I love the great boutique producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir out of Oregon, Hazelfern Cellars has an inspired story being by Brian and Laura Liang. Brian has been making wine since 2006 but in 2018 he left his corporate job to focus on winemaking and operations at Hazelfern, located in Newberg, Oregon. Intriguingly, a great deal of Brian’s wine education was acquired watching YouTube videos on winemaking. Winemaking in their Portland basement wasn’t the easiest of tasks but over time Brian saw his winemaking style evolve. Laura also serves as co-winemaker and I have been massively impressed with what they have crafted in the past several years.
The wines show off wonderful texture and mouthfeel. The 2019 Hazelfern ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB,92) is a flat out delicious wine that shows this silky texture, with beautiful length. This is just a killer value in Oregon wine. Look to the stunning 2019 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is a barrel select wine that shows amazing cellaring potential and really good flavor and aromatic range. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.hazelfern.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Hazelfern.
2019 Hazelfern ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- Nicely textured, the 2019 ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay reveals lemon curd tones alongside hazelnuts, nectarine and cantaloupe tones on the palate. Medium-bodied and delicious, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2021-2028- 92
2019 Hazelfern ‘Rock Block’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this small site on the eastern edge Willamette Vallley, the 2019 ‘Rock Block’ unveils wonderful stony undertones on the palate, alongside lemon zest, white peach and shades of buttered brioche. Medium-bodied, wait for the exceedingly gratifying finish. Drink 2021-2029- 94
2019 Hazelfern ‘Little Hells’ Chardonnay-The ‘Little Hells’ is sourced from the slopes of Chehalem Mountains’ Little Hells Canyon, as Chardonnay vines utilize Dijon 76, 95, 96 clonal selections. Fresh and polished once on the mouth, the wine delivers baking spice laced sourdough bread alongside suggestions of Pink Lady apple, nectarine and stony undertones on the palate. Delicious to enjoy now, this has another eight plus years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2019 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Prime Cut’ Chardonnay is a glorious new effort by Brian and Laura Laing. Pastry crust, lime zest, wet stone and shades of cardamom all grace the nose. The palate is fresh and focused, with a vibrant sense of verve. Layers of citrus and orchard fruit flavors arouse, alongside stony minerals, wild mushroom and suggestions of vanilla cream. This finishes very long as the gratifying ‘Prime Cut’ will cellar well over the next ten plus years. Drink 2021-2031-94
2020 Hazelfern Rose- The beautifully textured 2020 Hazelfern Rose is an outstanding effort that has the weight and finesse to cellar well over the next five years. Cranberry and orange rind flavors collide with minerals and stony undertones on the palate. While summer might be over, this is fantastic stuff for your Thanksgiving table. Drink 2021-2026- 91
2019 Hazelfern Gamay Noir- Stony, elegant and vibrant,, the 2019 Hazelfern Gamay Noir is a fantastic new bottling from this cooler vintage. Lithe and light on its feet, this dazzles with the great veil of tension that runs through the core of pretty red fruits alongside menthol, wet stone and shades of iodine on the palate. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2019 Hazelfern ‘Yamhill Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Yamhill Springs Vineyard’ is a 15 acre site set on Jory and Bellpin soils. Smoldering stones come together with red currants, Bing cherry and cigar ash on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh with a lengthy finish and silky smooth viscosity. A pretty core of red fruits greet you, alongside savory and salty underpinnings, as this might not be the most generous Pinot Noir but it comes off as highly refined, finesse-driven, elegant and very true to the vintage. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Hazelfern ‘Robinson Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Robinson Family Vineyard’ utilizes 100% Pommard clone Pinot Noir, as this was aged for 12 months in 25% new French oak before bottling. Nervy and tense with bright red fruits and citrus rind undertones alongside shades of white truffle, this beautiful wine is already nicely evolved and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2021-2033- 92
2019 Hazelfern ‘Silvershot Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Silvershot Vineyard’ is another outstanding 2019 Pinot Noir by Hazelfern. Saline drenched red fruits combine with red rose petals, orange blossom, baking spices and cedar planks on this evocative bouquet. The palate is lithe and polished with a smooth texture and really good length. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Hazelfern ‘La Chenaie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the ‘La Chenaie Vineyard’ is a 103 acre site set on Jory, Gelderman, and Ritner soils. Wet stone and blood orange rind tones combine with ripe red raspberry and shades of charcuterie mingle together on the nose. The palate is soft and round with silky tannins that line a core of pretty red fruits with stony and earthy undertones. Delicious and complex to savor even at the two year mark, this outstanding new wine will continue to provide drinking enjoyment for another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2034- 93
2019 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Prime Cut’ is a barrel selection wine made by Brian and Laura Laing. Aged for 16 months in 100% French Oak (40% new oak) this shows off pretty red florals that combine with tilled soils, cigar box and cran-orange tones that all meld in the glass. The wine is silky throughout the drinking experience, finishing exceedingly long. This has both the finesse and stuffing to cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 94
