It has been several years since I have written a feature on Lemelson Vineyards — and I am definitely overdue. As part of Oregon Wine Month we bring you the wines of Lemelson Vineyards, founded by eminent environmental lawyer, Eric Lemelson who first began planting Pinot Noir in 1995. He created a high tech gravity flow winery which processed it’s first vintage in 1999. All farming practices are organic at Lemelson. Matt Wengel serves as Lemelson winemaker. Matt is a graduate of the prestigious UC Davis Enology and Viticulture program. Following his time workin harvests in Sonoma County, he worked in South Africa at Warwick Estate and had stops in Chile as well as upstate New York. He eventually accepted a position at Stags Leap Winery in Napa Valley and well as serving as assistant winemaker at Clos Pegase for several years prior to. Coming to Lemelson Vineyards.
I was really impressed with the overall quality of the lineup. He has crafted a beautiful new 2016 Lemelson ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 91) which is vibrant and has a great sense of balance, with a seamless texture. I absolutely adored the new 2015 Lemelson ‘Jerome Reserve’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which is rich, decadent and downright impossible to resist in its youth. This beautiful wine has at least another decade in front of it. Learn more about these excellent new wines at http://www.lemelsonvineyards.com Here are the fantastic new wine releases by Lemelson Vineyards.
2016 Lemelson Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Brightly colored once in the glass, the ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay is a downright awesome new wine by Lemelson. With fantastic verve and elegance, this seamless new wine reveals lemon cream and toasty hazelnut tones that combine with the lovely sense of minerality. The finish is long as the great feeling of length adds to the drinking enjoyment. Enjoy this fantastic warm vintage new Chardonnay over the next decade. Drink 2020-2030- 91
2016 Lemelson Vineyards ‘Chestnut Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Chestnut Hill VIneyard’ Pinot Noir opens with pretty cran-orange and damp earth tones that take shape in the glass. The palate has a silky texture with straightforward red fruit flavors with shades of orange zest. Drink 2020-2026- 90
2016 Lemelson Vineyards ‘Meyer Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 ‘Meyer Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows good richness with wild blkacberry and citrus rind accents alongside damp earth tones on the palate. I really enjoy the complexity here, as this bright Pinot Noir will mature well for a decade. Drink 2020-2030- 91
2016 Lemelson Vineyard ‘Stermer Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Stermer Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with peat moss and blood orange zest which meld with shades of red cherry candy and pomegranate seed on this expressive nose. The palate is plush, delivering a good range of red fruits with bright acidify and lighter damp earth tones. Drink 2020-2030- 91
2016 Lemelson Vineyard ‘Thea’s Selection’ Pinot Noir- A barrel selection wine, the 2016 ‘Thea’s Selection’ shows nice white truffle shavings and cinnamon stick aromatics that mingle with the core of dark fruits on the nose. The palate is round and generous with a delightful mouthfeel. Rich kirsch and peat moss tones combine with the bright sense of minerality and soft texture on the palate. Layered and downright sexy in its youth, the 2016 ‘Thea’s Selection’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2032- 92
2015 Lemelson Vineyard ‘Jerome Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2015 ‘Jerome Reserve’ Pinot Noir is an amalgamation of the top 20 barrels selected for the vintage. Mostly blends of barrels from the Meyer and Stermer Vineyards, the wine has smaller portions coming from the Chestnut Hill and Johnson Vineyards. Rich toasty oak tones combine with shades of huckleberry and orange zest that all take shape in the glass. The palate is round and rich, showing a seamless effect. Rich red and dark fruits combine with minerals and lovely forest floor and black truffle shavings on the palate. The combination of length and density really impresses. Fantastic in its youth, the 2015 ‘Jerome Reserve’ will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 93