Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent releases – includes wines from the Willamette Valley from Archery SummitSineannErathStoller Family EstateSpindrift CellarsLumos Wine Co.Hawks View CellarsDuck Pond Cellars, and Panther Creek Cellars.

Archery Summit

Archery Summit, located in Dayton, Oregon, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013. The winery focuses on six estate vineyards: Archery Summit, Red Hills, Arcus, Renegade Ridge, Looney, and Archer’s Edge. These sites are based largely in the Dundee Hills, with Looney Vineyard located in the Ribbon Ridge appellation. The Archer’s Edge Pinot Noir, reviewed below, is the winery’s first from this vineyard.

Also of note, earlier this year Archery Summit hired Christopher Mazepink as general manager and winemaker. Mazepink replaced long-time winemaker Anna Matzinger.

Archery Summit Ab Ovo Pinot Gris Dundee Hills 2012 $48
(Excellent/Exceptional) Ab Ovo – from the egg – with a good portion fermented in an egg-shaped concrete tank, is lightly aromatic with notes of toast, straw, melon, and mineral. The palate is full bodied, rich, textured, and rounded with distinctive lemon curd flavors and a pleasing zing of acidity that stitches it all together. 100% Pinot Gris. Red Hills Estate. Aged 11 months in concrete egg (61%), stainless steel barrels (27%), and 12% neutral oak. 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2011 $54
(Excellent) Leaps up from the glass with strawberry, cherry, freshly pressed white and pink grapefruit, celery root, and cedar. The palate is all about elegance and delicacy in its styling with lithe fruit flavors and beautifully integrated tannins that should allow this wine age nicely in the cellar. 100% Pinot Noir. Arcus (50%), Red Hills (20%), Archer’s Edge (15%), Looney (7%), Renegade (5%) and Archery Summit vineyards. Aged 10 months in French oak (33% new). 13.0% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Archer’s Edge Estate Dundee Hills 2011 $85
(Excellent) A moderately aromatic wine with sarsaparilla, mesquite, cherry, thyme, citrus peel, and earth. The palate is graceful in feel while showing depth to the juicy fruit flavors along with tightly wound, chewy tannins that lead to a lingering finish. Give two years. 100% Pinot Noir (Dijon 667, 777, 115 and Pommard). Aged 10 months in French oak (22% new). 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Arcus Estate Dundee Hills 2011 $100
(Exceptional) A moderately aromatic wine with dark plums, abundant black licorice, thyme, cola, and sweet spices. The palate is medium-plus bodied, tart and tightly wound at present with firm, black tea tannins. Designed to go the distance and still deep inside its shell. Give at least two years. 100% Pinot Noir (Pommard, Dijon 667). Aged 12 months in French oak (44% new). 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Red Hills Estate Dundee Hills 2011$85
(Good/Excellent) A moderately aromatic wine with black cherry, earth, a light meaty note, and toasty spices. The palate is rich, dense and sumptuous with the oak providing much of the flavor and feel and seeming to give some rusticity to the tannins. Give two years. 100% Pinot Noir (Dijon clones 777, 115, 667 and Pommard). Aged 13 months in French oak (52% new). 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Renegade Ridge Estate Dundee Hills 2011 $85
 (Excellent/Exceptional) A moderately aromatic, complex wine with cola, cinnamon stick, red and black fruit, incense, bay leaf, black licorice, and sweet spices. The palate is rich and full but without excess alcohol to weigh it down with chewy, somewhat wood-driven tannins and mouthwatering acids leading to an extended, mocha-filled finish. Give this one some time in the cellar to see it at its best. 100% Pinot Noir (Dijon 777, 667, ASW2). Aged 10 months in French oak (48% new). 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Looney Vineyard Ribbon Ridge 2011 $85
 (Good/Excellent) A moderately aromatic, stylistically unique wine with notes of wild strawberry, guava, red and black licorice, and mocha. The palate is tart and tightly wound with quite chewy, lip smacking tannins and bright, mouthwatering acidity. 100% Pinot Noir (Dijon 115, 777, 667). Aged 10 months in French oak (35% new). 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Archery Summit Estate Dundee Hills 2011 $150
(Excellent/Exceptional) An aromatically brooding wine with smoke, toast, cedar, cherry, and sarsaparilla. The palate is equal parts layered and dense with an ethereal lightness backed by fine grained tannins that are still tightly wound. Give two-plus years. 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.


Sineann

Sineann is the work of winemaker Peter Rosback. Rosback launched the winery in 1994 with David O’Rielly, who later went on to start Owen Roe. At Sineann, Rosback makes an eclectic mixture of wines that span the Willamette Valley, Washington, and even venture into New Zealand.

Sineann Gewürztraminer Resonance Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton 2012 $20
(Good) An aromatic wine with lychee, mineral notes, spice, and floral soap. The palate is medium bodied, unctuous in feel drinking off dry with a creamy feel and a slightly bitter finish. 13.4% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton 2011 $48
(Excellent) A moderately aromatic wine with notes of smoke, spice, tar, chocolate and dark cherry. The palate is tart and medium-plus bodied with abundant mesquite, cherry, and cedar flavors supported by black tea tannins andmouthwatering acidity that lead to a spice filled finish. 100% Pinot Noir. 13.8% alcohol. 475 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard Reserve Yamhill- Carlton 2011 $72
(Excellent/Exceptional) A two barrel selection from the oldest vines in the vineyard that came in at a mere one ton per acre in 2011, it’s more aromatically restrained and brooding than its non-reserve counterpart with notes of dark cherries, chocolate, smoke, mesquite, and spice. The palate is medium-plus bodied, somewhat more plump in feel, with a firm squeeze of oak-driven tannins and a finish that just doesn’t quit. 100% Pinot Noir. 13.8% alcohol. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard Columbia Valley 2011 $48
(Good) Moderately aromatic with high toned sweet spices, chocolate, dried cherry, and mortared herbs accented by a light volatility. The palate is soft and seamless in feel with abundant cherry and medicinal flavors. Sample provided by winery.

Sineann Sweet Sydney Zinfandel Columbia Valley 2012 $NA
(Good) Harvested at 38% Residual Sugar, this light amber Zinfandel ice wine is uber aromatic with freshly peeled tangerine, honey, and candied strawberry.The palate is elegant in style, sweet and fruit filled, gliding on the finish. It’s all about delicacy and nuance. Sample provided by winery.

Erath

The latest releases from Erath show across the board high quality for the price. They include an incredibly appealing – and well priced – bottle of the fairly seldom seen Pinot Blanc, a white wine grape that is a point mutation of Pinot Noir. For this wine, winemaker Gary Horner sources fruit from Yamhill-Carlton, Dundee Hills, and Rogue Valley. Read previous posts about Erath here.

Erath Pinot Gris Oregon 2012 $14
(Good) A fairly aromatic offering with notes of the underside of a pineapple, kiwi, white flowers, citrus, and melon. With no oak use and no malolactic fermentation, the palate is medium bodied, off-dry with ripe, fresh fruit flavors and tart acidity and a slightly warm finish. 0.44g/100ml Residual Sugar. 13.5% alcohol. 30,920 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Recommended

Erath Pinot Blanc Oregon 2012 $14
(Excellent) A lightly aromatic wine initially that opens to reveal with an assortment of tropical fruit, including kiwi and pineapple, along with honeysuckle and citrus spritz. The palate is medium bodied and drinks almost bone dry with citrus and melon flavors. Neiderberger, Quail Run, and Winkler vineyards. 13.5% alcohol. 0.08g/100ml Residual Sugar. 2,000 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed October 31, 2013

Erath Pinot Noir Oregon 2011 $19
(Good) A moderately aromatic, appealing wine with herbs, mint, strawberry, cola, and moss. The palate is quite light and elegant in style with cherry, mesquite, and peppery spice flavors. A very pretty wine that is deserving of a spot at the dinner table. 100% Pinot Noir. Aged in French oak (25% new). 13.0% alcohol. 100,600 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Recommended

Erath Estate Selection Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2011 $34
(Good/Excellent) A lightly aromatic wine with vanilla, cherry, strawberry, and spices. The palate is elegant in style showing a classic fruit and barrel style with spice and vanilla notes that linger on the finish. A lot of good things going on here with the wood just a bit out of proportion to the fruit that’s in the bottle. 100% Pinot Noir. Aged 12 months in French oak (40% new). 12.5% alcohol. 1,743 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Stoller Family Estate

I wrote recently about the intriguing Rieslings coming out of OregonStoller Family Estate provides yet another example with its 2012 Dundee Hills Estate Riesling. The numbers on this wine demonstrate some of the differences between Oregon and Washington when it comes to this grape. The wine comes in at 4.1g/L Residual Sugar yet retains 8.6g/L Titratable Acidity (TA), making the wine drink dry. This would be hard to pull of in many locations in Washington yet is less so in Oregon, even during the relatively warm, dry 2012 growing season.

Read previous posts about Stoller here.

Stoller Family Estate Riesling Estate Exclusive Dundee Hills 2012 $25
 (Excellent) An aromatically generous wine with white peach, lavender, and citrus. Despite the listed Residual Sugar, the palate drinks dry, painting around the edges with bright, tart acidity that pulls it all together. 100% Riesling. 11.6% alcohol. 4.1g/L Residual Sugar. 8.6g/L TA. 190 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Stoller Family Estate Estate Grown Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2012 $20
(Good) A lightly aromatic wine with spice, lemon zest, and white peach. The palate is medium-plus bodied but pulls back with tart lick of citric acidity and warm finish. 100% Chardonnay. 14.1% alcohol. 925 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Stoller Family Estate Estate Grown Reserve Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2011 $35
 (Good/Excellent) Draws you into the glass with light notes of mineral and spice. The palate is tart with lemony acidity that stretches out on the finish. 100% Chardonnay. 13% alcohol. 685 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Spindrift Cellars

Spindrift Cellars is located in Philomath, Oregon just west of Corvalis. Matthew Compton serves as winemaker. Spindrift consistently makes quality Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir at affordable prices as indicated by the wines below.

Spindrift Cellars Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2011 $16
(Excellent) Moderately aromatic with apple, peach, and mineral notes. It’s dry and medium plus bodied with a textured, grainy feel and a tart, citrus filled finish. A thoroughly delicious wine. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. 100% Pinot Gris. 13% alcohol. 0.3% Residual Sugar. 600 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Spindrift Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2011 $22
(Good) Lightly aromatic with strawberry, cherry, cedar, and earth. The palate has light, soft fruit flavors and firm tannins. A very varietal, very enjoyable wine. 100% Pinot Noir. Croft, Esterling, BoVine, Rainbows End, Mary’s Peak, and Deer Haven vineyards. Aged in French oak (15% new). 12.75% alcohol. 1,244 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Lumos Wine Co. 

Lumos Wine Co. is also located in Philomath, Oregon. The winery was founded in 2000 by Dai Crisp and his wife, PK McCoy. Crisp grows all of the fruit that goes into the Lumos wines and has been managing Temperance Hill in the Eola-Amity Hills since 1999.

Lumos Pinot Gris Rudolfo Vineyard Oregon 2011 $17
 (Decent/Good) Moderately aromatic with yellow apple, citrus, and mineral. It’s medium bodied with a touch of sugar, light fruit flavors, and abundant mineral notes with a tart finish. 12.6% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Lumos Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard Oregon 2008 $32
(Excellent) Moderately aromatic with cedar, cherry and fresh herbs. Brings a lot of intensity, depth, and richness on the palate with a real sense of texture while still retaining its cranberry like acidity. Not a faint bottle of Pinot but far from overblown. 13.6% alcohol. 688 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Onesies

Hawks View Cellars 
Pinot Gris Hawk’s View Vineyard Chehalem Mountains 2011 $26
(Excellent) Lightly aromatic with apple and peach. It’s dry, medium-plus bodied and textured with a lingering finish. 13.1% alcohol. 500 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Duck Pond Rose of Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2012 $18
(Decent/Good) Pale salmon color. It’s moderately aromatic with watermelon, apple, and cherry. The palate is medium bodied and off dry with strawberry flavors. 91.5% Pinot Gris, 8.5% Pinot Noir. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. 0.95g/100ml Residual Sugar. 500 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Panther Creek Cellars Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton 2009 $45
(Decent/Good) A moderately aromatic wine with cinnamon, red fruit, and a slightly funky note. It’s broad in style, richly flavored, palate coating with a warm feel that carries through to the finish. 14.3% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.