Bought this as a back-vintage thinking it was from Oregon. I think I just have that association from the producer. CT Just calls the origin “American” which suggests fruit sources from multiple states. Can anyone enlighten me? Despite the heavy packaging and high alcohol this was actually quite enjoyable.
2006 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir The Evening Coast - USA, American (2/23/2024)
Upon receiving this bottle I feared the worst. Very thick heavy glass, black wax on top, label says 14.4% alcohol. Then on first pour a lovely medium to light garnet color is poured with light bricking at the rim. The nose is highly expressive and old school in the best way wafting violets, peonies, dried cherry, pomegranate, dried lemon peel, thyme, fresh mushroom, cola, cinnamon stick, dry dusty soil, toasted coriander seed, and leather. A lovely aromatic profile that could easily be confused with burgundy. The palate enters on bright citrus tinged red fruit with dried cherry, pomegranate, and orange. Tannin is medium minus with medium plus acid. The finish is closes nicely on lovely red fruit, orange peel, and coriander seed, lingering long. All in all this is fantastic stuff. (92 points)
Back in the 1990s, I worked for a winery in Indiana that sourced all of its grapes from California. The law at that time allowed us to put the actual AVA of origin on the label only for bottles sold within Indiana. For any bottles sold outside the state, there was a second label that listed the origin as American. No clue if this law is still in place but if so could be another reason for the designation if the winery didn’t want to worry about two different labels.
I think, but am not totally sure, that it’s a blend of Oregon and California grapes. Back then Evening Land had vineyard holdings in the Santa Rita Hills, occidental area of the Sonoma Coast and Seven Springs vineyard in Oregon. This I think is a “reserve” cuvée from those sources. Dominique Lafon was consulting winemaker at the time.
Ok, as a fellow Hoosier, I gotta ask: Was it Oliver? That’s the only Indiana winery I can think of that’s been around that long, but I also thought they had an estate vineyard where they grew some hybrids, so I could be off.
The history on ELV is complicated, but if I recall this correctly front my time tasting at Seven Springs and some pre-reading I did… Mark Tarlov started the brand in 2005 (with some high profile hospitality investors) and the first vintage was 2006. So, I believe that wine would have been all California grapes at that time because they only got the lease for Seven Springs in Oregon in 2007. Dominique Lafon also became consulting winemaker that same year, and he only worked with the Oregon grapes. The CA vineyards they owned at the time were in St Rita Hills and what’s now Occidental Vineyard, so a mix of well regarded CA sites. They even had an operation in Burgundy around that time. Pretty grandiose vision which is probably what also led to the fallout with the investors around 2012.
No, not Oliver. Oliver at that time was working with both Indiana grapes and bringing in from Washington. I bought some great Riesling juice from them that came from Yakima valley. I don’t recall them having any California contracts back then.
I worked at Chateau Thomas. At the time it was located in a warehouse downtown on Madison about a block from the Slippery Noodle. I don’t remember all the sources now but do recall that the Cabernet was from Rutherford, the Merlot from Oakville, and the Chardonnay from Carneros. A lot changed with the winery after that point as it intended to close and gave up the grape contracts and Steve then started Thomas Family Winery. The version of the winery that came next was with different vineyard sources and a different winemaker. Not sure if the winery still exists as Charlie died some time ago.
