Two of the great people in Oregon Wine, Big Table Farm is the brainchild of Clare Carver and Brian Marcy. I’ll admit that I cannot stop talking about this winery and their lineup of wines. In a very short period of time Big Table Farm has become one of the top wineries in Oregon. For those of you who have not tried the wines, I urge you that this is a not to be missed lineup of wines — from bright, mineral driven Rose to rich and layered Chardonnay to earthy and downright seductive Pinot Noir. Superstar winemaker Brian Marcy turns literally anything he gets in his hands on into a beautiful wine. He has a longstanding history in the wine industry, living in Napa and previously serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley. His wines are rich, terroir driven and show dazzling minerality. It is very hard to find this degree of tension and viscosity in a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir.
It is also worth noting that his 2017 Big Table Farm ‘The Laughing Pig’ Rose (WWB, 93) was tied for the top Rose of my 2018 Rose Report. His new releases were stunning across the board. I absolutely loved the new 2016 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which showed incredible range and viscosity. This wine delivers some serious value for the price. The standout wine once again, was the 2016 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) which is another serious value from this winery. The wine has an insanely good texture and mouthfeel that combines with incredible range. It is a seductive Oregon Pinot Noir. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.
2017 Big Table Farm Pinot Gris- This orange wine shows wonderful range on the nose with apricot jelly, lychee, and Pink Grapefruit blossom. The palate is voluptuous and shows some marvelous weight. The texture to this wine is silky and seductive, inviting you for more. White peach, starfruit, mango and Pink Grapefruit flavors all nicely mingle together. A complete wine, this is another stunning effort by Big Table Farm. Drink 2018-2024- 93
2016 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir has evolved beautifully since I first tried the wine in September 2017. The nose takes on bright strawberry with guava, blood orange rind and forest floor aromatics that entice. Bright, showing a wonderful mouthfeel and intensity, the wine shows strawberry jam, guava, red currant and peat moss flavors. This entry level bottling is better than most winery’s top ‘reserve’ wines. Once in the glass it is nearly impossible to put down. Simply put, it is a fabulous value that is drinking marvelously now but will age for another decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2016 Big Table Farm ‘Wirtz Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Set on roughly 13 acres the Wirtz Vineyard is located in Gaston, and has old, 40 year old Pinot Noir vines. Not needing a decant, the earthy, seductive aromas grip you immediately. The silky mouthfeel makes this glide through the mid-palate, creating a stunning experience as you sip this marvelously textured Pinot Noir. Red and dark fruits connect with earthy and citrus tones. This amazing Pinot Noir by superstar winemaker Brian Marcy has it all. While it is drinking marvelously right now, it will cellar for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2033- 94
2016 Big Table Farm ‘Cattrall Brothers Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Big Table Farm has sourced from Tom and Bill Cattrall’s vineyard for more than five years. The cool climate vineyard sits high in the Eola Amity Hills. This begins with bright aromas of citrus blossom, red cherry candy, guava and lighter earthy tones on the nose. The palate is silky smooth, showing a nice salinity. Red fruits dominate the palate with light citrus and peat moss flavors mingle in the glass.This is delicate Pinot Noir that shows a wonderful terroir. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2016 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another marvelous effort by Big Table Farm. They have made this wine starting with the 2011vintage. The Pinot Noir shows beautiful aromatic range on the nose from blood orange, to peat moss to guava and beautiful bing cherry. The mouthfeel is seductive as the wine shows a similarly striking range on the palate. Black fruits, red fruits, citrus rind and earthy tones all marvelously weave together in the glass, and combine with stunning tension and minerality. A long ager, this is another complete wine made by the talented team at Big Table Farm. Drink 2018-2033- 95