Our Reserve Chardonnay is composed of fruit from two of our organic, estate vineyards that span two different AVAs, two different soil types and two different elevations. Through the combination of both microclimates, fantastic results can be achieved. The wine leads with aromatics of caramel apple, lemon zest, white flower and ginger spice. The delicate oak adds an extra layer of complexity with whiffs of cinnamon and roasted marshmallow. On the palate, this Chardonnay is supple, elegant and in excel- lent balance with its crisp, natural acidity which leads into a long and mineral finish.
Jerome Reserve Pinot noir is a collection of the best 20 barrels of the vintage. In most years, it is predominantly barrels from both Meyer and Stermer Vineyard. It is a compilation of high elevation Dijon clones from Dundee Hills, which contribute red fruit and elegance and lower elevation Wadenswil and Pommard clones from Yamhill-Carlton, which contribute richness, spice, and earth. The wine exudes red cherry and raspberry fruit along with milk chocolate, vanilla, tea leaf, cinnamon, and anise undertones. It shows an amazing structure that leads into a long and juicy finish. This is definitely a bottle that will age well into the next decade.
Our Cuvée X is a blend made to capture some of the freshness of the vintage. To achieve this, barrels were selected roughly halfway through our more standard 15 months of barrel aging and brought to tank early where we could more readily preserve their bright fruit character. Additionally, second-year oak barrels were preferentially selected to achieve pleasant oak nuances while not overpowering the blend. The resulting wine is thus modestly oaked and fruit focused. The purity of the strawberry, rasp- berry, and cherry fruit make this wine an excellent dinner companion but it can also be enjoyed all on its own.
Planted across from the winery in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Stermer Vineyard has been farmed organically since being planted in 1997. With Willakenzie marine sedimentary soils composed of a thin layer of silty-clay loam atop sandstone, the wines from this site are often full-bodied with prominent cherry, spice and earth notes. The nose of this Pinot Noir shows lavender, strawberries, and black cherry, accented by deeper anise, peppercorn and cinnamon notes. The palate is medium bodied, textured and round. The finish is long and marked by sweet fruit and cocoa flavors.