Michael Hepworth
Dayton, OR(Spiritsman)3/11/13/–Oregon wines are set to get a boost this year with the opening of the new Sokol Blosser Winery Tasting Room in Dayton, Oregon, sometimes in July. The new facility is expected to give Oregon wines a boost as well as lifting the spirits and heighten the total experience of the wines, the vineyards, the estate and Willamette Valley. Formed in 1971, the family run winery is run by Alison Sokol Blosser, daughter of the founders.
The 5,000 square foot tasting room will include a library, kitchen table where wines are served with Oregon food, Farm Table for outside group space, a Terrace reserved for club members and VIP’s, and a cellar lounge reserved for high end club members. Next door will house the Storrs Room honoring the architect John Storrs, which will cater to large groups of 40 people.
If you are not too familiar with Sokol Blosser Wines then this will serve as a brief introduction, since I had the opportunity to taste some of their wines recently at an informal wine dinner at Towne Restaurant in Los Angeles. The 2010 Pinot Noir has just been released after a twelve month bottling period, and with only 853 cases produced, it should prove to be a hot ticket. The 2011 Pinot Gris only needed 6 months bottling prior to release, and has a slightly lower alcohol content (13%) than the Pinot Noir.
Over 1800 cases of this fresh tasting wine has been produced, and the tastemaker notes indicate a mineral and stony taste with hints of apricot, apple and fig. Crisp and dry tasting, this is a wine which is also rich, concentrated, and creamy with a long and lush finish.
They also have a 2010 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir which retails for $38, which is made 100% from organic grapes. Fermentation lasts nine days, and then 16 months in barrels followed by a 5 ½ months bottling period. This is a wine that has benefited from the unusual weather in Oregon in 2010. The year started out hot and balmy couple of months followed by almost five months of cold and wet weather. Summer also proved to be cool and wet until October time when sunny and warm temperatures finally helped the grapes which ripened at a rapid pace. The result is a classic vintage despite the limited yields, with this particular Pinot having traces of rose petals, dried sage and cigar box and a spicy mineral finish.
Oregon wines have an uphill battle to compete with California wines in particular in this State, but if the sommelier includes a few on the list at your favorite restaurant then you might want to consider.
Address: 5000 NE Sokol Blosser Ln, Dayton, OR 97114
Phone:(503) 864-2282
Hours: Monday hours 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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