Hug a tree, get on a bike, take time for the arts, and have a glass of alternative Pinot Noir. With the attention focused on Oregon Pinot Noir labels an hour north, some very good things are happening under the radar around the Emerald City, Oregon's hip college town located at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers.
Eugene is halfway between the state borders north and south and there is a growing winegrowing industry visible alongside the decline of logging. Home to the University of Oregon and the birthplace of Nike, word has it a lot of "aging hippies" find refuge here.
Iris Hill Winery was founded by Pamela Frye and Richard Boyles when they returned to their stomping grounds after a world business tour of duty to start a family, plant a wine estate and indulge their dream of making wine. The first vintage for their Iris Hill label was 2001.
Their Chalice Vineyard located 18 miles southwest of Eugene is the source for all their wines at present, with only 44 acres of vines producing out of 870. The majority of the property is in forest, Christmas tree plots and grazed. The vines are planted facing South in terra cotta clay loam soil.
Frye and Boyles are organic grape growers and they practice sustainable viticulture. Last year they began using biodiesel blended fuel for their farm equipment. Like many Oregon growers, they participate in the LIVE (low input viticulture and enology) program and they are obtaining Salmon-Safe certification.
Iris Hill Pinot Noir 2005 is the product of low-yielding estate vines, aged an average of 9 months in French oak barrels, 1/5 new. The wine is custom crushed in Eugene. Production is in the neighborhood of 3000 cases annually.
Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep cherry red with bright edges, almost transparent. Aromas: Bright cherry, strawberry, toffee, and background notes of minerally earth, cold blossoms and black olives. Light-to-medium bodied and sweet-tart on the tongue, the bright red cherry-berry, light spice, citrus and sage flavors are lively in the soft smooth finish. The empty glass smells great.
Excellent value ($17). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 12.5%.
Food pairing: Roast chicken with herbs.
Subscribe
Comments