Berserker DAY #6 - Esoteric 6-Pack
2023 Isla Vermentino - Layne Vineyard in the Applegate Valley, 1500 feet elevation. Planted originally in 1970, grafted to Vermentino in 2009. PH 3.23, TA 5.3, 13% ABV. Notes of lemon oil, lemon curd, lime, white peach, and soft floral aromas. The pallet is crisp, but full with citrus and stone fruit, a hint of briny olive, and a salty bright zesty finish. Direct pressed fruit, cold settled for 24 hours and racked off lees to neutral French oak 500 L puncheons. Fermentation was spontaneous and complete, and malolactic fermentation was complete. Cold stabilized and bottled with only a small addition of 40ppm total SO2. Retail $27 per bottle.
2023 Arneis, Aurora Vineyard - PH 3.44, TA 5.0 g/l, 13.5% ABV. Planted by the Ponzi family in Chehalem Mountains in 1991. Exotic ginger, jasmine, pear, quince, almond blossom. Silky and supple, balanced with tension and minerality. Grapes were direct pressed and settled, then racked to our largest puncheon, a neutral French oak 700 L. Spontaneous complete primary and malo fermentation, unfined and unfiltered. Retail $36 per bottle.
2024 Vin de Days l’Orange - 33% Müller Thurgau, 32% Riesling, 18% Pinot Gris, 17% Gewurztraminer. PH 3.47, TA 6.3 g/l, 12.4% ABV. Ripe Blood orange and Meyer lemon. Expressive tropical notes of starfruit, guava, and mango shine through, supported by aromas of rose water and sweet herbs. Grapes were destemmed into 1.5-ton fermenters, and skin macerated fermentation kicked off spontaneously. Punch downs were twice per day. When it became dry, we racked the wine and pressed into neutral oak barrels to age and complete malolactic fermentation.This vintage was filtered with partial malo, to keep the acid in a fresh place. Retail $25 per bottle.
2023 A Peridot Afternoon (Syrah, Viognier); Deux Vert Vineyard in the Yamhill Carlton AVA. Blueberry, blackberry and lavender with black & white pepper, olive tapenade, and summer herbs. Retail $44 per bottle.
2022 100 Years a Lady Pinot Meunier - Named for my Grandmother. Grown in La Belle Promenade Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains (organic), Abbey Road Farm in Yamhill Carlton (organic), and Left Coast Cellars in Van Duzer Corridor (sustainable). PH 3.55, TA 6.4, 12.65% ABV. Still, red Pinot Meunier is such a revelation! Beautiful raspberry fruit and leaf, wild strawberry, red plum, sweet mint and flinty obsidian. Elegant but with a charmingly rustic side. Retail $42 per bottle.
2023 Achelous Mondeuse - PH 3.68, TA 5.6, 12.7% ABV. Grown in Johan Vineyards in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA (Biodynamic). Cherry-cranberry, mushroom umami, wisteria, a hint of cola. Juicy, mild tannin, full mid-palate. Retail $33 per bottle.