A Fun (Hectic) Day in The Northern Willamette Valley

WINE TALK
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I went to Pasco, Washington earlier this week on business and ended-up with a free day on Wednesday. So, I headed to Portland, met a friend who drove down from Seattle and we had a fast-paced, but very enjoyable, day in the Northern Willamette Valley.

We started at Rex Hill. I had not been there in 6 years and was curious to see how things were progressing under the new ownership.

2007 Rex Hill Willamette Valley Chardonnay
2007 Rex Hill Willamette Valley Pinot Gris
2007 Rex Hill Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
2006 Rex Hill Willamette Valley Reserve Pinot Noir
2006 Rex Hill Jacob Hart Vineyard Pinot Noir

Everything was definitely a step up from what I remember several years ago, but not inspiring enough to purchase anything. My friend had visited Kramer Vineyards in the late ‘90’s and wanted to revisit. I had never heard of Kramer, so off we went.

2007 Kramer Kimberley’s Pinot Gris
2004 Kramer Rebecca’s Reserve Pinot Noir
2005 Kramer Rebecca’s Reserve Pinot Noir
2005 Kramer Cardiac Hill Pinot Noir
2005 Kramer Heritage Pinot Noir
2006 Kramer Carmine ‘Big Red’

The Pinot Gris was respectable. The Pinot Noir’s easily forgettable. Elk Cove is nearby on the road back to Gaston.

2008 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc
2008 Elk Cove Pinot Gris
2007 Elk Cove Viognier Del Rio
2007 Elk Cove Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
2003 Elk Cove Francis Pinot Noir

The whites were enjoyable – particularly the Pinot Gris and the Viognier. The Pinot Noir’s easily forgettable. Back to Carlton for a late lunch at The Horse Radish.

2005 Stevenson Barrie Freedom Hill Pinot Noir
2005 Marina Piper Pinot Noir
2005 Stoney Mountain Pinot Noir

After the taste of the Stoney Mountain, I ordered a glass to accompany my Tuna Mango Wrap and ended-up purchasing a couple of bottles. I had never heard of this wine before, but I was impressed. The first purchase of the day. On to Carlton Wine Maker’s Studio.

2006 Wahle Yamhill/Carton Pinot Noir
2006 Brittan “Basalt” Block Pinot Noir
2007 Ayoub Pinot Noir
2006 Andrew Rich Columbia Valley Syrah

The Ayoub was the best showing Pinot. I left with the Andrew Rich Syrah. This was quite nice. Scott Paul was closed, so we headed back up to 240 and on to Penner-Ash.

2007 Penner-Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
2007 Penner-Ash Palmer Vineyard Pinot Noir
2007 Penner-Ash Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
2007 Penner-Ash Dussin Vineyard Pinot Noir

  • one other single vineyard that I did not write down and don’t remember

I left with a bottle of the Dussin – the best of the flight IMHO. Back to Newberg. Sineann was closed, so we headed down to the Ponzi wine bar in Dundee, since we had a few minutes to kill before our final appointment and since it’s always a fun place to snoop around.

2007 Bethel Heights Flat Block Reserve Pinot Noir

They had the 2007 Cameron Gehrts Vineyard Pinot Noir and the 2008 Evesham Wood Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. I could not pass-up buying these two, so I had to pass on buying the Flat Block. The best was saved for last. We had a 5:00 p.m. appointment with Tom and Deb Mortimer at Le Cadeau Vineyard.

2007 Le Cadeau Rocheux (Co WOTD)
2008 Le Cadeau Diversite
2005 Le Cadeau Diversite
2006 Le Cadeau Equinoxe

Many thanks to Tom and Deb. What great hospitality and a fantastic way to wind-down the day. The wines were impressive. The ’08 was only bottled a few days before, so I’ll withhold comment except to say that the body and texture are quite nice. I look forward to seeing how it develops. The other three were very enjoyable, especially the ’07 Rocheux. This has an impressive nose of mineral infused lavender and a great finish. Still young, obviously, but this was showing extremely well. I am very happy to have several bottles of this in my next shipment and several bottles of the ’05 Diversite sleeping quietly in the cellar. We said good night to Tom and Deb at 7:00 p.m. and headed to the Red Hills Provincial Dinner for dinner.

2007 Evesham Wood Willamette Valley Chardonnay
2005 Thomas Pinot Noir (Co WOTD)
2007 Cameron Gehrts Vineyard Pinot Noir

All I can say is it’s a good thing that I live over 1,700 miles from the Red Hills. Otherwise, I would have a significantly larger waistline. I love this place. The Evesham Wood Chardonnay was great with the Crab Cakes and the Thomas was impressive, even though a bit reticent. I knew it would be young, but I don’t have the will power to pass on a wine like this at a reasonable price. When I mentioned to Nancy that I had purchased a bottle of the ’07 Cameron Gerhts earlier in the day, she disappeared and returned a few minutes later with a taste for both of us. This opened-up nicely over the ensuing 30-45 minutes. I’m going to open the bottle I brought home in the near future. I can easily see going back for a few more of these.

Overall, a great day! A bit faster paced than I normally like. But, when you only have one day, you sometimes have to make sacrifices. [wink.gif]

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Palates are funny! I was in Oregon last week on vacation (loooong notes nearly done). I had the Ayoub at Oregon Wines on Broadway and found it a bit funky with a candy maple syrup nose. On the other hand, I had the Brittan and Wahle at Carlton’s; adored the Brittan, liked the Wahle, bought both. Unfortunately they weren’t pouring the A. Rich Syrah.

Wine is a fun game and WIllamette is one of the best places to play it. [winner.gif]

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As vapid as I always find the comment “nice post” to be, nice post.
Makes me yearn for the next trip out there.
What does “co WOTD” mean? Something wine of the day?
Thomas, Evesham Wood, and Cameron. There’s my personal top three right there with Scott Paul and Belle Pente rounding out the top five.

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Chris – I liked the Brittan more than the Wahle. OTOH, my friend liked the Wahle best of all three! So there you have it – three palates and three different perspectives. As you say, that is part of what makes this fun. That being said, we both agreed that the '07 Le Cadeau Rocheux and '05 Thomas were the best wines that we tasted all day.

Mitch – I could not decide which one that I liked best, the '07 Le Cadeau Rocheux or the '05 Thomas. So I split the baby and called them both WOTD (Wine of the Day). I know, a lack of decisevness on my part.

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Nicely done Greg and thanks for the write-up. I may have liked that 07 Rex Hill Pinot more than you but not quite enough to search out. We have similar impressions of Elk Cove. Been hearing good stuff about Ayoub, not tried one yet. Tasted some of those same Penner-Ash Pinots which I thought were solid but not quite attractive enough for a splurge. Gotta believe that Bethel Heights did well in 07, wish I’d made it down there.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Le Cadeaux you brought here several months ago and hope to see an 07 soon! Not much more to say about Cameron, EW, and Thomas.

RT

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Rich – The Rex Hill was respectable. The new ownership has definately stepped-up the game there, in my opinion. I was told that production of the '07 Rex Hill Willamette Valley was in the range of 12,000 to 15,000 cases. [shock.gif] I would not hesitate to order a glass of this at a restaurant. However, with other options at this price point (Westrey, etc.), I don’t foresee any of it finding its way to my house. The Penner-Ash Pinots were all solid. But, there again, it is the issue of alternative options.

With respect to Le Cadeau, I believe that Bob brought the '04 Diversite that we enjoyed at your house in April. I’m sure that we can find a way to include other bottles in future tastings!

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Greg, what impressed me about the 07 Rex Hill was how different it was from several earlier RH experiences, fine acidity and sous bois, definitely leaning on the Burgundy side (fooled me blind). Great job on a mass produced bottling.

Hey it’s hard enough for me to keep track of what’s going on in my own Cellar! [dontknow.gif] You did say you were a Le Cadeau fan, and that particular 04 Diversite was quite enjoyable.

RT

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Indeed, nice post and sounds like a great day. Way to get all over the place and try a bunch of different things. I have a personal interest in trying that '06 Wahle Yamhill-Carlton. I’m guessing that’s all from the old Wahle vineyard (owned by this producer’s mom). I got old vine Pommard that year for my homemade wine from the same block Mark Wahle got the grapes I’m figuring went into this bottling. Would be nice to compare, not that I expect mine to hold its own with commercially produced wine. Just that it would be cool to see how his wine turned out.

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I definately agree

Good to know I’m not the only one with that problem!

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. For what it is worth, I preferred the '04 Wahle over the '06 (have not tasted the '05). But that has been my general preference for the same wines of those two vintages.

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Definitely give it a try! If your’s is close you’ve made a fine wine.

After trying the Carlton Winemakers Studio wines I am very impressed. Not all excellent (notes definitely today) but between the quality of the present tenants and it’s list of “graduates” (Soter, Penner-Ash, Scott Paul, etc) I’d say it is great asset to Oregon and Willamette wine.

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I tried to get by the Studio today to try that '06 Wahle, but just couldn’t fit it in. Stopped early at the Tualatin Fred Meyer and saw the '07 Wahle Yamhill-Carlton on the shelf. I figure that '06 will soon be gone. The '07 mentioned that the grapes indeed all came from the mom’s vineyard, a site Brain O’Donnell of Belle Pente once referred to on a parker board thread as one of the grand cru sites in Oregon. It is a nice site.