WINES
Because we make wines as a team at Illahe, our philosophy of winemaking receives a constant workout. When we began our enterprise, Michael had experience working at Willakenzie, Domaine Serene, Castello di Verduno, and Belle Pente, and Brad at Vitae Springs, Joe Dobbes, Domaine Serene, and Evesham Wood.
Each of these producers has differing approaches to winemaking—large and small production, big business perspectives and family operations, and target audiences including everyday drinkers and wine sophisticates. In all of our experiences, each producer was dedicated to quality production.
We fall on the side of small production and family operation, and we are dedicated to quality production. Because of the care we can give to each lot, we’re able to produce an excellent Willamette Valley pinot noir for daily drinking and exceptionally complex, deep reserve and grand reserve blends.
CURRENT RELEASES
PINOT NOIR GRAND RESERVE 2007, $75 - Aged 24 months in barrel, this Pinot is breathtaking! Michael and Brad were tasting through the cellar, barrel selecting the blends for the 07 Pinots. There was one barrel that was so gorgeous, they couldn’t bring themselves to blend it. That’s right folks, one barrel…25 cases produced. 100% new French oak. The Grand Reserve Pinot Noir is elegant and balanced with a finish that sings.
PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2007, $38- Our Reserve was just bottled after 18 months in the barrel. A blend of the best lots of the vintage are smooth and round on the palate and offer deep fruit and delicate baking spice aromas. The age-worthy tannins and acid will allow the wine, raised in 45% new oak, to benefit from many more years in the bottle.
PINOT NOIR 2008, $20-The ‘08 is ready and beginning to show its fruit, spice, and the noticeable terroir of the Illahe vineyard. If you enjoyed the ‘07, you will notice the same characteristics, but in a subtle and classic way characteristic of the gentle 2008 vintage. Enjoy it now or feel free to cellar this well-priced gem.
VIOGNIER 2009 $15- This aromatic white is already displaying a captivating perfume of honeysuckle, honeydew melon, plantain and pineapple. The palette is juicy thanks to good natural acidity and we’ve left just enough residual sugar to balance the acidity.
RIESLING 2008, $13 -Sold Out Our estate fruit at the top of the vineyard went into this wine made up of two clonal varieties, one of which entered Oregon in the seventies. The wine is rich in candy, apple, honey, and tobacco leaf–you know it when you taste it. Only 90 cases produced.
PINOT GRIS 2009, $15- “The 2008 Pinot Gris offers breathtaking precision and purity for its modest tariff. Light lemon- gold in the glass with glints of green, the Illahe Pinot Gris opens with soil-driven aromas of lemon, minerals and honeydew. Riveting acidity greets the palate, then quickly segues to suggestions of lime zest, salty minerals and crisp green apples. The wine’s brisk acidity and mineral spine leads to a long, refreshing finish.” Liner and Elsen, Wine Merchants May 2009
GRÜNER VELTLINER 2009, $15 - Hugh Johnson felt that this wine should be drunk before being bottled, but we enjoy age on our grüner after some time in the bottle. A tasting this year of a 1994 from our vineyards was rich, full of flavor, and still alive. Drinking it now, though, will reward the nose with apple and candy and give some idea of the texture that will come with age.
Find Illahe wines locally or nationwide HERE.
To order wine directly: Please call 503-831-1248. Alternately, email bethany@illahevineyards.com
Illahe Vineyards offers a 10% case discount.