A very exciting project by NFL Legend Drew Bledsoe and superstar winemaker, Josh McDaniels, Bledsoe-McDaniels is a new Oregon wine project from this Walla Walla mainstay. For many years McDaniels wanted to make Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the past year there was a really exciting development with their purchasing of a new vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills which they have named their estate ‘Coulee Vineyard.’
This site has 29 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, set on Saum-Parrett, Woodburn soils.
The new wines by McDaniels were beautiful across the board. I love the new 2021 Bledsoe-McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is fresh and very inviting with a seamless texture. Even better is the stunning 2019 Bledsoe-McDaniels ‘Lefore Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) which shows incredible flavor and aroma range, from this stony site in the Walla Walla Rocks District. You must join the allocation list to purchase the wines. Learn more about this outstanding winery project at http://bledsoemcdaniels.com/#top Here are the beautiful new wines by Bledsoe-McDaniels.
2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2021 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay offers lemon zest dusted brioche aromas alongside orange blossom and toasted hazelnuts. The palate is very soft and round with layers of toasty oak, white rose water and buttered sourdough bread. Finishing very long this beautiful wine will satisfy for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 94
2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- This is now the second time in six months that I have tasted this beautiful wine which was crafted from old vine Pommard Clone Pinot Noir from the Ridgecrest Vineyard as well as the Ellis Estate Vineyard. The aromas are mesmerizing with black tea and wild blackberry notes alongside earthy undertones. Soft and refined on the mouth, this shows plenty of dazzling acidity alongside ripe red and dark fruits with kumquat zest flavors. Enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen years.Drink 2022-2037- 95
2019 Bledsoe | McDaniels ‘Lefore Vineyards’ Syrah- This is another second run through for me on this outstanding Rocks Syrah which was sourced from the ‘LeFore Vineyard.’ This was stored in about 20% new French oak puncheons, the wine offers a cornucopia of aromas from Umami and Nori notes alongside fresh Satsuma orange zest, bacon fat, red cherry candy and suggestions of potpourri. Very smooth on the attack, this effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Seamless and sensuous in its youth, enjoy this already beautifully evolved wine over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 95