Tell Me About Adelsheim PN

WINE TALK
1

Years ago, when I was first learning about wine, my uncle introduced me to a couple Oregon producers including Adelsheim and Patty Green. While PG gets plenty of chatter, I cannot remember the last time I had an Adelsheim wine. What’s the deal with this producer – is it still a quality product? Fairly priced?

They have completely dropped off my radar.

Thanks for any insight.

2

I used to drink Adelsheim PN regularly up to about eight years ago, and have tasted it more than a few times since. There is nothing wrong with the wine. It’s just that I’ve been discovering so many other WV Pinots that deliver more for the price.
Adelsheim PN tends towards light and elegant, but to my taste is too soft and lacking the potential for development.

P Hickner

3

Thanks Peter, this is the kind of insight I was looking for.

4

David Adelsheim is one of the grandfathers of OR PN…going back to 1971. I get the sense that he may not have been as self-promoting as some of the other old timers. Their Pinots can develop quite nicely. My experience with the Calkin’s Lane and Elizabeth’s Reserve is that they’re always worth a try and can be worth holding on to.

Peter’s point about QPR is valid, the wines are not cheap (relative to their peers) and there’s better value in the WV IMHO. The quality can be very good.

RT

5

If you see the Elizabeth’s from a good vintage, I’d go for it. Quality merchandise; not sure of the current tariff. There are just so many new producers that some of the old timers get kind of lost. Amity is another, ditto Ponzi…etc. I plead guilty to looking for the next big thing.

6

I’d agree with all of these comments - there are just too many great OR pinots to try ahead of Adelsheim, although it’s certainly quality juice.

This thread brought me to check out the Adelsheim website, and they’ve got a 2009 Vintage 32 for $180. That’s an aggressive price. I wonder how they’re going to sell 114 cases of it.

7

Thank you Richard, James, and Marc for your input.

I just looked on their website and YIPES the pricing is higher than I thought it would be. I guess the next time I come across a bottle that’s on sale I’ll give it a whirl, if nothing else, for old time’s sake.

8

They do have a good lower dollar Pinot Gris, if there’s any interest there.

9

Always a favorite of my wife.

10

Agree on the PG.

11

How apropos - I just opened their regular Willamette valley wine yesterday - 2012

So the nose is ok, a little forest some red berry, not particularly focused but nice medium intensity. On taste, light but fruit filled flavours. Almost a cola note but not quite. Missing a bit on acid so not as bright as it ought to be. Ok medium finish with some slight minerality. Overall nice but lacking a bit on acid.

12

I do buy and drink the Pinot Gris.
After looking at some Cellartracker notes, I decided I may have misjudged the ageing potential of the Elizabeth’s Reserve. I admit I never held any long enough to judge.

P Hickner

13

Lizzie with more than 15 years on it is a thing of absolute beauty.

14

I liked the 2012:

  • Adelsheim Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2012
    C: Dark red
    N: Red fruits
    P: Medium body, light acid. Opens very smooth, with good length but weak mid-palate. After 45 min. it picks up weight and becomes much more interesting. Supple and elegant, a good match for many foods. Very good QPR ($25)
15

Corey, I agree with Peter’s note on the 2012, which is currently available in several U.S. stores for around $20. I bought a case last fall after trying a bottle of the 2010. Other OR QPR pinots for me include the St. Innocent Villages Cuvee and the Four Graces WV. In the $30s and a step or two up, I like a number of PGs. The Domaine Drouhin WV 2012 is also very nice at around $35. Cheers! [cheers.gif]