Today we share a brilliant producer in the Willamette Valley, Alexana. This winey has been a pillar of consistency over the past five plus years. Founded many years back by Dr. Madaiah Revana, a famed cardiologist. Named after Dr. Revana’s daughter, Alexana has a stunning setting in the Red Hills AVA. The winery utilizes both gravity flow and Gold LEED certification. These are wines made by the talented Bryan Weil who has served as head winemaker and has formerly worked Domaine Serene before heading back to Oregon State University, where in 2008 he graduated with a degree in Enology and Viticulture. Bryan then served as assistant winemaker at Hogue Cellars in Prosser, Washington, prior to being named Alexana winemaker in in 2012.
Alexana did a very good job in 2020 despite the issues with smoke. I love the 2020 Alexana ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir (OB, 91) which shows wonderful depth and verve — and truly is one of the best wines from this vintage that I have tasted. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous new 2019 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is downright awesome considering the price, showing amazing range and texture. This new lineup has some awesome values and many new wines are priced at or under 50 dollars. Learn more about this outstanding Oregon winery at http://www.alexanawinery.com Here are the great new release wines by Alexana.
2021 Alexana Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this pale-colored Rose offers lemon blossom, cantaloupe and bright red fruits aromatically, with stony undertones. The palate is fresh and vibrant with plenty of mouth-watering acidity and beautiful guava, red currant and citrus zest flavors. Beautifully textured, enjoy this fantastic new Rose over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 92
2021 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Gris- The very fresh 2021 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Gris was whole cluster pressed and then received considerable weekly battonage prior to bottling. Texturally round and emphatic, this offers generous kiwi, pink grapefruit and honeydew melon flavors with nutty and stony undertones. Utterly fabulous, this shows the weight and tension to age well for another seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 93
2019 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay- The deep and concentrated 2019 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay was stored for 11 months in a combination of stainless steel barrel and oak barrel before bottling. The nose comes off insanely good with buttered brioche, melon fruits and lemon meringue tones that all mingle in the glass. The palate has beautiful richness with baking spice dusted pastry, lemon rind, and stony minerals, with nutty and earthy accents. Round and plump on the mouth, this beautiful wine will shine on for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2019 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2019 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Chardonnay was mainly sourced from the Dundee Hills AVA (54%), as this was aged in oak barrels for ten months before bottling. Ripe mango, melon and lemon zest tones all collide on the palate, with serious weight and length. Outstanding to enjoy now, this will cellar gracefully over the next decade, picking up earthy and nutty tones as it evolves. Drink 2022-2032- 92
2019 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Noir- Densely colored in the glass, the 2019 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Noir was mainly soured from the Revana Vineyard (54%) as well as small portions from the Fennwoodm Aegrina, Rain Dance, Zena Crown, Foothills and Crawford Beck Vineyards. Toasty oak and red currants mingle well with bright strawberry and menthol undercurrents on the nose. The palate is soft and generous with a beautiful texture and rich core of red fruit flavors with freshly tilled soils and wild mushroom accents. Gorgeous to consume now, give this an hour of air if enjoying over the next few years. Drink 2022-2034- 92
2019 Alexana ‘Pommard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Pommard’ was sourced from the Revana Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA, as this saw ten months of oak barrel aging (23% new) before bottling. Medium-bodied, with plenty of finesse, this unveils ripe red cherry with rose water, orange rind and damp earth flavors. Forward and juicy, this is beautiful wine to consume right now — and will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2022-2034- 92
2019 Alexana ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir- The glorious 2019 ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir is a seriously good new wine by Bryan Weil. Once on the nose this exudes class with its rich combination of red and dark fruits alongside peat moss and black truffle undertones. The palate is soft, lithe and beautifully textured, as this seamlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Finishing very long, this classy is already nicely evolved and is sure to satisfy for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2034- 93
2019 Alexana ‘Block 8-Clone 777’ Pinot Noir- Aged in 50% new French oak, this wine utilizing clonal selection 777 was entirely sourced from the Revana Vineyard. The palate is dense, polished and plush, with a seamless sense of texture. Ripe dark currant, roasted figs and red raspberry flavors collide with garrigue and stony notes on the palate. Finishing long, this broad-shouldered and gratifying 2019 Pinot Noir surely has another fifteen plus years ahead of it. Drink 2022-2036- 94
2019 Alexana ‘Fennwood Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the ‘Fennwood Vineyard’ Pinot Noir unveils black tea and red florals that mingle with citrus embers aromatically. The palate unveils a rich core of red fruits alongside a bright beam of tension and salty undertones. Complex and delicious to savor now, enjoy this brilliant new wine over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 93
2019 Alexana ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from one of the storied sites in the Eola-Amity Hills, the 2019 ‘Zena Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was aged in 42% new French oak and utilizes mainly clonal selection 777 vines. This is a big, bold and beautiful expression of Oregon Pinot Noir with a brilliant melange of red and dark fruits. With more air shades of white truffle, cigar box and peat moss tones all combine and add depth and complexity. Really good to enjoy right now, this has at least fifteen yeas in front of it. Drink 2022-2037- 94
2019 Alexana ‘Crawford Beck Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Aged in 33% new French oak, the 2019 Alexana ‘Crawford Beck Vineyard’ Pinot Noir unveils pretty red rose petal tones with Mandarin orange rind and suggestions of guava on the nose. The palate has good power with gobs of crunchy red fruits alongside tangerine peel and stony and salty undercurrents. Really good now enjoy this beautiful and fresh style of Pinot Noir over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 93
2020 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2020 Alexana ‘Terroir Series’ Pinot Noir comes fom the Revana, Fennwood, Crawford Beck and Zena Crown Vineyards. Stored in 25% new French oak, this offers flint, cranberry and freshly tilled soils on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a silky texture and bright range of red fruit flavors. Drink over the next several years. Drink 2022-2025- 90
2020 Alexana ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir- The great new 2020 Alexana ‘Signature’ Pinot Noir was mostly stored in neutral oak prior to bottling. Very polished once on the mouth, this offers peat moss undertones that combine with rich red and dark fruit flavors on the palate. Considering the vintage, this is a standout Pinot Noir that is best to enjoy now and over the next four years, Drink 2022-2026- 91
2020 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2020 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers smoldering stones, Bing cherry and red raspberry preserve flavors that mingle well with serious finesse. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90
2019 Alexana ‘Fenwood Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Fenwood Vineyad is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and is set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. This 2019 Pinot Noir delivers a hearty core of red and dark fruits with pipe tobacco, worn leather and freshly tilled salty soils giving this a very Barolo meets Oregon feel. Light tannins frame everything beautifully, as this is best consumed over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 93