Founded by native Oregonian Michael Lundeen, has completed the third generation of Lundeens have cared for the land and vines that are now the heartbeat of Michael's wines. His son adds a fourth! For years Michael was honing his skill with Pinot Noir luminaries at Willakenzie, Belle Pente and Domaine Serene, before becoming founding winemaker at Illahe Vineyards back in 2007.
Michael joined Walnut City Wineworks as Winemaker in late 2010. Just a short hop from his own estate vineyard, the McMinnville-based winery was where his career would enter the next and most exciting phase. The once brick-red winery and custom crush facility now carries the Lundeen name and colors after he formally took ownership in 2022.
I hadn’t tasted these wines in several years and was very impressed. Michael is making some fantastic Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines. Since the fittingly cold vintage of 2011, the annual production of sparkling wines has grown to 1,500 cases, and Michael still hand-disgorges every bottle à la volée. Michael continues to preserve the family farm for his son Colin and generations beyond. Michael directs the farming of nearly 40 acres utilizing no-till and Organic practices and maintains the LIVE sustainability certification. The new wines were seriously good across the board. I love the new NV Lundeen ‘Brut Reserve’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 93) which is tense and nervy with really good flavor range. Just as good is the 2021 Lundeen ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with fantastic salty soil character. Learn more about this great winery at lundeenwines.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Lundeen.
NV Lundeen ‘Willamette Valley Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The NV Lundeen ‘Willamette Valley Brut’ Sparkling Wine is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay and the remainder Pinot Gris. This is elegant bubbles with lemon rind and stony mineral tones on the palate alongside Gravenstein apple notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
NV Lundeen ‘Brut Reserve’ Sparkling Wine- The ‘Brut Reserve’ comes from the Robinson and La Cantera Vineyards, as this has a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay base from the 2018 and 2019 vintages. This offers good richness and refinement with Challah bread and wild mushroom notes alongside bright citrus and melon fruits. Very well-made, and slightly more complex at a warmer temperature, this is a resounding success that captures the art of blending. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2021 Articulate Chardonnay- The 2021 Articulate Chardonnay was sourced from the Robinson Vineyard which is an 8 acre site set on Saum soils. This is nice and fresh with salty soils that mingle well with bright pear and starfruit flavors. Nicely textured, enjoy over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 90
2021 Articulate Pinot Noir- The 2021 Articulate Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley. Stored in 10% new French oak before bottling. Tart red fruits combine with baking spices and orange peel flavors on the palate. Round and smooth on the mouth, this is a great, already nicely evolved effort. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2021 Lundeen ‘La Colina Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2021 Lundeen ‘La Colina Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this Dundee Hills site that was first planted in 1999. This is wonderfully stony with layers of pretty red fruits that combine with kumquat rind flavors on the palate. Soft and refined, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2021 Lundeen ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ comes from this site in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. This site sits atop Rex Hill winery and is set on loess soils. The palate is smooth and elegant with a seamless texture and beautiful verve. A generous core of red fruits greet you as this finishes long with salty soils. Drink 2024-2034- 93