Medium ruby color; black cherry, blackberry, plum, raspberry, cranberry, chocolate, cola, white pepper, sweet spice, earth on the nose and palate.
Dry; silky, dense tannins; fresh, balancing acidity (3.67 pH). Refined with bit of edge from the black fruit and cranberry notes. Balanced and layered progression in the mouth. Medium-length finish. Light-medium body. Very mild oak notes—sweet spice—from 11 months of aging in French barrels, 30% new. 13.8% ABV
Established in 1987, the Van Duzer winery is the oldest winery in the Van Duzer AVA. It was run-down when Carl and Marilynn Thoma acquired the property in 1998, intrigued by the potential of the winery perched atop a knoll surrounded by vines on three sides. The couple first acquired their taste for wine while working on MBA degrees at Stanford University. They hired Jim Kakacek to replant and upgrade the property, resulting in quality production three years later. A new winery was finished in time for the 2006 harvest.
According to the Van Duzer website: “Carl came to know agriculture on his family’s cattle ranch in his youth, and became intrigued by the fledgling California wine industry during his graduate school days. He began building a portfolio of premier California vineyards during the 1990s and gradually settled on the Willamette Valley as the site for a family estate winery. He honed his eye for potential as a venture capitalist in Chicago where he has managed a succession of private equity funds. He holds a degree in agriculture economics from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Stanford. Marilynn oversees Van Duzer’s marketing effort, drawing on her brand management experience at Quaker Oats and Cellular Network. She also holds a B.S. from Oklahoma State and an MBA from Stanford.”
Eric Misiewicz is the winemaker today. He holds a degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell University, followed by experience in New York, Spain, Australia, and Napa Valley. He moved to Oregon because of the possibilities he saw in the Willamette Valley, especially in the Van Duzer Corridor.
Van Duzer places an emphasis on biodiversity and tailored application of water, soil amendments, and fertilizer. They earned certification from LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), Salmon Safe, and the International Organization for Biological and Integrated Control (IOBC). The winery works with the National Fish and Wildlife Association to preserve the natural oak savanna on the east side of the property, pruning it naturally with a herd of sheep.
Van Duzer Dijon Blocks Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Van Duzer Corridor, Oregon 2021 is another excellent pinot from Van Duzer. While it has a bit more assertive darker fruits than the other efforts, it also has impressive complexity and layers. Oregon emerges as a world-class terroir for pinot noir, and this variation of their extensive portfolio reinforces that judgment. If you enjoy Oregon pinot, this will not disappoint. Pair with salmon; turkey; roasted pork chops; grilled ribeye; mushroom risotto; pork tenderloin; veal; venison; oven-baked chicken. Cheese—brie, camembert, bruyère, comté, roquefort. $57-65
