Sitting across from Jesse Lange, we both reveled in the moment. It had been more than a year since I’ve had the chance to visit his family’s beautiful estate with sweeping views across the Willamette Valley. One of Oregon’s historic wineries, Don and Wendy Lange took a chance by acquiring a large chunk of land back in1987. Over time Jesse has developed into their head winemaker, taking over for his father.
Jesse’s formal winemaking training occurred at New Zealand’s Lincoln University while on a student exchange scholarship from Oregon State in 1999. Jesse then spent two years as cellar rat for winemaker Bruce McGuire at Santa Barbara Winery prior to coming back to his family winery. He joined the winemaking team in 2004 and has served on the board of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. They opened their new tasting room in 2018 which is simply gorgeous.
I was very impressed with what I tasted from Lange. Look to their 2020 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris (OB, 92) which is beautifully textured and has some good cellaring potential. Even better is the fantastic new 2020 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which shows good depth, poise and concentration. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at https://www.langewinery.com/ Here are the great new wines by Lange Estate
2020 Lange Rose- The 2020 Lange Rose shows off ripe watermelon, guava and pomegranate seed with shades of blood orange rind and smoky undertones. Fresh and vibrant with very pretty red fruits and red florals, this is gorgeous for a hot summer day. Drink 2021-2025- 90
2020 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Gris- The 2020 ‘Classique’ saw nearly all stainless fermentation and 10% barrel fermentation. This reveals gooseberry and white peach aromas that collide with shades of green papaya on the nose. The palate is lithe and fresh with a great veil of tension. Layers of lemon zest dusted sourdough bread, freshly nutgrass and bright pear mingle with wet stone and minerals on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 91
2020 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris- Partially fermented in concrete tanks, the 2020 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Gris shows off ripe Japanese pear and starfruit alongside baking spices and hints of candied pink grapefruit on the palate. This shows good length and a gratifying texture. With more time you gain nutty and earthy undertones adding to the enjoyment. Gorgeous now, this will age well for another five to seven years. Drink 2021-2028- 92
2020 Lange ‘Classique’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Classique’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous new bottling that has great tension and mouthfeel. Aged mostly in two to five year old French oak (roughly 20%) new, this shows nice melon and toasty brioche tones alongside lighter lemon zest and salty tones on the palate. Drink 2021-2027- 91
2020 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ is a beautiful new wine by Jesse Lange. Aged in roughly 30% new French oak, wine also was aged partially (20%) in concrete eggs prior to bottling. Cardamon dusted Challah bread and lemon curd tones all mingle on the nose. The palate is fresh with good flavor density and weight, with a light salinity on the mid-palate. Vibrant and beautiful now, they will continue to cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2020 Lange ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a limited production bottling that is showing beautifully even after six months. Ripe lychee and wet stone combine with lime zest and baking spice dusted sourdough bread on the palate. This shows gobs of finesse and tension. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2020 Lange ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2020 ‘Freedom Hill Chardonnay’ shows good finesse with salty minerals, lemon rind and shades of French bread on the palate. Melon and wet stone add to the enjoyment here as this shows good length and a soft mouthfeel. Drink 2021-2028- 92
2020 Lange ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir saw more French oak than normal. This shows a good veil of tension with crunchy red fruits, cigar box and orange rind on the palate. This shows really good concentration and finesse. Drink 2021-2027- 90
2019 Lange ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘reserve’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful bottling by Jesse Lange. Once on the nose this takes on peat moss with Yakima cherry and bulls blood tones that all impress. The palate is soft and generous with silky tannins. Refined, with its great combination of red and dark fruits alongside earthy undertones, while not densely concentrated, this gorgeous effort will cellar beautifully for another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 91
2019 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ is loaded with crunchy red fruits on the palate, with vibrant minerality and a light dusting of salinity. Medium bodied and full of life, this beautiful wine that is showing nice red florals with pomegranate and wild blackberry on the palate, has another decade to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2031- 91
2019 Lange ‘Yamhill-Carlton Assemblage’ Pinot Noir- A blend of sites in this AVA, the 2019 Pinot Noir shows pretty red florals with orange rind and shades of guava on the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a soft mouthfeel and shows wonderful refinement. Strawberry and guava with red rose water all brilliantly combine on the palate. This is beautiful stuff. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 Lange ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous effort that is showing brilliantly even at the two year mark. Huckleberry and black tea combine with wild mushroom on the nose. The palate is silky and elegant with a great veil of tension. Ripe blackberry and black cherry mingle with minerals and orange zest on the palate. This is absolutely singing now. Drink 2021-2034- 93