After 10 years of working with Jeff Havlin of Fender's Rest Vineyard, we are proud to release our first vineyard designate. Over the the years we've come to know Jeff for his quick wit, as well as his ability to beguile you with a quick flash of his boy-like grin. The vineyard is named after the Fender's Rest Blue Butterfly, to which Jeff has been involved in the restoration of Kincaid's Lupine - the sole flower used for the butterfly's reproduction cycle. Fender's Rest Vineyards consistently shows dark fruit characteristics, vibrant acidity, and the ability to age with grace.

We began working with Tim Ramey of Zenith Vineyard for our Tempranillo program two years ago and have been astounded by the fruit quality and texture. So, we thought we'd give his Pinot Noir a try - turns out it is pretty good too. Although Zenith is also the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is a mere 5-minute drive from our own Estate, it consists of mostly marine sedimentary soils. The wines from Zenith show exceptional concentration, depth, and have a lovely textural plushness.

 

The 2021 Oregon harvest will be one to remember. It was dry with heat spikes throughout the summer. Fortunately, the grapes were unaffected by the historical “Heat Dome” that descended upon us in June. The fruit was beautiful and balanced, with generous aromatics.

The 2020 wine harvest was full of challenges; it was much like the rest of the year we collectively experienced. Although we had to contend with a pandemic, forest fires, and excruciatingly low yields, we were graced with what was truly the vintage of the decade in terms of fruit quality. The 2020 vintage is showing to be a powerhouse, with ethereal texture, density, and fruit concentration. Our red wine offerings will be of high quality and limited.

After 10 years of working with Jeff Havlin of Fender's Rest Vineyard, we are proud to release our first vineyard designate. Over the the years we've come to know Jeff for his quick wit, as well as his ability to beguile you with a quick flash of his boy-like grin. The vineyard is named after the Fender's Rest Blue Butterfly, to which Jeff has been involved in the restoration of Kincaid's Lupine - the sole flower used for the butterfly's reproduction cycle. Fender's Rest Vineyards consistently shows dark fruit characteristics, vibrant acidity, and the ability to age with grace.

We began working with Tim Ramey of Zenith Vineyard for our Tempranillo program two years ago and have been astounded by the fruit quality and texture. So, we thought we'd give his Pinot Noir a try - turns out it is pretty good too. Although Zenith is also the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is a mere 5-minute drive from our own Estate, it consists of mostly marine sedimentary soils. The wines from Zenith show exceptional concentration, depth, and have a lovely textural plushness.

 

Jeffrey’s Block is one part of a wine duo that always stirs up some sibling rivalry. The two wines are named Jeffery’s Block and Krista’s Block, and they show how a small change in location (a mere 500 ft) can completely change the outcome of a wine. Jeffrey’s Block is our oldest block and is named after owners Jon & Kathy Lauer’s oldest son. Both blocks are planted to the same clones of Pinot. The wines are vinified with native yeasts in identical fermentation vessels, and both wines are aged in duplicate barrel selections. Jeffrey’s Block is located on gradual south-east facing slope on rich volcanic soil.
x

Krista’s Block is one part of a wine duo that always stirs up some sibling rivalry. The two wines are named Jeffery’s Block and Krista’s Block, and they show how a small change in location (a mere 500 ft) can completely change the outcome of a wine. Krista’s Block is named after the family’s only red-headed daughter. Both blocks are planted to the same clones of Pinot. The wines are vinified with native yeasts in identical fermentation vessels, and both wines are aged in duplicate barrel selections. Krista’s Block is planted on a steeper, rockier south-facing slope that is exposed to the cold Ocean winds coming from the west. 

Reserve, what does that mean anyways? The term gets thrown around lightly, but for us, a Reserve wine has to be something special – or else we won’t make one. Not only does it have to be an impeccable growing season, but the wine must have depth, complexity, typicity and adequate structure and acidity to carry it through aging. In addition to all the quantitative boxes that must be checked, there also needs to be a certain je ne sais quoi – a hard to define quality that makes the wine alluring, compelling, and unique.