After visitng BHVineyard's property, we drove down Parrett Mountain to Chehalem where we were greeted by Harry Peterson-Nedry, the owner and our gregarious dining companion from the previous evening. Harry invited us in to sit a table and taste his wines. They were:

2002 INOX Chardonnay This wine was completely unoaked, having been made in only stainless steel. It came in a clear glass bottle with a silver plastic cork. I believe it sells in the $15 area. I found it very similar to a Premier or Grand Cru Chablis. Not only was it outstanding, but it was the best, or one of the two best, Chardonnays we tasted in either Oregon or Washington. 92 I would seek this one out.

2001 Pinot Gris Reserve This wine was barrel fermented using neutral oak (barrels that are more than three years old). It had a nose of p;ineapple and kiwi and a rich, creamy texture. 91
We enjoyed this wine so much at the tasting, we ordered it at dinner that evening. Keep your eyes open for this one also.

2002 Pinot Gris This was done in stainless steel. Tropical fruit nose. Viscous and rich. 90

2002 Dry Riesling Reserve Subdued nose of melons. Light. 87. Note- the others seemed to like this wine more than me. I've never developed a fondness for dry Rieslings.

2001 Chardonnay 31% new oak. No stainless steel. Made from 70% Dijon Clones. Balanced. Lighter. Uncomplicated. 87

2000 Ian's Reserve Chardonnay This wine was named after Harry's son who tragically perished at a young age. The fruity wine was loaded with flavors of oak and the fruitiness of extra virgin olive oil. 91

2001 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir Nose of dark berries. Expansive, but a little light. 87

2001 Corral Creek Pinot Noir This vineyard was planted in 1984. The wine had a nose of flowers and cherries, with lovely fruit flavors. Expansive. 91

2001 Stoller Vineyard Pinot Noir This vineyard was planted in 1995. Nose of strawberries and wet cement. Closed. Hard to evaluate. 88-90

2001 Ridgecrest Pinot Noir Intense nose of dark fruit. Spicy and concentrated. very special. 93

2001 Rion Reserve Pinot Noir Rich and surprisingly elegant for such a young wine. 91

2000 Rion Reserve Pinot Noir Ready. Rich. Complex. 92

2002 3 Vineyards Pinot Noir, Barrel sample Loads of berries and cherries on nose. Rich and flavorful. 92

General impressions: This is one of the only wineries we visited on entire trip where there were no disappointing wines. On the contrary, the entire line-up is worthy of purchase. I've purchased a number of Chehalem wines in the past and have always considered the winery one of my three or four favorites in the state of Oregon. Harry was a pleasure to meet and he was also a great and entertaining dining companion, with a fondness for aged sweet Rieslings. I hope we have the opportunity to host a dinner in his honor at some point when he visits the East Coast.

What impressed me most about Harry's wines was the uniform quality. Very few wineries are as adept at producing special white wines as they are at reds. What impressed me most about Harry was his passion for his wine, as well as his genuine unselfish attitude toward BHVineyard, a competitor, though also a friend. Harry was eager to impart his knowledge and offer assistance in an open and friendly manner. I want to go back.

Board-O...

Great notes. Excellent synopsis.
I'm going to have to add this winery to my list of labels to look for!

Do you have any production estimates?
Is their product available here in the NorthEast?

Thanks.

I have no concrete information on amount of production, but I have bought some of their wines in NY, I think. When I say, "I thin," it's because I have a source in OR from whom I've bought wine and had them shipped to me.

Board-O:

Thanks for the notes, since I am just getting ready to place my order on their new releases. Looks like I may add a few of the whites to fill out out my case.

budman: go to the web site for the info you requested. They do list a PA distributor, NY too. The wines are pretty available here in CO, but I usually order direct. They give a 15% discount on new release wines by the case, 10% on older releases. Kelly has always been a joy to work with, and she extended the deadline for my pre-release offer since I have been sick and unable to get to the office, where my wish list is.

Also, Sideshow (from WS) added some bottles to one of my orders in the past, and one bottle was corked. I let Kelly know, and she immediately replaced the bottle for him. You have to love their great customer service.

I also visited their tasting room last April. While it was nothing fancy, their staff was very helpful, and they opened all of their higher end wines, including the Rion and Ridgecrest on that day.

No charge in the tasting room either, if memory serves me correct.

Mike

P.S. I believe their 98 Rion Reserve also was the winner in one of our Parsec Cup pinot tastings a year or year and a half ago.

I have had a few of the wines from this producer in the past and mostly enjoyed them. I have often found it difficult to find their stuff down this way, though.

Thanks for the report - I've always enjoyed their Pinot Gris - saw the '02 recently and will probably go and try a bottle.

Mike...

Thanks for the info - very helpful!

Thanks for the great notes. I have enjoyed their Pinots, guess I will have to try the whites.

Board-O - thanks for the notes. I am about to do an Oregon wine buy soon and have sourced a couple of these(including the whites) based on your TNs.

I just ordered 6 of the INOX 2002 at $14 ea. Here's to a good unoaked chard!

*gulp* I hope you like it. If not I have one request. Please don't stick any pins in bald dolls.

not to worry. At $14 it isn't a major risk. I figure it can't be worse than a lot of other $15 chardonnays I have had.

smaug, if you don't like it, I'll take it and pay for the shipping also if you'll ship it to me. I thought it was terrific. It's not going to age as long as a white Burgundy, but it's delicious for drinking now. The reason many wines are over-aoked, imo, is that the winemakers feel they need more flavor. These grapes have all the flavor needed.

Quote:

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The reason many wines are over-aoked, imo, is that the winemakers feel they need more flavor.

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You mean oak ISN'T a varietal characteristic of chardonnay?!?

Board-O...

Don't be giving out warnings about sticking pins in bald dolls.
He's likely to get me instead!!!

Man, I am going to have to buy a LOT of bald headed dolls to keep order in this place.

Rerun post...

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I have some Pinot Gris on order along with a '01 Pinot that you didn't taste. Well worth the risk at the price points.

Thanks again for the notes Board-O. It encouraged me to pick up some of the INOX, to go along with the Stoller and Ridgecrest I intended to get anyway.

Mike

I tasted the '02 Pinot Gris on Saturday - a very nice wine. Love some of the Pinot Gris coming out of OR these days.