One of Oregon’s hidden gems, Goodfellow Family Cellars relies on the winemaking talents of Marcus Goodfellow. What was initially founded in 2002 as Matello Winery, Goodfellow sources from some great vineyards in the Willamette Valley including the Durant Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. Marcus Goodfellow, grew up on a Douglas Fir tree farm in Oregon and worked his first harvest at Evesham Wood in 2002. He had a wonderful wine mentor in famed Cristom winemaker, Steve Doerner.
The new releases by Goodfellow were fantastic last year but this year’s set were even more impressive. I absolutely loved his 2017 Goodfellow ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) is a serious value under 30 dollars and has amazing mouthfeel and a delightful send of minerality. Even better was the stunning 2017 Goodfellow ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) which rivals some of the best Chardonnay made in Oregon, from this esteemed vineyard. After tasting through these wines it is clear that Marcus’s style is really coming into its own. He has achieved greatness with these new wines that are not to be missed. Learn more about these beautiful new releases at https://goodfellowfamilycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Goodfellow.
2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay by Goodfellow shows heady aromas of creme brulee, vanilla cream and roasted hazelnuts, with light earthy tones that impress on this beautiful nose. The palate is both rich and lithe, showing a silky mouthfeel. Bright nectarine cream, kumquat and creme brûlée flavors all impress on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will continue to evolve well over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay was entirely sourced from the Durant Vineyard and is a micro-production bottling (113 cases). The nose is layered and takes on an exotic edge with roasted pineapple, toasted almond, vanilla cream and shades of wild mushroom that all take their shape in the glass. The palate is rich and viscous, showing great tension and weight. The seamless quality of this wine really shines with bright orchard fruits and creamy flavors all building together. This excellent effort will only improve with some bottle age. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Intriguingly enough, Goodfellow made a second bottling of their ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay and this one was even a lower case production (95 cases). The wine was sourced from blocks first planted in 1993 and 1998, essentially when many vineyards were not planting Chardonnay. Bright lemon cream and shades of white truffle with wet stone all fill the glass on the nose. The palate shows off a silky texture with a wonderfully rich texture and mouthfeel. The exceedingly long mineral and lemon cream-driven finish accentuates this fantastic new bottling. Enjoy this gorgeous wine over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 94
2017 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay opens with aromas of bright melon with orchard fruits and wet stone accents that all collect momentum in the glass. The palate has a silky texture, unveiling vanilla cream and orange rind flavors with shades of lemon peel and wet rock. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 2016 Pinot Noir opens with intense red berry aromas followed by peat moss and shades of white truffle shavings that all build in this lovely bouquet. The palate shows a polished salinity with sour red fruits and shades of peat moss with citrus rind. Complex and delicious, this will evolve well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92
2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Planted back in 1990, the ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ is a south/southwest facing vineyard planted on marine sedimentary soils. On the nose this comes into red and dark fruits with bright orange zest and lovely earthy undertones. The palate is lithe and complex, showing a wonderful mouthfeel. Bing cherry, citrus rind and shades of pipe tobacco and forest floor flavors all complete this beautiful new release. While delightful in its youth, try to resist this gorgeous new wine for at least another year. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Durant Vineyard’ is an older Dundee Hills AVA vineyard by Willamette Valley standards, first planted in 1993. On the nose this takes on the typical dark berry aromas with shades of peat moss, leather and thyme that all collide in the glass. The palate has a soft texture, unveiling bright red fruits that mingle with shades of kumquat and earthy undertones. Complex and rather seductive in its youth, this will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93
2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 7’ Pinot Nor- This single clone Pinot Noir was aged for 22 months in oak prior to bottling. The aromatics show a good combination of cranberry, ripe red cherry and pomegranate seed with shades of peat moss and black truffle shavings. The earthy aromatics really entice here. On the palate there is good freshness and richness, melding a soft texture. Wild blackberry cobbler, pipe tobacco and cran-pomegranate flavors all connect nicely. Enjoy this fantastic bottling one the next fifteen years — just try to give this one more year of bottle age before enjoying. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 8’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 8’ Pinot Noir is a fantastic new single clone Pinot Noir by the talented Marcus Goodfellow. The aromatic range is enticing from umami to red currant and shades of damp earth with black fruits that all mingle in the glass. The silky texture really impress here as the wine leads with red and dark fruits that collect momentum with the earthy undertones. Complex and expressive in its youth, this will only improve with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2033- 94