Great one.
Also kind of like a standing penguin (the one on the right in the picture below)
1 Like
On our recent Oregon Coast road trip, we stopped in the Eola - Amity Hills for an exquisite picnic with Shelby and Peter (thanks much once again!). Sitting in the shade of oak trees on a hot day, we tasted rarities, current, and up & coming wines, with a spectacular view.
The common thread was a fresh, lively, more natural leaning interpretation of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir than youâd typically find in the Willamette Valley. Black tea was the most pronounced descriptor for me in the Pinots besides dark red fruit, especially in the excellent, very savory 2022 Bracken. If youâve received this weekâs mailing list email, you can read how well it did vs. other Willamette Valley Pinots, winning a bracket of 64 esteemed producers. The 2023 needs time, and showed its potential on the second day.
This was one of the last bottles of the 2021 Ancestral Sparkling Pinot Noir. As it turned out in the end, it was the remainder of a dosage trial with maple syrup from McMinnville. Very dry, and well structured with subtle yet noticeable tannins, outstanding,
Bracken on a Sunday afternoon in June.
Shelby was very generous with the bottles we opened, so much so that we could bring them to Violin for a side by side on the Sojeau and Bracken bottlings. It was fascinating to experience the stylistic differences in direct comparison of the same vineyard and vintage - the more traditionally Burgundian Violin wines, vs. the edgier and more giving Perkins Harter.
5 Likes
Thanks for a great write up. A special place to visit.
4 Likes
Was great to have you here Uli! Thanks for coming out to visit!
Robert, you kids are much overdue for another powwow out here!
3 Likes
Oh hell yeah, Iâve got 6 bottles and havenât cracked one yet. Might be time to take a peek. PnP or decant or slow ox?
2 Likes
Baby, just crack it open and roll! 
1 Like
I concur - the 2022 Bracken was showing well right off the bat, expressive on the nose and palate. 2023 Bracken and 2022 Sojeau needed time.
2 Likes
My first bottle of Perkins Harter. Only 2 sips so far, but wow!
@ShelbyPerkins this is a gorgeous bottle of wine!
6 Likes
A raven arrived from Perkins HARTER! WINE IS COMING!!
1 Like
You forgot to capitalize HARTER
2 Likes
quick hit notes as Iâve been opening some things since my package arrived on Friday
2024 Pinot Muenier is light, spicy, and floral and just cheerful as all heck. It dances rather than drives forward. I havenât tried with food, but this would be a perfect afternoon sitting on the deck kind of sipping wine. Having never tried the grape before outside of champagne. I can understand why itâs part of the blend and what people like @ShelbyPerkins can make from it
2023 Pinot Noir: perfectly drinkable from pop and pour. Some salad, acidity and tan, but itâs super smooth or as noted, light and balanced. I donât know if you could eat it but why would you? Itâs perfect right now. Seem to be getting big cherry notes getting a sense for Shelbyâs style, which is create and let the wind speak for itself. Wish I bought more of this actually, for me this is my prototypical light cool Oregon Pinot.
2017 La Belle Promernade Chardonnay. Beautiful acidity. Get a strong green apple kind of note on the nose, but some older mature chard notes as well. Color is a gorgeous greenish-gold. Cork did not survive the extraction, but does not deter from how good this is. This is brimming with energy, smooth and long finish. Kind of feels like a race car waiting to jump off the starting line.
Iâm legit excited to taste the bracken now
1 Like
all right, so this week has been Shelby Perkins week. And Iâm just continuously blown away. If it wasnât for this board, I never wouldâve known about her amazing wines. Tonightâs opening the 2016 Johan Vineyard chardonnay. I defer you to the notes on cellar tracker as they really hit the nail on the head with better descriptive notes than I can offer. But what I can offer is that this is just so good. Like I would immediately buy more if I could. Mature but bright acidity and such a good balance. Beautiful gold color. not sure what the record is for tearing through your BD purchases, but I may set it.
2 Likes
And they people behind are wonderful. So easy to support.
2 Likes
I think thatâs one of my favorite things about different growers is when they introduce all the people who work so hard in the fields and help make the magic happen
1 Like