I’m dating myself a bit but I have now tasted wines from the famed Holstein Vineyard for 20 years. “This has been a good year for us and putting out some wines that we are excited about it” said Jackson Holstein as I tasted virtually with him yesterday. Holstein has been very bullish about the slightly warmer 2023 vintage in Oregon. “If you want savory and textural wines, lean on the ‘22s, and these ‘23s are kind of a middle man between ’21 and ’22. But they have this energy that is comparable to the ‘21s. A bit softer on the approach compared to the 2021s. For us this vintage, April was cold and then boom, May had more 80 degree days than ever. That degree of heat lit things off and the disparity that we are seeing just wasn’t there. It makes for a compressed vintage, we saw a quick bud break to bloom. It was a tough growing season but a tough harvest from a logistical standpoint. For us in that window of ripening we had to cancel the late August vacation this was coming in for bubbles.” He explained “It was paramount that you stay diligent with the numerical numbers. I remember checking around July 4th and thinking that we are right there. It was not lagging and was a wake up call to see how fast things are moving around” he said.
Former head winemaker at Argyle, Nate Klostermans has been also working at Granville. He and Jackson make a knockout team. I loved the wines from 2023. These are deep, textural wines that have Jackson’s signature beginning, middle and end, with gorgeous body and depth. I love the 2023 Granville ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which has amazing nuance, depth and character from these old plantings. Learn more at https://www.granvillewines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Granville wines.
2023 Granville ‘Holstein’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Holstein’ comes from this slightly warmer vintage in the Dundee Hills and was stored in 20% new French oak for 11 months before bottling. Coming from this famed site, this shows black and red florals on the nose alongside red currants, orange zest and shades of baking spices. This is concentrated, beautifully-textured, refined and elegant with serious tension and salty/stony nuance. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2023 Granville ‘Temperance Hill’ Pinot Noir- One of the oldest sites in Oregon, the Temperance Hill Vineyard was planted back in 1981. Granville sourced from the North Block location in the Eola-Amity Hills which is all Pommard clone Pinot Noir. This was 30% whole cluster fermented and opens with a bright bouquet of black truffle shavings, orange peel, loganberry and shades of cloves on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with loads of finesse and rocky character. Drink 2025-2039- 95
2023 Granville ‘Koosah’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Koosah’ comes from this steep, high elevation location in the Eola-Amity Hills, sold to Jadot in 2022. The wine underwent 40% whole cluster fermentation and shows off beautiful red rose petals and lavender notes alongside shades of Linzer torte. The palate is concentrated and poised, with loads of lip-smacking acidity and freshness. Very earthy and dense, with great lift and length, this is a downright stunning wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2023 Granville ‘Louie Reserve’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine from this warmer vintage, the 2023 ‘Louie’ comes from the Holstein Vineyard and is a barrel selection wine made by Jackson Holstein. This shows smoldering stones on the nose with wild blackberry, cardamom spice and shades of Satsuma orange zest. This is ultra-refined stuff that is very textural and earthy with an Umami and savory herbal edge. This is super seamless throughout the drinking experience and will entice for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2025-2043- 97
2023 Granville ‘O’Della Reserve’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2023 ‘O’Della Reserve’ is named after Jackson Holstein’s daughter. The Chardonnay comes from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley including their new Nova Ridge Vineyard (70%). It is a dense and heady effort that was stored in 40% new French oak for 11 months prior to bottling. Golden in the glass, this delivers incredible seamless character on the palate. Weightless and intense melon, citrus and tropical fruits greet you on the palate, with copious stony minerals, alongside nutty nuances. Complex, highly novel and delicious, this is a mind-bending wine that will surely appeal to any lover of Oregon Chardonnay. Drink 2025-2040- 97
2023 Granville ‘Latchkey’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Latchkey’ comes from a location neighboring the Holstein Vineyard in the Dundee Hills, set on Jory soils. This bottling utilizes Dijon clonal selections and this was fermented in puncheons and then underwent partial malolactic fermentation in both large and small format barrels. Lemon oil, sourdough bread, baking spices and shades of mango on the nose. This oily and unctuous on the mouth with a sinfully good texture. Still light on its feet, with beautiful length, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2038- 95