as the wine warms in the glass.”
 
Coquina Wines Pinot Gris 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 34 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Formerly of Kosta Browne and Failla, winemakers Dana Benn and Nicole Staples came to to the Willamette valley to make something that was truly their own. Like a cross between Pinot Grigios of the Italian Alps and a fine Alsatian Pinot Gris. Structured and very complex.”
 
Peter William Viognier Daisy Creek Vyd 2022 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles available
***Not yet reviewed, Review of the 2021 vintage provided for context***
Paul Gregutt “Following on the heels of the outstanding 2020 this Southern Oregon winery nails another great Viognier. It’s a precise mix of fruit and botanicals, with cut and verve. Made at the Barrel 42 incubator, this is less peaches and creamy than the 2020, but just as good in its own way.”
 

 
Carlton Hill Blanc De Noir Extra Brut 2016 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “This was our first year working with Tuckaway Chenin Blanc and we’re hooked. Pinot Noir grapes were handpicked the morning of October 5 and Chenin Blanc grapes were handpicked on October 7, whole cluster pressed, and the juice was hyperoxidized. After settling, the Pinot Noir juice was racked off the gross lees into 100% NOVUM amphorae where fermentation began spontaneously. Same for the Chenin Blanc, but into a concrete egg. As primary fermentation was finishing, the pinot noir and chenin blanc were blended in tank and racked off of fine lees then chilled to halt fermentation. Certified Biodynamic.”
 
Eyrie Spark Sparkling Rose Willamette NV 750ml $19 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 Points “The NV Spark is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 37% Chasselas Doré and 8% Pinot Blanc, from 31-year-old vines. It is an “ultra brut,” although this particular bottling is made using forced carbonation instead of méthode Champenois. Medium to deep cherry-pink in color, it has aromas of cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries and lemon peel with notes of stone and toast. The palate is dry with citrus and red berry flavors, spritely mousse and a refreshing, mineral-driven finish.”
 
Lundeen Brut Sparkling Willamette Valley NV 750ml $39 special, 9 bottles available
Winery Note “Almost all Pinot Noir, with just 5% Chardonnay, this méthode Champenoise wine was barrel fermented and aged 20 months en tirage. It’s a tawny gold and opens with a slightly earthy aroma that evolves into a complex mash-up of toast, butter, coffee grounds and tart fruits.”
 
Mellen Meyer Whistling Ridge North Block Blanc De Noirs 2017 750ml $53.50 special, 14 bottles available
Winery note 100% Pinot Noir from Whistling Ridge North Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge. Aged 34 months on the lees. Disgorged November 18^th, 2020. Produced from non-irrigated vines.”
 
Ovum Rare Form Day Moon Brut Nature NV 750ml $59 special, 29 bottles available
Winery note “Day Moon is inspired by aged Blanc de Blanc Champagne. Striking straw gold color with a modest, fine mousse. An inviting nose of fresh brioche with a small pad of salted butter and lemon confit. Native fermentation is completed in amphora, where it is then racked to age in neutral French oak for 1-2 years. We used Riesling juice to build a yeast population that she will use to tirage the base wine at a specific atmosphere of pressure designed to match the vinosity of the wine (Day Moon: 3 bar). Minimum 18 months of bottle age on less, additional 6 months age post disgorgement. Brut Nature – 2gL dosage made from aged Riesling. No added sulfites.”
 

 
Bow & Arrow Rose 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 7 bottles available
Winery Note “This year’s rosé is a short maceration of Gamay from the organically farmed Hughes Hollow vineyard. Natural as can be! It’s a stainless steel fermented study on wet rocks and perhaps a border skirmish between watemelon Jolly Ranchers and Grapefruit Jarritos.  Unyeasted, unfiltered, unfined and unmanipulated. Only made in years that lend themselves to making quality rose.  Our smallest production.”

Cameron Ramato Pinot Gris Rose 2022 750ml $30.50 special, 35 bottles available
VinopolNote “Pinot Gris that spent time on its skins, contributing the barest hint of tannin, a dollop of color and a completely different interpretation of the classic Oregon varietal.”
 
Brick House Intentional Rose Of Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $29 special, 27 bottles available
Paul Gregutt 92 Points “This is only the third intentional (non saignée) rosé ever made at Brick House I am told. It comes from young vines that were replanted after phylloxera began taking out the older Pinot. This was sourced from a five year old Pommard block. Don’t let the light color fool you, this is a big, flavorful, fruit-powered rosé, rich with sweet bubblegum, peach, papaya and tropical fruit flavors.”
 
Peter William Rose Grenache 2022 750ml $24 special 24 bottles available
Winery Note “The wine shows bright, pretty strawberry & light cherry fruit on the nose and palate. Ample acid brightens the fruit flavors and will allow this wine to hold up in the bottle.”