Evening Land
A winery that displays incredible terroir, Evening Land wines utilize the famed Seven Springs Vineyard for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay bottlings. The Seven Springs Vineyard is truly one of Oregon's most historic vineyards. First planted in 1984, the Seven Springs' eastern exposure allows the fruit in the vineyard to experience an abundance of morning sunlight. The vineyard also mitigates heat by utilizing the Van Duzer Corridor, which brings cool breezes in from the Pacific Ocean. The combination of heat and cool breezes affords the fruit to slowly ripen.
I have visited the winery on numerous occasions and was hugely impressed with this new set of releases. Each wine was stunning. Look for the 2014 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which is a great value and offers a ton of aromatic and flavor range. This gorgeous, mineral driven wine will cellar marvelously. The 2014 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) is one of the best wines that i have sampled from Oregon in the past year and is certainly one of the more memorable Chardonnays. This wine makes it case for competing with the elite new world Chardonnays out there. The wine is simply gorgeous, showing incredible structure and Burgundian earthy tones. It is truly one for the cellar. The Pinot Noir releases were just as stunning, none more so than the 2014 ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir bottling (WWB, 94) which showed tremendous poise, terroir and black fruit flavors. Learn more about this incredible winery at https://www.eveninglandvineyards.com Here are the exceedingly good new release wines by Evening Land.
2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Gamay Noir- From one of the oldest plantings of Gamay in North America, this wine arises with earthy aromatics of stewed wild mushroom, cinnamon stick, peat moss and cranberry with orange rind. There is nice minerality on the mid-palate with red fruit flavors leading to a pomegranate and orange laced finish. Drink 2017-2025- 90
2014 Evening Land 'Seven Springs' Chardonnay-This excellent Chardonnay begins with aromatics of wild mushroom, lemon curd and kumquat. There are lithe flavors of vanilla cream, butterscotch, lemon oil and suggestions of roasted pineapple. The exceedingly long, 40 plus second finish, accentuates this Chablisesque, gorgeous Chardonnay. Drink 2017-2027- 93
2014 Evening Land 'La Source' Chardonnay-Deep and earthy aromatics mark this bottling, currently showing morel mushroom, forest floor, peat moss, brioche and Golden Delicious apple accents. The mid-palate shows brisk minerality, and a lovely weight. There are bright flavors of Meyer lemon oil, white grapefruit, crushed wet stone, Pazzaz apple and suggestions of vanilla creme brulee. The finish lingers for nearly a minute. This has the structure to cellar marvelously and pick up secondary characteristics but it is nearly impossible to currently put down this impressive mineral-driven Chardonnay. Drink 2017-2028- 94
2014 Evening Land 'Summum' Chardonnay-This wine is sourced from a small section of the Seven Springs Vineyard. The wine opens with a bouquet of shitake mushroom risotto, lemon zest, challah bread and baking spices. This leads to flavors of lemon oil, tangerine rind, meringue and white truffle crudo. Intense, lithe and having wonderful fruit weight, this complete Chardonnay is a joy to savor. The exceedingly long, near one minute finish, connects this world class Burgundian style Oregon Chardonnay. Drink 2017-2030- 95
2014 Salem Wine Company 'Eola-Amity Hills' Pinot Noir- This is an off-shoot winery project by superstar winemaker and master somm, Rajat Parr. This lovely, feminine style Pinot Noir opens with a bouquet of red cherry, guava purée, black raspberry, Earl Grey tea and suggestions of wild mushroom. There are ripe flavors of strawberry, guava, pomegranate seed, Mandarin orange rind and suggestions of tobacco leaf. This has wonderful structure and will cellar beautifully into the next decade. Drink 2017-2027-93
2014 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Pinot Noir- Comng from old vine Pinot Noir, more than 30 years of age, the wine utilizes Pommard and Wadenswil clones that are set on volcanic Jory soils. The wine was hand harvested and hand sorted, with roughly 75% of the fruit being destemmed. This excellent Pinot Noir wine begins with aromaticcs of black truffle, cran-pomrgranate, red cherry, sage and forest floor elements. Showing wonderful mid-palate weight and acidity, the wine delivers flavors of cranberry, teaberry, mulberry, red cherry, guava puree and suggestions of baking spices. This is layered, fresh and delicious wine. Drink 2017-2028- 93
2014 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir comes from Seven Spring Vineyard Dijon clones that are set on a rocky slope reaching 700 feet in elevation. The ‘La Source’ section of the vineyard sees a strong wind influence from the Van Duzer Gap. This gorgeous wine opens with an aromatic profile of black tea, white truffle, black cherry liquor, black raspberry and suggestions of nutmeg. The wine has a silky and smooth texture and rich, mineral driven mouthfeel, currently yielding flavors of black cherry, red raspberry, tangerine, guava, pomegranate seed and hints of black forest cake. The lingering finish beautifully connects the citrus and red fruit elements. Drink 2017-2028- 93
2014 Evening Land ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir- This gorgeous wine, sourced from the Seven Springs Vineyard, featuring Pommard clones which were planted in 1984. This wine opens with a bouquet of rose petals, black cherry, cran-pomegranate and teaberry with a touch of forest floor. As the wine unwinds in the decanter it continues more earthy elements, with pipe tobacco and wild mushroom risotto. Dense and more masculine than the ‘La Source’ bottling, this wine is currently unveiling flavors reminiscent of black cherry, black raspberry, black truffle crudo, roasted figs and hints of milk chocolate. The long and lingering finish is memorable. Be sure to give this beautiful wine at least a two hour decant before enjoying. Drink 2017-2030- 94