Today we share the wines ofJoe Dobbes who has a longstanding history in the Oregon wine industry. Dobbes has a new brand that focuses on wines from his at his Orchard House estate the Eola-Amity Hills AVA as well as several other vineyards.
The Orchard House estate was purchased in 2018 and the site has Sauvignon Blanc which was first planted in 2021. The wines were seriously good across the board. I adored the new 2022 ‘Eola Bench’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is dense and fleshy stuff that is drinking marvelously right now. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://iterumwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Iterum wines.
2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Rich and layered, the 2022 ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Chardonnay offers pie crust, baking spices and peaches on the palate alongside a refined mouthfeel. Full-boided with terrific flavor density, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Symonette Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Symonette Vineyard’ Pinot Noir does from a location that is set on well-drained Nekia soils, as the wine combines equal parts Wadenswil and Pommard clonal selections. Red florals and shades of fresh sage and black truffles all mark the nose. The palate is round and generous, loaded with finesse and stony minerals, with outstanding flinty character and a deep core of loganberry and Bing cherry fruits. Drink 2026-2040- 94
2022 Iterum ‘Eola Bench’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 ‘Eola Bench’ comes from both the Orchard House and Symonette as well as the Eola Springs Vineyards. Soils at these sites vary greatly from Nekia to marine sedimentary. This is rich, powerful and complex Pinot Noir, offering loads of red and dark fruits on the palate, with cloves, peat moss and suggestions of wintergreen. Delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 94
2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location planted back in 2011 and set on a range of soil types in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This is powerful and seamless stuff throughout the drinking experience. A glorious core of red fruits greets you alongside exotic spice and salty soil nuances on the palate. Drink 2026-2040- 95
2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Arlyn Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Arlyn Vineyard’ Pinot Noir had a small about of whole cluster fermentation and comes fro this site planted in 2014 in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It is dense but also nervy on the tongue with racy acidity. Wild blackberry, black tea and Middle Eastern spice notes combine on the palate with salty soils and great nerve. Heady and delicious, with a great push/pull of stony/salty nuances, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 95
2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 114’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 114’ Pinot Noir is a single clonal selection that had a small amount of whole cluster fermentation. Vines from this location in the vineyard are set on primarily volcanic soils. The terroir here is evident with wet rock nuances that combine with vibrant red fruits, cardamom and shades of milk chocolate and sandalwood on the palate. A glorious wine from this slightly cooler vintage, this has the weight and nerve to cellar for two decades. Drink 2026-2043- 95
2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 115’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Clone 115’ Pinot Noir comes from this vineyard location set on Jory and Nekia soils. This is heady stuff with potpourri on the nose alongside cloves, peat moss and shades of red raspberry. The palate is lush and ripe with a refined texture and good sense of weight. A gorgeous wine that has a long way to go in the cellar, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 95
2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Quailhurst Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Iterum ‘Old Friend Quailhurst Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is loaded with earthy character. Ripe and round on the mouth, this shows off damp earth and white truffle flavors that combine with rocky and salty nuances alongside a core of tart black fruits. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 94