Truly one of the great Willamette Valley houses, Bergström continues to craft a stunning array of Pinot Noir wines. Founded by John and Karen Bergström in 1999, their son Josh Bergström, is at the winemaking helm. Following his completion of a postgraduate program in Viticulture and Enology in Burgundy, Josh made his first vintage of Pinot Noir from purchased fruit and the rest has been history. Josh serves as general manager, winemaker and vineyard manager at Bergström Wines, and has been rather quietly producing some of the top wines in Oregon.
Josh is a great guy to chat wine with. Highly knowledgable and humble, he has crafted some absolutely thrilling new wines. I was blown away with his 2018 Bergström ‘Gregory Ranch’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which has wonderful textural elements and shows amazing length. Even better is the stunning 2018 Bergström ‘Bergström Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94)which is silky smooth throughout and shows incredible aromatic and flavor range. Learn more about these sensational wines at https://www.bergstromwines.com Here are the beautiful new wine releases by Bergström.
2018 Bergström ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Bergström ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir opens with bright red fruits that meld with citrus rind and damp earth tones on this beautiful nose. The freshness and soft texture really entices as cran-pomegranate and bright red cherry flavors collide with lighter forest floor tones on the palate. Fantastic to enjoy in its youth, enjoy the 2018 ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2018 Bergström ‘La Spirale’ Pinot Noir- This is the inaugural vintage of this wine that is sourced from the Ribbon Ridge AVA, as this vineyard was planted in 2005 and was purchased by the Bergstrom family in 2018. On the nose this takes on pretty red rose water aromatics that mingle with shades of peat moss and bright red currants that all come together in the glass. The lithe acidity of the wine and silky texture really impresses. A deep core of red fruits dance with minerals and the lighter flinty and earthy undertones. With a dusting of salinity and wonderful length, this beautiful new Pinot Noir will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Bergström ‘Gregory Ranch’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Gregory Ranch’ Pinot Noir is another thrilling new release by superstar winemaker Josh Bergstrom. Sourced from this Yamhill-Carlton AVA vineyard, the wine takes on exotic spices that collide with shades of damp pine needles, red currant jelly and bright guava that all come together seamlessly. The soft texture really entices as a strong astringency comes through the core of red fruits with citrus rind and damp earthy tones on the palate. Smooth, with wonderful length, the 2018 ‘Gregory Ranch’ will have another decade or more of cellaring left. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Bergström ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Bergström ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir is another silky wine by this storied estate. Bright red fruits connect with wild blackberry and peat moss and smoky tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush with a silky texture and wonderful freshness. Showing good weight with its dense core of red currant, guava and red raspberry cordial flavors, this outstanding new Pinot Noir will have a long life ahead of it — and is almost impossible to not savor in its youth. Give this a 1-2 hour decant if enjoying in its nascent phase. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Bergström ‘Le Pre Du Col Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the Ribbon Ridge AVA, this wine starts off with lovely damp earth tones with shades of white pepper and wild blackberry coulis that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky smooth as the exceedingly long finish creates a lingering effect. Chewy, round and generous, this outstanding new Pinot Noir will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Bergström ‘Hope Well’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Hope Well Vineyard’ is located in the Eola-Amity Hills Vineyard, as this beautiful wine shows lovely blood orange zest aromatics woven together with red currants, and smoky and damp earth tones on this complex nose. The palate is both bright and plush, showing a lithe sense of minerality and silky texture. The long, lingering finish truly accentuates this fantastic bottling. While wonderful to savor in its youth, the 2018 ‘Hope Wells’ will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2035- 93
2018 Bergström ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Josh Bergström’s namesake vineyard is located in the Dundee Hills AVA, as this higher elevation site was first planted in 1999. Once in the glass this reveals layers of bright red fruits that are woven together with peat moss and Mandarin orange rind tones that all meld together in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, showing both a wonderful brightness and outstanding sense of texture. Bright red cherry and red raspberry dance with the minerals and smoky, earthy undertones of the wine. Great to enjoy right now, the 2018 Bergstrom ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will enjoy an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2035- 94