Hide All Details
Joseph Swan Vineyards,
Ready, but will improve,
Winemaker and owner Rod Berglund (also known as “The Rodfather” to friends) was a protegée of Joseph Swan and has been making the wines here since the late 1970s. Based in the Russian River Valley in California, Rod continues to make restrained wine in the style of Burgundy.
Light ruby in colour with some paling of the rim, this has pure and lifted red berry fruit aromas with a restraint and herbaceous note that is more commonly associated with Burgundian Pinot. The texture is silky, and the tannins fine-grained, with a supple and juicy coating. There is a spicy character that flows through the wine, which continues on the finish with a jasmine tea note. Drink now to 2028.
Light ruby in colour with some paling of the rim, this has pure and lifted red berry fruit aromas with a restraint and herbaceous note that is more commonly associated with Burgundian Pinot. The texture is silky, and the tannins fine-grained, with a supple and juicy coating. There is a spicy character that flows through the wine, which continues on the finish with a jasmine tea note. Drink now to 2028.
Ready, but will keep,
The 2015 vintage was Lingua Franca’s first, but it has already established itself as one of the leading Oregon wine producers, thanks to a collaboration between well-known Burgundian winemaker Dominique Lafon and highly regarded American Master Sommelier Larry Stone. Based in the Eola- Amity Hills AVA, the winery currently has its own vineyards but also buys high-quality fruit from the Willamette Valley.
Pale ruby in colour, this has a bright perfume of raspberries, cranberries and jasmine tea. The silky texture on the palate is balanced by refreshing and lively acidity, as well as well-integrated finegrained tannins and intensity of flavour. There is a minerality on the finish that is reminiscent of Burgundy, highlighting the wine’s innate quality. Drink now to 2027.
Pale ruby in colour, this has a bright perfume of raspberries, cranberries and jasmine tea. The silky texture on the palate is balanced by refreshing and lively acidity, as well as well-integrated finegrained tannins and intensity of flavour. There is a minerality on the finish that is reminiscent of Burgundy, highlighting the wine’s innate quality. Drink now to 2027.
Ready, but will improve,
Lytton Springs is predominantly Zinfandel (69%) with Petite Sirah (23%), Carignan (6%) and Mataro (aka Mourvèdre, 2%) making up the rest of the blend in 2016. Originating from the Dry Creek AVA and produced by one of the world’s greatest wine producers, this wine has layers of complexity and charm. It’s a delicious combination of wildflowers, redcurrants and bramble fruits with hints of rosemary. Chalky tannins are balanced by juicy acidity. The sheer concentration creates a long finish. Drink now to 2025.
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Ready, but will keep,
The grapes originate from a combination of vineyards within the Willamette Valley region, that includes Salem's Bunker Hill, Dundee's Durand, Yamhill-Carlton, Laubejac (Montmouth) in a mixture of Nekia (volcanic) and Willakenzie (marine, sedimentary) soils. The grapes are picked early to obtain maximum freshness and tension in the wine (aiming for lower alcohol). The grapes are whole-cluster pressed and allowed to settle for 24 hours before being transferred to a combination of 20 percent new 600-litre casks and 80 percent old French barriques, from various coopers, and are left on fine lees for 10 months. The wines are moved to tank (still on their fine lees) for four months prior to bottling.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Ready, but will keep,
AVNI Chardonnay combines fruit from predominantly Nekia soils in Salem’s Bunker Hill, Eola-Amity Hills including Lingua Franca Estate, Yamhill-Carlton, with a small contribution from Laubejac Vineyard near Monmouth, in Willakenzie soils. The aroma is complex with layers of mineral, smoke, herbs. The wine is silky, racy and complex on the palate. A lasting finish of citrus, pear, and white flowers concludes with flinty, mouth-watering minerality.
Ready, but will keep,
Toasty, nutty and smoky notes are wonderfully integrated with verbena and white floral aromatics. Zesty acidity and a refreshing, savoury core bring precision and energy to the wine. The palate builds to a pithy finish. The intensity and vibrant acidity will enable this wine to keep for a further five to eight years. It would be perfect with duck or roast chicken. Drink now to 2027.
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Ready, but will keep,
BHV Chardonnay is exclusively from Salem’s Bunker Hill, with 20-year-old CH76 vines on pure Nekia soils at an altitude of around 800 feet. BHV, the only west facing vineyard we work with, is exposed directly to the cooling ocean winds of the Van Duzer corridor. The aroma is complex with layers of mineral, smoke, herbs. It has a distinctly lifted flavor and intensity. The wine is crunchy, racy and complex on the palate. A lasting finish of citrus, herbs, and white flowers concludes with flinty, mouthwatering minerality, that has intensity but floats on the tongue.
Verite Winery,
Ready, but will improve,
A warm, redolent bouquet laced with Cabernet Franc infused notes of mocha, espresso and grilled herbs melds into layers of dark fruit as the 2010 La Muse opens up in the glass. The opulence of the Merlot comes through on the mid-palate as the wine literally explodes with a melange of blue/black fruits, graphite, melted road tar and asphalt. Over the last year, the 2010 has gained juiciness, but it is also less explosive than it was when I last tasted it. Then again, the wine has been in steel for about seven months, so that is understandable. Suave tannins round out the polished finish. In 2010 La Muse is 84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Seillan wasn't happy with the Malbec, so he dropped those components from the final blend. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
94-96/100 Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate
94-96/100 Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate
Verite Winery,
For laying down,
The 2013 Le Désir is once again alluring. Le Désir is quite powerful and intense, but it also has fairly soft contours for the year. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, chocolate, mocha, licorice and cloves are all pushed forward. Energetic and explosive, the 2013 is going to need at least a few years in bottle to settle down, but it has plenty to offer. I tasted the 2013 from tank just prior to bottling.
Antonio Galloni - vinous.com, Feb 2016
Antonio Galloni - vinous.com, Feb 2016
Verite Winery,
Ready, but will keep,
A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec (52% Chalk Hill, 45% Alexander Mountain Estate and 3% Bennett Valley fruit), the 2008 may have even greater intensity and richness than the 2007. Still young and unformed, it exhibits phenomenal richness and equilibrium as well as a finish that lasts nearly a minute. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by notions of black fruits, forest floor, truffles and spring flowers. It should age for 25-30+ years. 100 points.
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
Verite Winery,
Ready, but will keep,
The fruit for this blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec came from Chalk Hill (58%) and Alexander Valley (42%). Pierre Seillan believes the Chalk Hill fruit provides a truffle-like character and the Alexander Valley gives minerality, structure, tannin and intensity. The 2008 will be fascinating to taste next to the 2007 over the next 30+ years. Sweet mulberry, blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with notions of black truffles, damp earth and forest floor emerge from this beauty of stunning intensity, purity and texture. The alcohol is 14.4% and the relatively elevated pH is 3.76. 100 points.
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
Ready, but will keep,
Warm weather through the growing season and aggressive thinning led to early ripening, and, atypically, harvesting petite sirah before zinfandel. To manage the extra concentration of lower yields, we limited pump overs, and kept press wines separate. This is one of the most structured petite sirahs we have made from Lytton Estate. Sixteen months in American oak added spice and complexity to the dark, layered fruit. Full bodied but balanced, the wine will develop well to 2023.
Ready, but will keep,
From a famous terroir comes the 2013 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard, which was planted in 1972 and possesses some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in Northern California. The wine has lemon custard notes intermixed with orange marmalade and honeysuckle in a medium to full-bodied, refreshing style. Drink now-2020.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate. 4th March 2016.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate. 4th March 2016.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd