Pretty jealous, mine aren’t shipping till next week
Adam, Is this the 22?
Good question given the photo I posted. It’s the 21. First one of them I cracked. 22 should be shipping up here shortly. All of these back to the very first BC are such amazing values and I’m happy to have bought every one of them.
1 Like
A group of us here in Chicago had a “Judgment of Paris” style blind Chardonnay tasting where we pitted Burgundy against California and Oregon. About 20 or so wines at this event, all served blind and scored by everyone in the group.
I was excited to bring the heat from Oregon, and I selected two 2021s. A 2021 Morgen Long Seven Springs and a 2021 Goodfellow Psycho Killer.
I gave each wine an hour in the decanter and then another 4 hrs double decant back in bottle prior to serving. I knew the Goodfellow almost immediately when it was poured. There’s a pine note on the nose and a sort of chalky minerality to temperance hill that’s unmistakeable and a really beautiful thing.
Proud to say that Psycho Killer scored among the top three of the entire tasting, going toe to toe with Comte Senard Corton Grand Cru and a Legros Meursault Premier Cru. long Meadow Ranch from Anderson Valley made a star showing here too (I was convinced it was a PYCM Meursault blind).
The Morgen Long Seven Springs was beautiful as well, showing like a premier cru Chablis. It likely needed even more air time IMHO. The group found it a polarizing wine with some giving it their top marks and others their bottom. I loved it, but if there’s one thing this tasting showed it’s that Chardonnay comes in so many varied styles and each person is going to have their personal preferences among those styles (as proven by the Marcassin in this lineup, in particular).
But, in the end, Goodfellow Temperance Hill Psycho Killer showed absolutely brilliantly, and even the most ardent Burgundy lovers of the group were 100% certain it was a high end white burgundy when it was served blind. I had to hide my smiles when I heard that, as I knew what it was from the first smell.
13 Likes
Great notes and thoughts Benjamin. So Goodfellow is a tremendous value competing with a Grand Cru Burg. Morgan Long sounds like the opposite if it came across like a Premier Cru Chablis ($50 more or less?). That is also an interesting comparison since a lot of Chablis use no/minimal new oak quite unlike Morgan Long.
I’d say that Goodfellow comes across as the better value, but I still love Seth’s wines and find them to be a solid value too, just perhaps less so. For me, it competed favorably with the Fevre and some Piuze I’ve had previously and those tend to run $80-110 range. While Seth’s wines see a good bit of oak, I find they don’t show it. The lemon lime minerality is the standout feature, which is why they often show more like premier/grand cru Chablis (where you will see some oak), to me.
2 Likes
Enjoyed the 2019 Goodfellow Richards Cuvee last night. Had the JM Vincent Aligote Solera #1 on the same evening, and while I preferred the JM Vincent (I really like this wine, but also note is 2x the price of the Goodfellow), the Goodfellow held its own wasn’t miles apart. My note on the Goodfellow included “lemon, lemon curd, grapefruit and salinity with Med+ acidity”… and I noted to myself “Burgundy made in Oregon”. More importantly, I preferred this 2019 Richards Cuvee to the 2018… which is reverse on my thought of the reds… which has me wondering if I prefer the Goodfellow reds in warmer years for slightly riper fruit, and the Goodfellow whites in more classic years for slightly more precision.
Curious how @Marcus_Goodfellow would describe 2023 in context of the 2018 and 2019 vintages, and whether 2023 is a relatively “special” vintage"
2 Likes
I drank the 21 Psycho Killer Chard recently. I was looking to try one of the newer Chards and probably should have read the reviews again before I selected. The Psycho Killer is huge and dense, with an extended finish. Has a ton going on and I can see the comparison to a premier cru. It is quite good but almost too dense right now. I will definitely wait a few more years before opening another bottle. Thankfully I have plenty of other Goodfellow Chard to drink while I wait.
3 Likes
Tasted the following at the winery yesterday:
-
2023 Rose: This is a more robust rose than the last one Marcus made in 2014 (IIRC), but nonetheless delicious and I’ll happily drink part of my 6 pk this summer and save some for future year consumption.
-
2023 Riesling: Marcus noted he thought this was his best vintage yet of the Riesling. As much as I loved the ‘18, he appears to be correct. My wife, who has a longstanding aversion to Riesling, noted “Why can’t all Rieslings be this good?” I didn’t buy any and had no room to transport any home, but have a feeling I’ll be ordering some down the line.
-
2023 Tsai Vineyard Pinot Blanc: Another grape my wife tends to abhor yet she loved this. As did I.
-
2015 Syrah: Very nice, with plenty of upside left. Had a ‘13 a few weeks ago that was in the zone and just fantastic. I expect this to reach similar heights.
-
Durant and Whistling Ridge sparkling wines - These were both drinking very well and bore the signature of the respective vineyards, although I can see Marcus’ point in holding off on cracking these for a few months. Glad to have a case for the summer/fall.
-
2022 Durant, Temperance Hill and Whistling Ridge Pinots - A really pretty vintage for each of these wines with each drinking great at this early stage with sufficient structure for the long haul as is the hallmark for all of the Goodfellow wines. If my cellar wasn’t overflowing with Pinot, I would have procured these.
-
2022 Temperance Hill Chardonnay: A bit of reduction but the fruit was killer and will be fun to open this a few years down the line…or now with a lengthy decant.
Always great to spend time with Marcus and Megan…and their killer wines.
15 Likes
Great notes Scott! On the Rosé, are you suggesting that it is age worthy (gasp) past a year as if it were a Goodfellow or something?
Indeed! Shocking I know!
It is really interesting that this rosé is a byproduct of making Blanc de Noir. Now we have to worry drinking this every year.
In anticipation of the delivery of sparkling, i had a 21 WV pinot, love this vintage and so pleased to be drinking young goodfellow. Notes were:
Love this wine for its texture, balance and aromatics. Everything I want in an early drinking, restrained pinot. Get more.
1 Like
My experiences with ‘21 Pinots to date… Whistling Ridge and Durant are both drinking very well young, but Temperance Hill needs time.
1 Like
Interesting. I find Whistling Ridge typically needs the most time. I agree with you on Durant though.
2022 Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Berserker Cuvée Temperance Hill - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills (4/15/2024)
PnP…nice and LONG DIAM 30…13% happy juice…this is very bright and zippy right out the gate…summer crisp peach and apple fruits…little wafts of reduction smoke, white flowers, lemon zest…the fruit is SO pure and crystalline…there is a salty crushed minerality that is very pleasing…lick of salt before a lemon squeeze…really goes long and deep, then a puckering dryness and white pepper spice slaps you in the face finish…WOW…lot of energy and tastiness in this wine…should drink well for 10+, but mine won’t last that long! (95 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
5 Likes
awesome! So happy to have these and to look forward to the future with their Sparkling wines!
Ahh, screw it Brig…… pop them!
I was, tonight with Frank and Todd over Indian food, but I had to cancel!!