Marcus Goodfellow of Goodfellow Family Cellars crafts some really outstanding wines. These are wines that have great terroir but also depth and richness even in challenging vintages. What was initially founded in 2002 as Matello Winery, Goodfellow sources from some great vineyards in the Willamette Valley including the Durant Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. Marcus Goodfellow, grew up on a Douglas Fir tree farm in Oregon and worked his first harvest at Evesham Wood in 2002. He had a wonderful wine mentor in famed Cristom winemaker, Steve Doerner, as his attention to detail is apparent in the glass. The wines are also all exceedingly well-priced.
2019 was not the easiest vintage with major challenges at harvest. I loved Marcus’s new Chardonnay bottlings. An awesome wine for the price, the 2019 Goodfellow ‘Whistling Ridge’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is jam packed full of acidity and shows brilliant saliniity. I loved what he did with the 2019 Goodfellow ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which might not be as intensely concentrated than the 2018 edition but has insanely good length, finesse and range. Do not miss out on these new gorgeous Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines by Goodfellow. Learn more about these beautiful new releases at https://goodfellowfamilycellars.com Here are the great new wines by Goodfellow.
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge’ Pinot Gris- The sour green apple tones and freshness of the wine offers plenty of appeal as salty and nutty undertones all come together really well on the palate. What a killer foil for shellfish here. Drink 2021-2024- 91
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Whistling Ridge’ Chardonnay shows bright green apple and lemon zest flavors alongside a bright beam of tension and saline undertones. Really good right now, this has another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Richard’s Cuvee’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the ‘Whistling Ridge Vineyard’ in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, the wine showcases hazelnut and lime zest aromas alongside sourdough bread and flinty undertones that all take shape in the glass. The palate reveals an insanely good texture with loads of minerals and lemon oil flavors alongside salted French bread and shades of Macadamia nut and mango on the palate. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Ripe melon and orchard fruits combine with wet stone and wild mushroom aromas. The palate is beautifully textured with great finesse and a light dusting of salinity. Delightful even at the two year mark, this has another decade or more to go considering its weight and bright sense of acidity. While really intense with its citrus fruits, the wine shows wonderful balance and weight. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Showing a Chablis-like brightness, the 2019 ‘Durant Vineyard’ exhibits lemon oil and honeysuckle water tones alongside green melon and Pink Lady apple on the palate. Lighter cream and flinty tones add to the enjoyment here. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Pumphouse Block’ Pinot Noir-The 2019 ‘Pumphouse Block’ Pinot Noir is sourced from the famed ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard.’ The nose screams terroir with salty and smoky tones alongside ripe redcurrant and tobacco accents. The palate might not have the density of other vintages but has plenty of tart red fruits alongside salty tilled earth, orange zest, wild mushroom and a light dusting of white pepper. This tastes a bit like a top Volnay. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Set in the Coast Range, the ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ is a dry-farmed and remote site in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The palate is very refined and elegant with dense red fruits that combine with smoke, pine needles, blood orange zest and salty undertones. With a silky mouthfeel and great length, this has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2036- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Heritage No. 16’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Heritage No. 16’ was sourced from the ‘Lewman Vineyard’ located in the western portion of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Once on the nose this takes on beautiful red rose petals and cran-orange aromas alongside salty undertones. The palate is soft and round with a generous mouthfeel and gobs of mouth-watering acidity. Layers of very pure red fruits collide with white truffle, charcuterie, peat moss and a light dusting of salt and white pepper. Seriously refined, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Durant’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Durant Vineyard’ is a famed site atop the Dundee Hills. Lavender with a great combination of red and dark fruits mark the nose with earthy undertones. The palate is plush and soft with pomegranate seed and red cherry combining with smoldering stones, orange zest and shades of black truffle. Complex and delicious, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2038- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Oracle’ Pinot Noir-The 2019 ‘Oracle Vineyard’ is set at more than 6500 feet in the Dundee Hills. The nose is gorgeous with cinnamon and clove infused red and dark fruits alongside shades of salted wild mushroom. The palate is dense and chewy with a great veil of salinity and tension that runs through the core of red and dark fruits. This is really impressive stuff even in its youth. Drink 2021-2038- 94
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘House Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘House Block’ shows off pretty red florals alongside savory and salty tones aromatically. The palate is very soft and refined, as this elegant wine unveils very pretty rose water, red currant, red cherry and guava fruit flavors, with salty and damp earth undertones. Very delicate on the mid-palate, this dazzles with its mouthfeel and bright sense of acidity. Complex and delicious even at the two year mark, enjoy this beauty over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2035- 93
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars ‘Long Acre’ Pinot Noir- The translucent colored ‘Long Acre’ Pinot Noir is a limited production bottling from this dry-farmed site in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The palate is soft and refined with a great veil of tension. Very delicate red fruits collide with minerals, wet stone and kumquat zest accents. The marvelous length adds to the drinking enjoyment here. Drink 2021-2036- 93