Wine Department: One Month Removed – Our First Jungle Jim’s Wine Safari
Back to feed- Posted: 9/1/2017
- Categories: Wine
|
The Safari started off in the Dundee Hills, where we toured 3 fantastic wineries: Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Sokol Blosser, and Domaine Serene. All three are absolutely beautiful vineyards that are located on the same hill and produce completely different styles of wine. Drouhin is from the classic French producer that brought the Burgundy focus of winemaking to Oregon in the 1980’s. Tight, clean, and well manicured vines that produce very elegant and balanced wines. Sokol Blosser is one of the original producers in Oregon. Their vineyard is very Earth focused. With solar energy, a reused bunker for barrel aging, and living roofs, Sokol Blosser is located directly below DDO. When looking down the hill from DDO you cannot even see Sokol’s winery or tasting room as it completely blends in with the vines. Sokol Blosser has many elegant wines, but produces more budget friendly wines like the Evolution line.
|
|
With their brand new luxury winery and tasting room, Domaine Serene sits on top of the hill, resembling more of a Napa winery than any other in Oregon. The pinot noir produced there is on a different level, boasting big flavors with great acidity.
The second stop on our tour was Ribbon Ridge, perhaps the best sub growing region in Oregon. We were only able to visit one vineyard in this great region, but Trisaetum did not disappoint! Trisaetum was a last minute addition to the itinerary, but one of my favorite stops of the week. Positioned halfway down the hill, this was a bit of a problem for our tour bus… but what a tremendous view. Trisaetum offers over the top single vineyard pinot noir from a few vineyards in Ribbon Ridge and surrounding sites. Clean, bright fruit with balanced acidity was the calling card for every wine we tried there. Making the experience even better was |
|
|
the small local art museum located in the tasting room. Sipping pinot noir while appreciating fine art is something everyone should experience at least once!
Eola-Amity day was the highlight of all the days we spent in Oregon. Starting with a bit of a hiccup when our bus was too big to take a ferry across the Willamette River, we had to take a 45 minute detour to reach Bethel Heights. One of the original wineries in Oregon, we were greeted by Pat Dudley, the President of the winery. She gave us a comprehensive tour of the vineyard, and tasted the entire lineup of wines with us. The Bethel Heights method of farming was vastly different than any other vineyard we visited, as they believe in letting the vines do their own thing, with very little pruning or manicuring. The result is phenomenal pinot noir! From Bethel we ventured just down the road to Cristom. One of the smaller vineyards in Eola-Amity, they pump |
|
out exceptional juice every year. Each single vineyard pinot noir is named from women in the family and each is from a different clone. Tasting on their large front porch, looking out over Eola-Amity, is greatly encouraged! Finishing up the day at St. Innocent with owner and head winemaker Mark Vlossak was beyond anything I expected when booking this tour. Mark, if not the most awarded winemaker in Oregon, is pretty close. He has influenced many of the current winemakers in Oregon. After a lengthy tasting and lecture about Oregon wine, Mark
|
|
Saving the last best for last – although Eola-Amity as a whole was my favorite day – my favorite vineyard was the last one we visited on the trip. Yamhill Carlton was the last AVA we visited and Abbot’s Claim Vineyard was the last vineyard on the tour, where we were graced by the presence of one of the founding father’s of Oregon wine, Ken Wright! Ken gave us a college level lecture about all things Oregon wine while tasting through his award winning single vineyard pinot noirs. As an avowed Wine Geek, this was almost too much. I have always loved Ken Wright’s pinots above almost any other wines, and here he was teaching us at Abbot’s Claim! This is an experience that the group and myself will never forget!
|
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
2014 Chardonnay Arthur Dundee Hills, Oregon Retail: $37.99 |
|
Bethel Heights
2012 Estate Pinot Noir Eola Amity, Oregon Retail: $34.99 |
|
Trisaetum
2013 Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge, Oregon Retail: $29.99 |
|
Ken Wright Cellars
2014 Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon Retail: $29.99 |
