Today we share one of the great producers of Riesling on the West Coast. Jimi Brooks, a Portland native who came to wine through his passion for history and philosophy. Jimi previously worked in Beaujolais, and eventually returned to Oregon to focus on crafting great Riesling and Pinot Noir. Brooks farms twenty acres in the Eola-Amity Hills, a sub-region of the Willamette Valley characterized by higher altitudes and the ocean winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor. Claire Jarreau serves as head winemaker. She has done an amazing job with the latest round of releases.
Do not miss out on the 2019 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling Sparkling Wine (OB, 95) which is a world-class wine with sensational flavor range. I adore the 2024 Brooks ‘Ara’ Riesling (OB, 94), which is very nervy and dense. Learn about this fantastic new lineup at https://www.brookswine.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Brooks.
2019 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling- Another spectacular edition of this wine, the truly novel 2019 Brooks ‘Extended Tirage’ Riesling comes from this slightly cooler vintage in the Willamette Valley. Once on the nose this takes on dense honeydew melon and salted Macadamia nut notes alongside shades of lychee. The palate is fresh, viscous and refined with plenty of earthy elegance and a bright salinity that rips through the core of the wine. Seriously good to enjoy right now, savor this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2024 Brooks ‘Willamette Valley’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘Willamette Valley’ Riesling is dense and tension-filled on the mouth, with loads of bright acidity. Juicy pear and green apple combine with green papaya notes on the palate. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2025 Brooks Pinot Blanc- The 2025 Brooks Pinot Blanc comes off fat and round on the mouth, wth juicy melon tones. Medium-weighted, with good underling finesse, and a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Brooks ‘Ara’ Riesling- A limited production bottling, the 2024 ‘Ara’ is made in the Trocken style. Bone dry, this exudes class with its silky texture and refined mouthfeel. Dense citrus and melon fruits combine with shades of salted French bread. The lingering finish is astonishingly good. This has both the freshness and flavor density to go for another decade. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Brooks ‘Bois Joli Vineyard’ Riesling- Coming from this location in the Eola-Amity Hills, the 2024 Brooks ‘Bois Joli Vineyard’ Riesling this offers petrol and honeysuckle’s on the nose with hints of cloves. The palate is lush and ripe with terrific tension and richness. This tension-filled beauty has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Brooks ‘Brooks Esate Vineyard’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘Brooks Estate Riesling’ stands golden in the glass. Cardamom drenched peaches, kerosene and shades of honeyed walnut all mark the nose. The palate is vibrant and tension-filled, with brisk acidity and excellent weight and length. Showing just the slightest kiss of sweetness, this is best consumed now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2024 Brooks ‘Sweet P’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘Sweet P’ is made in the Kabinett style that is pushing Spatlase sweetness. Ripe nectarine and juicy Japanese pear combines with ginger and hints of sweetened gooseberry on the palate. Really good now, watch this evolve over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2025 Brooks ‘Pinot Noir’ Rose- The 2025 Brooks ‘Pinot Noir’ Rose delivers a smooth texture, showing delicate red fruits and citrus rind accents. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2024 Brooks ‘Noble Select’ Riesling- Coming from the Hyland Vineyard, the 2024 ‘Noble Select’ offers candied ginger, honeysuckle and shades of sweet peach on the nose. The combination of weight and freshness is outstanding. Made in the Auslese style, this is concentrated, neatly-textured stuff that has a long life in front of it. Drink 2026-2040- 94
2024 Brooks ‘Janus’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Janus’ Pinot Noir comes from several locations across the Willamette Valley. It shows perfumed red florals that combine with thyme and wild strawberry notes on the nose. The palate is juicy and delicious with loads of freshness and a core of bright red fruits, with orange peel and bergamot accents. Drink 2026-2033- 92
2023 Brooks ‘Old Vine Pommard’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Old Vine Pommard’ Pinot Noir comes from this eastern-facing location in the Brooks Estate Vineyard. Once on the nose this takes on wafts of black truffle, alongside peat moss, black cherry and shades of red licorice. The palate is unmistakably earthy with bright acidity and a fleshy texture. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 94
2024 Brooks ‘Rastaban’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Rastaban’ comes from the Brooks Estate Vineyard, first planted in 1973. This comes off mineral-laden and lush with a refined mouthfeel. Loads of red and dark fruits fill the palate, with damp earth and rocky soil nuances. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2024 Brooks ‘Cashiers’ Pinot Noir- An outstanding Pinot Noir in the Brooks lineup, the 2024 Brooks ‘Cashiers’ Pinot Noir has depth, weight and great finesse. A fabulous core of red and dark fruits gets you on the palate, while dried herbs and stony minerals mingle well with kumquat zest notes. Medium to full bodied, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2039- 94