One of the famed wineries in the Willamette Valley, Evening Land has helped the region achieve initial success with their famed Chardonnay wines. Their iconic Seven Springs Vineyard produces some of the great Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay bottlings of Oregon. First planted in 1984, the Seven Springs Vineyard is one of the great historic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. Planted with eastern exposure, Seven Springs Vineyard fruit experiences an abundance of morning sunlight and also experiences cool breezes in from the Pacific Ocean through the Van Duzer Corridor. The combination of heat and cool breezes affords the fruit to slowly ripen. Celebrity somm, Rajat Parr and Sasha Moorman head the winemaking team at Evening Land. They form what is truly one of the best teams in the state.
Evening Land has an incredibly scenic location that is a must visit for any serious collector of Oregon Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. An amazing effort, the 2015 Evening Land ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 94) is simply stunning and is already starting to show the tertiary tones. I was totally blown away with their 2017 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) which is truly one of the best Chardonnays made from Oregon. The feeling of terroir and earthy tones settling in really makes this something special. Learn more about Evening Land at https://www.eveninglandvineyards.com Here are the amazing new release wines by Evening Land.
2015 Evening Land ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- This is the first Sparkling Wine that Evening Land has crafted. Sourced from the famed ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ this has marvelous tertiary aromatics right away with the wild mushroom and salted Marcona almond tones alongside a core of green apple and lemon zest that all meld together in the glass. The palate is marvelously astringent with high-toned citrus rind and kumquat flavors that connect with the nutmeg infused sourdough bread, wild mushroom and Gravenstein apple undertones. Highly complex, yet refreshing, this one of a kind, Chardonnay Sparkling Wine is showing marvelously now and will cellar for a long time to come. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2017 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Seven Springs’ Chardonnay is a superb new bottling from this great Oregon estate. On the nose this takes on poached pear and shades of starfruit and wild mushroom that all take shape in the glass. Toasty brioche and lemon zest come together with vanilla cream, wet stone and damp earth tones on the palate. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2017 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Chardonany- The 2017 ‘La Source’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous effort from this exciting vintage for Chardonnay. The gorgeous flinty tones catch you by surprise as layers of orchard fruits and lemon zest come together aromatically. The freshness of the wine is gorgeous, as is the stony terroir that elevates the bright orchard fruits, as damp earthy tones also are unveiled. Fantastic to savor in its youth, the gorgeous ‘La Source’ will cellar well for another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2017 Evening Land ‘Sumum’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Summum’ was sourced from fourteen rows of vines in the ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ as this name means ‘upmost’ in Latin. Aged in a combination of French oak puncheons and stainless steel, the ‘Summum’ opens with nutmeg infused brioche and roasted hazelnut tones that combine with Pink Lady apple and shades of damp earth and wet stones that take shape in the glass. The palate shows incredible verve and texture with a light dusting of salinity that runs through the wine. The long finish lingers as this scintillating new Chardonnay will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Gamay- One of the great Gamay wines made in North America, the 2018 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Gamay shows pretty red rose petals and strawberry soda aromatics that meld with the earthy undertones of the wine. The palate shows a vibrant sense of minerality and silky mouthfeel. Mouth-watering acidity and bright red fruits dance with blood orange zest and shades of bulls blood and cloves on the palate. Seriously good to enjoy in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2017 Evening Land ‘Seven Springs’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this famed Eola-Amity Hills Vineyard, the 2017 ‘Seven Springs’ Pinot Noir shows off wonderful aromatic range from red currants to shades of cranberry and wild mushroom with orange zest that all come together in the glass. While not a big wine, the balance here and soft texture really impresses. Layers of red fruits mingle with peat moss and exotic spices on the palate. Long and round, with very soft tannins, this beautiful Pinot Noir will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2017 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir is a thrilling new bottling from this awesome Oregon estate. Sourced from the windy and rocky crest of the vineyard, the ‘La Source’ opens with layers of damp earth that combine with teaberry and cran-orange aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate has incredible texture and verve, with a strong salinity and vein of tension that runs through the core of red fruits and damp earthy tones. Seductive and enticing with its serious range and minerality, the 2017 ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir will have a long life ahead of it. Enjoy this fantastic bottling over the next fifteen to twenty years. Be sure to give this a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2017 Evening Land ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir by Evening Land is a simply magical new bottling. Translucent in the glass, the ‘Anden’ shows intense Asian spices that mingle with cinnamon and clove tones alongside a bright core of red fruits and citrus rind accents on the nose. The palate is fresh, elegant and beautifully textured. Bright guava and pomegranate seed flavors combine with shades of blood orange zest and peat moss tones on the palate. Vibrant and highly youthful, this stunning wine will have a long life ahead of it in the celalr. Drink 2020-2040- 95