One of Oregon’s great wineries, Evening Land utilizes the famed Seven Springs Vineyard for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay bottlings. First planted in 1984, the Seven Springs Vineyard is one of the great historic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. Planted with eastern exposure, Seven Springs Vineyard fruit experiences an abundance of morning sunlight and also experiences cool breezes in from the Pacific Ocean through the Van Duzer Corridor. The combination of heat and cool breezes affords the fruit to slowly ripen. Celebrity somm, Rajat Parr and Sasha Moorman head the winemaking team at Evening Land. They form what is truly one of the best teams in the state.
Evening Land is one of the great wineries to visit. The new lineup is simply stunning and follows up the highly impressive 2014 bottlings. An amazing effort, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) is among the finest entry level Pinot Noir bottling that I have tried in the past year out of Oregon. This gorgeous, mineral driven wine will cellar marvelously. Following up the scintillating 2014 bottling, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) is truly one of the best Chardonnays made from Oregon. The combination of terroir, bright fruit and sterling minerality is hard to find — particularly considering the heat of the 2015 vintage. Kudos to the rockstar team of Rajat Parr and Sasha Moorman on this gorgeous new Chardonnay. Learn more about Evening Land at https://www.eveninglandvineyards.com Here are the amazing new release wines by Evening Land.
2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Chardonnay grapes were whole cluster pressed into to once-used French barriques and Stockinger puncheons (500L) for fermentation.This starts off with brioche and tasted hazelnuts with wild mushroom accents on the inviting nose. Intense Meyer lemon oil flavor immediately entices with ripe pear and green papaya filling in, adding an exotic edge. The silky texture finishes this outstanding, mineral-driven wine. This finishes long with a buttery finish. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2015 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Chardonnay- This great wine is sourced from old-vine Dijon clones in the lower half of a narrow band of 14 vine rows. Roasted marshmallow and toasty oak mark the expressive nose with baked apple filling in. The freshness and tension to this wine is outstanding. Wonderfully poised, this shows Gravenstein apple, and lemon creme brûlée flavors. This outstanding new release by Evening Land, showing wonderful weight and tension, drinks like an outstanding Montrachet. Drink 2018-2030- 94
2015 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay- The ‘Summum’ is sourced from 14 rows of vines located in the heart of the Seven Springs Vineyard, Deeper hued than the ‘La Source’ bottling, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay starts off with wonderful range on the nose with vanilla creme brulee, poached pear, buttered cashew nut and a touch of white truffle oil. The oily texture entices. This has a tremendous poise and weight, as the wine shows off Gala apple, brioche, kumquat and Meyer lemon cream flavors. The long, near minute long, cream and citrus rind finish lingers. A complete wine, this is a stunning effort by Evening Land that will age gracefully over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2018-2033- 95
2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 Evening Land ‘Seven Sorings Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is an outstanding effort from this exciting vintage in the Willamette Valley. Forest floor, ripe red cherry and red raspberry cordial mark the highly perfumed nose. The palate is both lithe and viscous as the wine showcases black tea, peat moss, red cherry preserve and teaberry with blood orange zest flavors that beautifully mingle with the minerality. This is a simply stunning entry level bottling by Evening Land that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2015 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir- Mineral driven and energetic, the Dijon clone based 2015 ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir by Evening Land impresses in this warm vintage. The ‘La Source’ starts off with beautiful aromatics of black tea, black truffle shavings, peat moss and wild blackberry preserves. This has wonderful mid-palate range, as the wine beautifully unveils citrus rind and dark fruit flavors with earthy undertones. Exotic, and full of life, this outstanding wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2018-2033- 94
2015 Evening Land ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from vines first planted in 1984, the ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir by Evening Land begins with heady aromas of black truffle, peat moss, loganberry cobbler and Asian spices. The aromatics are so intense and exotic that you are compelled back to the glass for more. Lithe, with wonderful Burgundian earthy tones, the wine shows off black truffle, forest floor, cigar box and blackberry pie flavors that sit alongside some wonderful tension. The ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir is simply stunning right now and will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2018-2033- 95