The Amazing Wines of Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard
This week’s Peter’s Pick is a pair of wines from my fellow Sommelier and Author Raj Parr’s Oregon project with famed winemaker Sashi Moorman; Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard.
Since its inception, Seven Springs has been dry-farmed. The vineyard is LIVE™ certified and was converted to biodynamic viticulture in 2007.
Seven Springs is planted overwhelmingly to Pinot Noir, followed by Chardonnay, and Gamay. The oldest own-rooted blocks of Pinot Noir and Gamay are a testament to, and daily reminder of, Oregon’s incredible history and potential. Benchmark Oregon producers have long sourced fruit from Seven Springs and the wines from this vineyard are the most decorated and award-winning wines in Oregon’s history.
“We are, first and foremost, faithful stewards of the historic Seven Springs vineyard, planted by Oregon wine pioneer Al MacDonald in 1984. On this dramatic east-facing slope, in the iron-rich and rocky, volcanic soils of the Eola-Amity Hills, Al MacDonald undertook what would become one of Oregon’s most recognized vineyards. Nestled against a forest of Douglas fir with views eastward to Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson, it is immediately evident to any visitor why Al chose this site.”
– Rajat Parr, Sashi Moorman, & Ben DiCristina – Evening Land Vineyards
2016 Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay: The Seven Springs Chardonnay underwent a very gentle whole cluster press before being racked to French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine remained in barrel, roughly 30% of which was new, for 12 months before being racked to tank. The wine completed élevage in tank for another 6 months before bottling. This is a gorgeous Chardonnay, with floral apple blossom and pear aromas, merging into a full, broad palate feel with hazelnut and lemon curd notes. This has depth and breadth, with a mineral length on the finish. This is one of the best Chardonnays I have tasted from the New World.
2016 Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir: The Seven Springs Pinot Noir comes from the oldest own-rooted blocks of Pinot Noir at the vineyard. Planted in 1984, these Pommard and Wadenswil clones thrive in iron-rich, volcanic Jory soils. These 30-year-old vines are harvested by hand, the grapes hand sorted, and roughly 75% of the fruit was destemmed. Gentle punchdowns were employed throughout the fermentation to encourage a soft extraction of tannins and the wine was aged in 30% new French oak for 16 months. The 2014 Seven Springs Pinot Noir was bottled without fining or filtering. Dark, spicy berry fruit emerges from the glass, with an enticing hint of sweet spices. The palate is full and deep with black cherry fruit framed by sweet tarragon notes and that