Friends, hope you all are having a great week. As we near another exciting Oregon Wine Month we bring you one of the top producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Tendril is the brainchild of famed winemaker, Tony Rynders, who had a host of esteemed stops along his career before settling in Oregon. He has now made Oregon Pinot Noir for more than twenty years. A graduate of the esteemed master’s degree in Enology and Viticulture from UC Davis, Rynders served as former head winemaker for Domaine Serene Winery/Rockblock Cellars before starting Tendril. During his ten years as head head winemaker for Domaine Serene as head winemaker, Rynders obtained more 90+ point scores from the Wine Spectator magazine than any other winemaker during this period of time.
Tony is a super knowledgable, down to earth guy that brings his talents to a host of other wineries including Open Claim and Panther Creek. His knowledge for making wines in the Willamette Valley rings true in his new release wines which were absolutely outstanding across the board. These are rich and beautifully layered Pinot Noir releases. The stunning 2015 Tendril ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) has an incredible mouthfeel and vibrant acidity, as this delicious wine is showing really good range right now. Even better is the 2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which has amazing depth and richness from this warm vintage in the Willamette Valley. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.tendrilwines.com Here are the seriously good new wines by Tony Rynders and Tendril.
2015 Tendril ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir is largely comprised of fruit sourced from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The nose shows pretty red fruit aromatics with exotic spices and earthy undertones that all connect in the glass. The palate is plush, revealing a silky mouthfeel and seamless texture. Bing cherry, Mandarin orange zest, peat moss and shades of white truffle all combine on the palate. Delicious now, this will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2015 Tendril ‘C Note’ Pinot Noir- This exciting new Pinot Noir underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation and was aged in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine opens with a beautiful bouquet of red and dark fruits with blood orange, a dusting of white pepper and earthy accents that round out the great range of aromatics. A bright salinity cuts through the red fruits on the palate, as the silky mouthfeel entices here. Round and generous, while you can enjoy this fantastic bottling in its youth it will cellar well over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2015 Tendril ‘Saffron Fields Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Saffron Fields Vineyard’ is a lower elevation site planted to Pinot Noir vines set on marine sedimentary soils. Not surprising is the whiff of salted meats on the nose that combine with cran-pomegranate, orange rind and wild blackberry that all combine on the nose. The palate is silky smooth. Black fruits, peat moss and a touch of milk chocolate all combine on the palate. While delicious in its youth, this will cellar well for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir is a spectacular effort by the talented Tony Rynders. This limited production bottling which was aged for eighteen months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. On the nose this takes on beautiful aromatic range from red and dark fruits to hints of cloves and black truffle shavings. The mouthfeel is downright seductive as layers of dark and red berries connect with earthy undertones and the toasty oak. While this has excellent mid-palate weight, there is also a seamless quality to the wine. The extremely long finish completes this gorgeous new wine. Delightful in its youth, this will continue to cellar well for the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink. 2019-2035- 94