A boutique family owned and operated Oregon winery with a killer lineup, Youngberg Hill was first founded back in 1989. If you have a chance to visit this great winery perched on a hillside, the sweeping views of the Willamette Valley are absolutely breathtaking. The winery focuses on quality, sustainable farming and producing limited production Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. A native Iowan, founder Wayne Bailey grew up on a farm in Oakland, Iowa, and following college served as a consultant for fifteen years in the food and beverage industry. One of his great inspirations included helping Burgundian wineries for three months work on logistics, branding, and marketing. While in France he noted the constant focus on farming and saw how organic farming methods led to outstanding grapes. Finally, in 2003, Wayne took the plunge, purchasing Youngberg Hill and focusing on making high quality McMinnville AVA wines.
The new releases from this estate were really good across the board. The 2015 Youngberg Hill ‘Aspen’ Pinot Gris (WWB, 91) shows a wonderful range of aromatics and flavors, with a silky texture. It is a Gris not to be missed. The Pinot Noir releases by Youngsberg Hill (both WWB, 90) were really good, with great richness, rewarding those who cellar over the next decade. Learn more about this great Oregon winery at https://youngberghill.com Here are the great new wines by Youngsberg Hill.
2015 Youngberg Hill ‘Aspen’ Pinot Gris- This limited production Pinot Gris, sourced from the McMinnville AVA, begins with a bouquet of lovely bouquet of roasted hazelnut, creme brûlée and bright banana. The mouthfeel is lovely, as the wine shows off Pink Lady apple, macadamia nut and Meyer lemon cream flavors. Enjoy this great wine over the next ten years. Drink 2018-2026- 91
2014 Youngberg Hill ‘Jordan’ Pinot Noir- Deeply colored, the ‘Jordan’ Pinot Noir is an outstanding new wine by Youngberg Hill. Highly fragrant, the nose reveals a nice array of citrus rind with dark and red fruits. Mineral driven, the wine showcases dark cherry, forest floor and orange rind. Give this a one hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2018-2025- 90
2014 Youngberg Hill ‘Natasha’ Pinot Noir- Dark fruits dominate the nose with earthy tones playing second fiddle. Medium bodied, this well-made Pinot Noir has wonderful structure alongside blackberry cobbler, black truffle and forest floor flavors. Drink 2018-2025- 90