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Argentina
Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina
This projecty was born from a great friendship between Gonzalo Tamagnini and Martin Sesto who met several years ago working together for other projects. Both agreed on ideals, styles and tastes so they decided to communicate and spread this passion they have for viticulture with their own wines. In this process they have found many challenges, awakening a permanent desire for improvements, innovations and experimentation with new techniques to the point of becoming two “Desquiciado” (Maniacs) in wine.
85% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Franc
Co-fermentation of the varietals to give more complexity to this wine. When it finishes fermenting, we aged the 40% of the wine in barrels for 8 months, 10% of the wine is aged in new french barrels. The final blend is made with 50% of the wine that was left in the stainless steel tank, without wood, to give it a more fruity aromatic profile and much kinder on the palate
91 Points – Wine Advocate “The fresh, varietal and fruit-driven 2021 Malbec is co-fermentation with 15% Cabernet Franc and indigenous yeasts. It has floral aromas and an expressive nose of violets and red berries with a spicy twist from the nine months that half of the wine matured in oak barrels. The palate is medium-bodied, with contained ripeness and 13.5% alcohol, with very fine tannins, focused and clean.”
91 points – James Suckling “Blackberries and walnuts with some stem and pistachio character in both the nose and palate. Medium bodied, round and flavorful. Drink now.”
90% Malbec with 10% Syrah. Aged 20 months in 2nd use French oak barrels.
Microvinifications in plastic bins co-fermenting both varietals in proportions similar to the final blend. We made cold maceration for 4 days
in order to enhance the concentration of the wine, due the age and character of the vineyard, this permit us obtain more structure and character of the Malbec. Once the fermentation is finished, we made a post-fermentative maceration process that lasts approximately 20 days, according to tasting.
93 points ~ Wine Advocate – “The serious 2019 Salvaje Malbec was produced with grapes from La Consulta (different from before), which is an old vineyards in the process of being certified organic with low yields. It has a lot of concentration and some 10% Syrah, with amazing balance. It’s expressive and clean and has good ripeness and devlopment of aromas and flavours, juicy, very Malbec. It is medium to full-bodied and has more depth; it’s longer and concentrated with good weight in the mid-palate with very good balancing acidity. It’s really an improvement from previous years. 3 000 bottles were filled in February 2022.”
92 points ~ Tim Atkin MW
90% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot. Aged 22 months in 2nd use French oak barrels.
91 points ~ Wine Advocate “The same as the rest of 2018s, I found very good balance and a very expressive nose in the 2018 Cabernet Franc, and the wine has great varietal expression; it’s clean, pure and fresh, while it’s easy to drink, has moderate alcohol and very good freshness. The grapes were fermented together with some 5% each Petit Verdot and Malbec. Delicious. 36 000 bottles were filled in December 2018.” Luis Gutiērrez
91 points ~ James Suckling “Aromas of ripe plums, strawberries, currants and mocha. It’s medium-bodied with soft, rounded tannins and fresh acidity. Smoth, juicy finish.”
92 points ~ Tim Atkin MW
New Zealand
Marlborough, New Zealand ~ Certified Sustainable
Peter and Jane Clark began to plant this 13 hectare estate vineyard in the Upper Awatere Valley back in 1993 after retiring from an honourable career in the military. Moving forward, their son and daughter have taken this family business to the next level. Simon Clark has grown to be a very talented and well travelled Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. Sarah Clark takes care of sales and the business side of the Estate: very much the profile of a successful family buisness. Their wines are beautiful and expressly display a strong sense of place!
“The 2022 Upper Awatere Sauvignon Blanc is delightfully aromatic. Lifted notes of cool climate stone fruits, blackcurrant bud and gooseberries fill the glass. There is an abundance of fruit weight on the palate which is structured and well balanced, with refreshing mineral acidity.”
Our style of Chardonnay is driven by the cool climate of the Awatere Valley and the use of older oak barrels. The subtle oak flavours integrate beautifully with the citrus and lighter stone fruit flavours of the fruit. Once ferment is complete, the wines are kept in barrel for several months maturing on the yeast lees. Before bottling, the wines undergo Malo-Lactic fermentation, although this is kept to around 30% so as not to dominate the final wine.
92 points Cam Douglas MS – “The bouquet suggests a quietly spoken wine with subtly and charm. Aromas of fresh white peach and vanilla, red apples flesh and pear with a whisper of quince and barrel toast. A satin touch on the palate with contrasting acidity then white fleshed orchard fruits and lemon flavours coat the palate. The oak is quiet and undersated yet attentive. Well made and decent complexity, lots of texture and length. Best drinking from 2023 through 2027.”
“A powerful and concentrated wine that is packed with ripe stone fruit flavours and layered with exotic tropical aromas, created by the use of wild yeast and selective use of oak. A beautifully balanced wine with exquisite finessse and harmony. Enjoy this wine now or over the next 5 – 10 years.”
94 points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit – “Wonderfully complex and engaging, the bouquet shows golden apple, grapefruit and roasted nut characters with nuances of mushroom and oatmeal. The palate delivers excellent weight and richness, brilliantly balanced by vibrant acidity. It’s richly textured and savoury with a lengthy mouth-watering finish. At its best: now to 2028.”
94 points – Bob Campbell MW – “Rich, textural, mouth-filling sauvignon blanc with guava, pineapple, grapefruit, nectarine and gooseberry flavours together with ginger and toast. A bold, complex wine with some honeyed bottle development.”
Individual rows are chosen by hand and each parcel of fruit is carefully selected and kept separate throughout the winemaking process to preserve the unique flavours. Indigenous fermentations and time on lees allow subtle earthy flavours and a lovely texture to develop. The wines are rich and complex with a perfect amount of oak used in every wine to compliment the style.
“Deep ruby, with a fragrant, savoury, slightly herbal bouquet. Full-bodied, it has concentrated plum, herb and spice flavours, complex and savoury, fine-grained tannins and a lengthy finish.”
94 points – Wine Orbit – “Wonderfully fruited and gorgeously expressed, this stylish pinot shows dark fruit richness with vanillin oak, cocoa, smoked game and thyme characters on the nose. The palate delivers excellent concentration and supple mouthfeel, beautifully complemented by silky texture and fine, polished tannins. Complex and engaging with an impressively long refined finish.”
94 points – Bob Campbell MW – “Moderately dense, smooth-textured Pinot Noir with hazelnut, red fruits and classy French oak flavours. A seamless, sophisticated wine with a structure of fine, peppery tannins. Accessible now but should develop well.”
France
Bordeaux, France ~ Certified Organic ~ New !
Chateau Mille Roses came to life in 1999; born from several well-situated plots in Macau and Arsac immediately south of the Margaux Appellation. Organically certified since 2013, Sophie and David Faure passionately tend to 5.5 hectares in the Haut-Medoc and 5.35 hectares located between two Grand Cru Classé vineyards within the appellation of Margaux. Through high density plantings in the deep gravelly soils and strict vineyard management, yields are kept deliberately low, producing exceptionally high quality fruit which is harvested at the optimum ripeness with each vintage.
Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot
“The 4 plots of vines classified as Haut-Medoc appellation are right next to the Chateau. This wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon competed with a small amount of Petit Verdot (about 10% depending on the vintage).”
“Both blending and terroir give a crisp style (well-balanced with a lot of fruit notes) with a dense but very smooth tannin structure. Aging in oak barrels, renewed by 25% each year makes Mille Roses, Huat-Medoc rounder and keeps all its fruity strength.”
Blend of 55% Cabernet Savignon and 45% Merlot
“What a density for this single 4 hectare plot of vines! Formerly classified as Haut-Medoc, it was ranked as Margaux appellation in 2007, acknowledging its excellent soil quality! Its soil is completely what is expected from a top quality Margaux terroir. Gravelly soil on a deep yellow clay is perfectly adapted to produce very good grapes.”
“Our Margaux is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The strong structure attained by the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon becomes rounder by aging for a full year in oak barrels of which 30 to 40% are new.”
Italy
Veneto, Italy ~ Certified organic ~ Vegan Friendly
Located to the east of Lake Garda in Sommacampagna (Verona), Gorgo was born in 1973 and has grown to 50ha of organically farmed vineyards. This Father/Daughter team create an elegant range of unique wines which speak of their terroir.
“…a wine should be judged for its particular features, but most importantly as a whole, as the expression of a well-defined territory. Wine is synonymous with its land, its history, its climate but also with the inhabitants and the culture of the countryside…”
“The wine is clean, crisp while preserving the delicate citric fruits and green apple flavours. Our Pinot Grigio is dry, refreshing, lively and easy to drink.”
A blend of Garganega, Bianca Fernanda, Trebbiano Toscano, Trebbianello and Incrocio Manzoni
“This white wine is obtained from a complex blend of grapes from different vines, each conferring its distinguishing features: Trebbiano Toscano imports vigor and the wine’s full body; Cortese gives the dry, harmonious and fresh taste: Garganega together with Tocai Friulano and other grapes add pleasant and aromatic scents. Complying with the technical guidelines, the wine estate has obtained a fresh, vivid, well-bodied wine.”
100% Chardonnay – unoaked
“This noble vine interprets our land with grace and harmony and an associated bouquet of fruit and flowers that is fully preserved and enhanced by the vinification and ageing without the use of wood. This Chardonnay is an extremely versatile wine, with marked freshness but a rich, complex and persistent structure.”
A blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara.
“A local rosé, unique because it draws on the magic of our lake, adding charm and depth to a fresh, scented and sensual guise. It excites those who love aperitifs at sunset and satisfies the most demanding palates, opening up a world of gastronomic opportunities for its accompaniment.”
A blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara
“This contemporary wine is the result of the land related features, i.e. soil, climate, tradition, combined with the needs of present-day living; and easy all-meal wines amazingly pleasant and rewarding, well digestible, fresh, harmonious and balanced.
A great wine obtained from a careful single-variety vinification of the most important and famous grape of Verona Area: the Corvina Veronese. This intense, elegant, full-bodied wine proves how great is the value of respect for the link with the territory of origin.
Aged for 12 months, part in stainless steel tanks, part in barriques with further aging in bottle.
“Intense ruby red colour. On the nose, fresh, fruity notes of red fruits, in particular cherries and plums, with the aromas of spices and herbs. Smooth, pleasant and well balance on the palate.”
Tullum DOP, Abruzzo, Italy ~ Certified Organic
Antonio Radica was raised in the vineyards and learned the land from working alongside his father Rocco who purchased his first vineyard in the 1950’s after selling his prized bull.
In 2009 Antonio and his two sons, Rocco Jr. and Giacomo established their family winery in Italy’s smallest DOCG, Tullum. Their intention is to work in absolute harmony with the land and grow beautiful, organic wines that express the unique terroir of this tiny piece of land sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea and Majella Massif.
Winemaker’s notes: “Our Pecorino grapes grow in Ortona at 100m from sea level, facing South-East on clay-alkaline soil. Grapes where hand-picked in the second half of September. After the destemming, the grapes are pressed and the must is soon brought to 12 °C temperature to avoid uncontrolled fermentation. Fermentation is made under controlled temperatures in small steel tanks for about one month, using a unique ferment which gives to our wine its own personality. Wine is aged in small steel tanks for about 3 months at controlled temperature and in the absence of oxygen to avoid oxidation and at the end a short period in bottle.”
Tasting notes: “Straw-yellow color with some green highlights. Fruity aroma with citrus and exotic nuances blend in delicate notes of flowers. Well-bodied wine with good structure, slightly mineral finish.”
Rosé wine made of the heart of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes. It’s a wine born for pleasure: the brilliant color will please your eyes, the scent will satisfy your nose while the taste will bring you to Abruzzo summer, between flowers and red cherries.
Winemaker’s Notes: “For this wine the grapes are handpicked in the first half of October. After the destemming, the grapes are pressed and the must is soon brought to 12 °C temperature to avoid uncontrolled fermentation. Once the must has arrived to the steel tanks, fermentation is activated using a unique ferment which gives to our wine its own personality. Ageing: 4 months in steel tanks under controlled temperatures and without oxygen and then a short refinement in bottle.”
Tasting note: “Pink colour, fruity aroma with exotic nuances, supple and delicate taste.”
Winemaker’s notes: “Grapes where handpicked in first half of October. As soon as harvested, the grapes are destemmed and pressed, the must is conveyed directly into small steel tanks at controlled temperature, where fermentation occurs for about two weeks. Ageing: about 15 months in steel tanks.”
Tasting Notes: “Red fruit with spicy notes of chocolate and vanilla. Well-bodied, supple, balanced and persistent taste.”
Tullum DOCG is one of the smallest DOCG areas in Italy. It covers an very limited area – roughly 26 hectares in the Municipality of Tollo in the province of Chieti – and is characterized by very strict production parameters. Being situated between the Adriatic Sea and Apennines, the uniqueness of this appellation is in the mix of mild sea climate and fluctuations of the temperatures that are typical of the mountains.
Winemaker’s notes: “Hand-picked harvesting in the second week of October. The vinification start with the maceration of skins in small steel tanks at controlled temperature for one month. The wine ages for 24 months in wooden tonneaux and minimum 6 months in bottle.”
Tasting notes: “Red ruby color. The aroma is intense, supple with hints of caramel and cherry. Full bodied wine, fresh, balanced and persistent.”
Portugal
Various Regions, Portugal
With a goal to create and promote wines from the top wine-making regions in Portugal, Gota (meaning drop) marries rich tradition with modern thinking to producer fresh, flavoursome wines from its vast array of distinctive, characterful grape varieties.
“We are collectors, we search the country looking for treasures – the vineyards, the wines and the people – and choose the ones that we believe express the unique personality of each region; the pure soul of the place.”
Grape varietals: 30% Castelão, 30% Trincadeira, 30% Aragones, 10% Others with no oak influence.
Tasting notes: “Very round and sensual texture. Concentrated but fine wine with aromas of black fruits, balsamic, pine needles, black pepper and hint of anise. Fresh fruit palate marries well with soft tannins and balances acidity. Ideal for red meats and rich duck dishes. Best when served slightly chilled to 18 degrees Celsius.”
Wine description: “The grapes of Circus Number come from the region with unimaginable prestige, having been recognized as one of the most colourful and admired sub-regions of the Alentejo, Redondo is home to many of the region’s most coveted wines. To combat extreme high temperatures during summer we use grapes from higher parts refreshed by mountain winds. We also harvest earlier and as a result we make light yet powerful and energetic wines.”
Grape varietals: 80% Jaen, 10% Tinta Roriz, 5% Alfrocheiro Preto, 5% Touriga National. Aged 6 months in old 225 litre French and Portugese oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: “Elegance on a grand scale. Lightly oaked and perfectly balanced, with a silky texture and crisp edge. The nose is cram-packed with mulberries, blackberries and anise. On the palate, black cherry and raspberry fruit tones with creamy and chocolate oak flavours. Delicious with poultry and pork dishes.”
Wine Description: “Dão region is one of the oldest and one of the most complex regions of Portugal. The only one with snow during the winter. On the hills of the highest Portuguese mountain Serra de Estrela our vines fight with frost or with baking sun. As personality difference, elegance, freshness and softness. Indigenous grapes give aromas and flavours that captivate and seduce and become unmistakable and unforgettable.”
Spain
Méntrida D.O., Spain ~ Organic
This project began in 2004 after searching for the best vineyards in the mountains of Toledo and Sierra de Gredos by two oenologist friends, Alfonso Chacón and Belarmino Fernández. These wines are sustainably produced from old vineyards planted in the 1950’s and 60’s with a minimalist intervention approach and ongoing experimentation; they are unique and absolutely beautiful!
“I sampled a very fine collection of wines from Canopy. All the bottles kept the freshness in a warm and ripe vintage like 2015. The vineyards are organically farmed, and everything is fermented with indigenous yeasts; they use neutral barrels (and larger sizes) that do not mark the wines at all. They have reached a very good level, and the wines are transparent with the character of the vintage, the soils and the place. They have come a long way from the early days. Bravo guys!”
Sourced from a 3.5 ha vineyard of 55 year old vines growing organically in granitic soil. Aging for 3 months in French oak with a further 5 months in the bottle.
Rioja Alavesa D.O.C.a, Spain ~ Organic
Blending a touch of the new world with the old gives us a “bold new approach to Tempranillo”. With a minimalist intervention approach and a strong focus on sustainability, Bodega 202 is dedicated to crafting small batch wines from high altitude, old mountain plots in the heart of Rioja Alavesa.
“One of the most outstanding success stories in Rioja of the last decade.”
93 points ~ Wine Spectator “Black currant, black cherry, iron, cedar and vanilla aromas and flavors are at the heart of this solidly structured red, with violet and cassis notes emerging as this plays out on the long finish. At once silky and dense. Best from 2023 through 2033. 1000 cases made.”
95 points ~ Tim Atkin, MW
92 points ~ Wine Spectator “A beauty, this Rioja displays fine purity and brightness, with black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors shaded by floral and spice accents. Silky yet well structured, this is balanced and glides to a lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2028. 500 cases made.”
Utiel-Requena D.O., Spain ~ Organic
The winery of Pago de Tharsys can be found nestled in the centre of a 12 hectare, organically farmed vineyard in the village of Requena just inland from Valencia on the east coast of Spain. Widely recognized as one of the very top producers of Cava, owner Vincent Garcia is considered by many as “the Godfather of Valencian Cava”.
These traditional method sparkling wines are beautiful, well crafted and offer outstanding value!
80% Macabeo with 20% Parellada, aged for 14 months on the lees.
“Nice yellow with golden seam. Clear floral notes and nice grammineous aromas. Fresh and with fine bubbles. Fruity and savoury character. Well-balanced acidity. Secondary aromas of banana and citrus fruits. Enjoyable and dry finish.”
Alberta CSPC +892692 6 x 750ml per case open stock – new labels
100% Garnacha aged for 14 months on the lees.
“Soft strawberry colour with fine persistent bubbles. It shows a bouquet of red summer fruit such as strawberries and raspberries that combine with hints of bread and pastry. Soft and creamy in the mouth with excellent balanced acidity. Leaves a refreshed pallet. The perfect partner with all appetizers, white meats and even sweet desserts.”
Utiel-Requena D.O., Spain ~ Biodynamic ~ Certified Organic ~ Vegan Certified
Bruno Murciano and his brother Jose Luis grew up in their family’s restaurant and developed a love for wine. Bruno went on to develop a reputation as an internationally decorated Sommelier and Jose Luiis went on to study the art of wine-making, viticulture and Civil Engineering.
After studying Bobal (a varietal indigenous to the Valencia area) for 10 years and searching for high altitude, ancient vines they have launched a very interesting and diverse demonstration of what Bobal can be.
100% Bobal, 85 year old vines growing in Limestone and Sand.
Harvest is done by hand in small 10kg crates between mid-September & early October followed by 2 days of cold soak maceration at 2 degrees Celsius. Grapes are destemmed and crushed to follow 15 days of skin contact maceration then fermentation takes place with indigenous yeast in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. 50% of the wines aged in 500 litre, 3rd use French oak barrels for fermentation and 9 months of aging. 50% aged in stainless steel.
“Appealing nose with an intense flavour of crunchy red fruits like cherries and blueberries completed with a hint of black licorice and violets. Dry & light fresh palate with crunchy red fruits and a silky tannin texture with refreshing balanced acidity. Soft and easy drinking.”
100% Bobal, 85 year old vines grown in Limestone and Clay, aged for 6 months in 500 litre, 3rd use French oak barrels.
Old bush vines grown in steep slopes at high altitude in the heart of Cabriel River Natural Park with an average of 1000m above sea level.
Harvest is done by hand in small 10kg crates between mid-September & early October followed by 2 days of cold soak maceration at 2 degrees Celsius. Grapes are destemmed and crushed to follow 3 days of skin contact maceration then fermentation takes place with indigenous yeast in temperature control stainless steel tanks.
“Appealing nose with an intense flavour of crunchy red fruits like cherries & blueberries completed with a hint of black licorice & violets. Dry & light fresh palate with crunchy red fruits and silky tannins texture with refreshing acidity. Soft and very easy drinking wine.
100% Bobal, 100 year old vines from “Las Brunas” Single Vineyard
Harvest is done by hand in small 10kg crates between mid-September & early October followed by 2 days of cold soak maceration at 2 degrees Celsius. Grapes are destemmed and crushed to follow 30 days of skin contact maceration then fermentation takes place with indigenous yeast in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
12 months aging in 500L 3rd year French oak barrels. Slightly filtered and not clarified.
91 points ~ Wine Advocate “The floral and perfumed Bobal 2020 El Sueño de Bruno was produced with grapes from ancient vines on limestone soils that are worked organically with some biodynamic practices, from the upper terrace of the Las Brunas vineyard at 900 to 950 meters in altitude. It’s ripe and expressive with 14.5% alcohol and very good acidity, combining power and freshness. It fermented with 50% full clusters in barrel with indigenous yeasts and matured in used 500-litre oak barrels for 18 months. 3000 bottles were filled in March 2022.”
Jumilla, Spain ~ Certified Organic ~ Vegan Certified
The magic of this new project comes from the hand of Maria Jover, a 28 year old winemaker that has transferred her modern view in wine making to our wines. The organic Monastrell grapes come from very old vines (20-40 years old) maintained from the old system or “Terraje”.
Since the beginning of its creation, the driving force of this winery is to be able to maintain the old system of the “Terraje” that consist of renting the vineyard to the farmers; they take care of the good quality of the vines and give back 7% of the production to the land owner. Almost all 80-90 year old vines in Jumilla are maintained this way but unfortunately, nowadays the owners of the land want to change the system to a more productive irrigated vineyard. The goal of the cellar is to maintain the old vines of the “Terraje” system by paying the higher price for this fruit and therefore maintaining the higher quality of those old vines.”
“Perfect to discover the world of skin-contact cuvées, this orange wine offers a very attractive fruity, floral and spicy bouquet. Light and easily approachable, it’s made by the very serious Bodegas Parajes del Valle. Organic and natural, it will surprise come aperitif time, but it will charm even more with Asian cuisine.”
Parajes del Valle organic Monastrell wine comes from vineyards located at an altitude of about 600 – 700 meters, with sandy soils over limestone. Strictly dry and Monastrell variety. They are vines of about 15 – 30 years old which produce balanced grapes with the right acidity. Around 65 hectares of our plots are destined to produce our Parajes del Valle Monastrell wine. Its yield averages around 2000 kg per hectare. The plots are supervised by our winemaker with winegrowers to guarantee maximum quality, always following a traditional and ecological viticulture to reduce the grape damage to the minimum. The alcoholic and malolactic conversion is carried out in concrete tanks, giving our wine a unique taste, and reaching the highest quality in wintertime, running a stabilization with hardly human action. This process provides a fruity wine, with all the local land feelings and freshness.
Terraje represents the living history of Jumilla that has helped to preserve exceptional vineyards since the 19th century. Refers to the money that the settlers used to pay with a part of the harvest in order to keep the right to cultivate these lands. They are the real winegrowers who, produce unique grapes with a lot of effort and dedication.
Our winemaker María, has selected the best plots in La Fuente de las Perdices and La Cañada de Albatana for making Terraje. These are organic Monastrell grape vineyards, strictly unirrigated at an altitude of 700m, over 30-40 years old. These are vines with a low production, about 1500 kg per hectare.
Our vineyards are located on plain plots along slopes, helping the Monastrell vines to grow upright, airy and protected from diseases.
We keep and refine our wines in 5000 l barrels, obtaining a unique wine that reflects the richness of our land.
U.S.A.
Lake County, California, USA
For the past 30 years, award winning winemaker Michael Wood has been creating wines for various prestigious Lake County wineries. In 2004, starting with one 3 barrel lot, Michael and Adawn Wood’s own boutique creation, Shed Horn, was born. Today Shed Horn has grown to a modest annual production of just over 4000 cases of beautifully crafted wines.
“Our wines capture the characteristics unique to the terrain found in the high elevations of Lake County.”
“This multi-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc starts with white peach and mango aromas, the melon and slight mineral flavors compliment the crisp juicy acid and white peach flavors, it finishes with a refreshing hint of lemongrass.”
“This Zinfandel is a fruit forward wine with aromas of black pepper and mocha. This wine exhibits flavours of ripe-red-raspberry, strawberry-tart, soft vanilla and creamy mocha. It is lighter-bodied and well balance leaving a lingering finish of white pepper and spice on your palate. Try this Zinfandel with hearty stews, aged cheeses, elk burgers or pasta dishes.”
“Ripe and plush aromas of dark fruit, fig, blackberries and blueberries. Followed by vanilla, oak, and cedar complimenting velvety tannins. The palate is full and silky with flavours of blueberries, and cocoa.”
Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
A stunning property situated at the South end of the Willamette Valley. With 40 acres of dry-farmed vines growing on every aspect of a giant mountaintop crater, this varied exposure leads to wines with beautiful balance and complexity. Iris Vineyards is an independent producer dedicated to growing top quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
“Iris is on a roll, with a lovely lineup of wines at budget prices.”
90 Points – Wine Enthusiast – Editors’ Choice “The aromas are nuanced, with notes of baked bread, lees, stone fruit and citrus zest. Fresh, clean flavors follow. It persists on the finish. Tasty stuff.”
What started in 2015 as a small project of personal interest to me has fast turned into one of the most anticipated and quickly selling wines we produce. Chalice Vineyard is well suited to the production of grapes for sparkling wine due to its high elevation and the generally cool conditions which prevail in the Lorane Valley. Cool growing conditions allow for ripe flavors to develop in the grapes with less sugar accumulation while maintaining higher levels of acid, all important factors in making world class, traditional method, sparkling wine. As with all of the wines we make at Iris Vineyards we carefully study and employ the methods used to make the highest quality sparkling wines in the world. The areas of the vineyard from which we source the grapes for this wine were selected prior to budbreak so the vines could be managed specifically to grow grapes perfectly suited to sparkling wine production. Once at the winery the grapes were gently pressed as whole clusters to minimize extraction of bitter phenolic compounds. The juice was settled in tank and then racked to barrels for a slow, cool fermentation. To maintain bright, fresh acidity we do not allow malolactic fermentation to occur. When the base wine is ready, we do tirage bottling at our winery and store the bottled wine for secondary fermentation and aging in tirage bins. We also perform all riddling, disgorging and labelling operations at our winery.
“This classic Pinot Gris is a brilliant platinum colour with aromas of Asian pear and pineapple with a lively balanced palate of guava and grapefruit. The versatility of this wine allows it to pair well with white fish, scallops, and Pad Thai. This release was carefully crafted from grapes grown in some of the finest vineyards of the Willamette Valley
“The colour of this wine is reminiscent of morning sunlight. The nose is greeted by aromas of cherry blossom, orange zest, coconut and wild mushroom. The wine is texturally complex, richness is balance by tightly wound acidity leading to a smooth finish. In the mouth there are flavors of fig, almond peach backed by hints of mineral and oak.”
“Pomegranate, earthy spice and wild raspberry aromas are complemented by red plums and blueberry liqueur on the palate.”
Winemakers Notes: Each vineyard parcel was selected to compliment the overall blend of this wine. We harvested each vineyard separately, at peak maturity. A blend of Pinot Noir from Chalice Estate Vineyard, Hidden Rock Vineyard (24%), Barkin Dog Vineyard (23%), Robinson Vineyard (20%) and Ten Peaks Vineyard (12%) this wine showcases the quality and diversity of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir as it includes grapes from Chehalem Mountain, Eola Hills, McMinnville and Yamhill- Carlton AVAs. This is a versatile wine, which will pair well with a variety of foods. The fruit was gently destemmed, into stainless steel tanks and to 1.25 ton open top fermenters, to ferment as individual vineyard parcels. Once fermentation was complete, the tanks and fermenters were pressed separately and then barrel aged. After aging through July, the lots were blended together to build this complex, enticing wine.
Vintage Description: The 2020 vintage had slightly warmer than average growing conditions following a warmer than average 2019 and 2018. Budbreak occurred late in April which is typical for out vineyard. Bloom occurred with somewhat unfavorable weather in the last week of June which led to a much lower than average fruit set and small berry size. From there on the season was near average in terms of precipitation and temperature through August. The fall ripening period was marked by extreme wildfires among otherwise excellent weather conditions. In light of this challenge we made some necessary adjustments to our picking decisions and fermentation techniques to make the best of the grapes we were given.
All of the grapes for Areté labeled wines come from our Estate Vineyard and are selected from specific blocks which we take additional care in to maximize quality. Half of the wine in this blend of Pinot Noir clones was fermented in two new 500 liter puncheons with one head removed. The small size of the fermenter keeps temperatures lower, conserving more volatile aromatics, and the early exposure to new oak helps to fix colour in the wine as well as rounding out the palate. The puncheon fermented wines were then aged in new French oak barrels from Seguin Moreau Cooperage purchased specifically with this wine in mind. Very tight grained oak, and toasted over a relatively cool fire for a longer time to achieve a deep but light toast. These new barrels impart structure to the wine and very little new oak flavor. The other two barrels in this blend were selected from the best blocks of our vineyard to compose a harmonious, age worthy and complex blend.