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.
To order wine: Please call 503-831-1248. Our small staff will get your order processed and sent out quickly. We can run credit card orders the same day in most cases, and we also accept checks.
Alternately, email michael@illahevineyards.com
Illahe Vineyards offers a 10% case discount.
CURRENT RELEASES
PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2006, $38
Our reserve was just bottled after 18 months in the barrel. It is a delicate balance of rose, candied black cherry, vanilla, clove, hazelnut butter and chalk. The age-worthy tannins and acid will allow the wine, raised in 50% new oak, to benefit from many more years in the bottle. Only 10 cases available after our successful Thanksgiving weekend.
PINOT NOIR 2007, $20
The ‘07 is ready and beginning to show its fruit, spice, and the noticeable terroir of the Illahe vineyard. If you enjoyed the ‘06, you will notice the same characteristics, but in a subtle and classic way characteristic of the gentle 2007 vintage. Enjoy it now or feel free to cellar this well-priced gem.
VIOGNIER 2007, SOLD OUT
Thanks to everyone who came to the Thanksgiving weekend and bought the last of the 2007 viognier. We are putting the finishing touches on the 2008 viognier and it is rounding out beautifully with the tropical and floral aromas we enjoyed last year. Be forwarned: because of an unfortunate freeze, we have half what we had in 2007.
RIESLING 2007, $17
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.
PINOT GRIS 2007, $13
We have noted gravenstein apple, almonds, apple pie, baked Alaska, poached pears, citrus, honeydew melon, pineapple, spice bark, and even climatis in our gris. It pairs well with spicy food, and, of course, food from the sea.
GRÜNER VELTLINER 2007, $15
Illahe only produced 20 cases of this cult classic in 2007, but thanks to the foresight of our owner, Lowell, the vineyard will soon be producing enough to meet demand. 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.
Where to buy or enjoy Illahe wine
- Portland Area -
Lake Oswego:
Five Spice Bistro
New Seasons Market Mountain Park
Oregon City:
Winestock
Portland:
Alberta Street Oyster Bar
E&R Wine Shop
Fred Meyer Burlingame
Fred Meyer Hawthorne
Fred Meyer Hollywood
Fred Meyer Stadium
John’s Marketplace
Liner & Elsen
Market of Choice
New Seasons Market Arbor Lodge
New Seasons Market Concordia
New Seasons Market Seven Corners
New Seasons Market Raleigh Hills
Otto’s
Strohecker’s
Vinopolis
Woodstock Wine and Deli
Tualatin:
Parallel 45
Wilsonville:
Wine Xing
- Mid-Willamette Valley -
Albany:
Wine Depot
Corvallis:
Aqua
Avalon
Corvallis Brewing Supply
Rice’s Pharmacy
Strega
Wineopolis
Eugene:
Jiffy Market
Marché Provisions
Midtown Market
Sundance Wine Cellars
The Broadway Bistro
McMinnville:
Roth’s
Northwest Food and Gifts
Monmouth/Independence:
The Red Vase
Salem:
Grand Vines
Roth’s Vista
Roth’s West Salem
Santiam Wine Company
- Southern Oregon -
Ashland:
Allyson’s Kitchen
Standing Stone Brewery
Jacksonville:
Gary West Meats
Medford:
Harry and David
Pacific Wine Club