Hundred Suns is a story by Grand Coulter and Renee Saint-Amour who left California for Oregon. Grant first worked as assistant winemaker at Hamacher wines and then spent the bulk of 10 years as assistant winemaker and then winemaker at Beaux Freres. Then in 2015 they both sold their Portland house and bought a house in the Willamette Valley to start their project, Hundred Suns. Grant became winemaker for Flaneur Wines and in 2018 they bought a 4.5 acre property in the Eola-Amity hills.
I have enjoyed these wines very much over the past several years but have not had the chance to sample the overall lineup. These wines are technically very brilliant, each showing a beginning, a middle, and and end. They tell you a story about each individual site. I was blown away with the value wine, their 2019 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir (OB, 92) which for 30 bucks you would be hard pressed to find a more compelling Pinot Noir in Oregon. One of the great Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have sampled over the past year, the 2019 Hundred Suns ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) is a complete wine. This has gobs of finesse but also is very generous and downright sexy on the palate.
2019 Hundred Suns ‘Tualitin Estate’ Gamay- This sexy Gamay reveals sexy red florals and crunchy red fruits that collide with cedar, ash and shades of peat moss on the palate. Fantastic now, this has both the stuffing and verve to cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2029- 92
2019 Hundred Suns ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Eola-Amity Hills’ Pinot. Noir reveals ripe red currants, and tobacco aromatically, with forest floor undertones. Once on the mouth this shows off a soft mouthfeel with pretty red fruits that mingle with rose water, cedar and damp earthy tones. Complex and delicious to consume now, this has another decade of life in front of it. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ was first planted back in 1988 and is set on marine sedimentary soils. The wine shows off wonderfully salty red fruits that collide with orang rind, menthol, pine needles and wild mushroom tones on the palate. Bright, with good acidity and weight, this will cellar well over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2034- 93
2019 Hundred Suns ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this famed site located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the beautiful 2019 ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir opens with ripe Yakima cherry aromas alongside freshly tilled soils and cran-orange tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is plush and lithe with glorious length and weight. Enjoy this beautiful, finesse-driven wine over the next decade. Drink. 2021-2033- 94
2019 Hundred Suns ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- I have been fully amazed by the wines coming off this vineyard over the past few years — a site planted by Oregon wine legend Mike Etzel and set in the Ribbon. Ridge AVA. The Pinot Noir revels loads of tension with gorgeous rose water, red cherry, pomegranate seed and orange rind tones that all come together seamlessly. The drinking experience is pillowy and smooth throughout. Enjoy this stunning new Pinot Noir over the next fifteen years. Drink. 2021-2036- 95
2019 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir is simply singing even in its heady youth. Weighing in at only 13.2% alcohol, this finesse driven wine shows off ripe strawberry, peat moss and pomegranate seed tones alongside a great veil of tension. Enjoy this outstanding value over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92
