This year Adelsheim celebrates 50 years in the busines. What an accomplishment for David and Ginny Adelsheim and their Team to reflect on! Back then, they risked it all by purchasing 19 acres of what would become the Chehalem Mountains’ first ever winery. Since then, they have pursued their vinous upbringings with endless passion, commitment, and zest for what they do!
While the majority of the fruit is estate grown (vineyards they own), they do source some fruit from qualified grower partners. Adelsheim is a LIVE certified winery and employs sustainable methods.
Today, their winery is diverse and alluring, yet maintains its place as a work in progress. Winemaker Gina Hennen leads the Team with her sense of impassioned focus and has brought an enlightened, progressive style to the winery that has continually moved the wines up the qualitative ladder. This is aided by the diverse soils, mico-climates, and an adaptive winemaking style to roll with what mother nature gives them. This combination has resulted in countless industry awards.
2020 Adelsheim, Willamette Valley, Rose (RT91) This 100% pinot noir reveals the delicate persona of this outstanding grape with its beautifully balanced palate, fresh acidity, and delicious fruit. It’s pale terracotta hue harkens to traditional French rose from the Mediterranean Coast while its overall balance leans a smidge toward its fresh Willamette Valley origins. Delicately nuanced while maintaining focus, this is filled with ambiance, it overdelivers for the price point. The enlightened winemaking style at Adelsheim, with the torch being carried by winemaker Gina Hennen, is highlighted in this rose. 2% of the juice is aged in neutral oak to round out its curb appeal. Drink now-2024
2017 Adelsheim, Chardonnay, Chehalem Mountains, Staking Claim (RT92) A fresh, bright blend of four different single vineyards: Grand Oak, Boulder Bluff, Ribbon Springs, and Bryan Creek. The fruit is hand-picked and then whole cluster pressed, resulting in a Chardonnay that speaks its roots in spades while allowing the enlightened, progressive vinification to speak out. 20% malolactic fermentation gives it just enough richness to create a mouth coating texture, yet leaves you coming back for another sip. Notes of crisp yellow apple, a hint of honeydew and notes of minerality and chalk keep this wine fresh and bright, while the mouthfeel is zesty and bright with well-balanced fruit and refreshing acidity. Don’t serve this too cold or you’ll miss the subtle details. The artful oak treatment allows the fruit to be the centerpiece. Yummy! Drink now-2026+
2018 Adelsheim, Chardonnay, Ribbon Springs (RT93+) Every detail is ramped up in the Ribbon Springs Chardonnay, harvested from one of their LIVE-certified vineyards. Here the malolactic fermentation and oak aging is higher, while maintaining the magic touch of wine maker Gina Hennen. Balance is everything. Deeply nuanced with notes of Golden Delicious apples, yellow peach, gunflint and a dollop of crème fraiche. Time in the glass prompts gravely notes reminiscent of a fine white burgundy. The texture is rich, round and lush with a ling, taunting finish. Wonderfully crafted, this is a beautiful chardonnay that represents its origins in a first-class manner. Drink now-2028+
2016 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Breaking Ground (RT92+) This workhorse bottling is a hard charging wine that shows the magic of the AVA with notes of red raspberry, cherry compote, pomegranate, hints of crushed sandstone and a smattering of sous bois. The mouthfeel is light, airy, and amply fruited with elegant, sweet tannins and refreshing acidity. It reveals an enchanting pinot noir character from a challenging vintage. A few years of cellaring should allow it to develop a bit more depth and nuance. It currently needs some breathing time to show it best, either a quick decant or some time in the glass should do the trick. Aged 11 months in French oak of which 20% was new, that balance neutral. Drink now-2028+
2018 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Calkins Lane (RT93) This is a small production wine from the vineyards surrounding the Adelsheim Winery and Tasting Room. It shows a deeply nuanced bouquet with dark red cherry, ripe strawberry, hints of mushroom, and crunchy, fall forest floor. The palate delivers a decadently rich fruit core, but maintains its freshness with vibrant acidity and soft, ripe tannins. A stunning wine that shows the progress of the enlightened winemaking style of using 100% French oak but keeping the percentage of new oak to just 30%. The balance is neutral. This will do well with mid-term cellaring to coax out the details but is drinking well today with a little air to allow it to unwind. A lovely bottling, it can be laid down in a cool, dark place! Drink now-2033+
2018 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Boulder Bluff (RT94+) Another small production wine with less than 5000 bottles produced. 2018 Boulder Bluff delivers dark, mentholated cherry liqueur, dried strawberry, woodsy notes and closes with an alluring spicy note. The palate is fully fruited, has wonderful balance, fresh acidity, and ripe tannins. This is a big, broad shouldered, powerhouse pinot noir that is drinking gorgeously and has excellent cellaring potential yet satisfies the soul now. Give it plenty of air if you’re opening it in the near term. Hand destemmed with 10% whole cluster fermentation and aged 10 months in French oak, of which 32% is new. This fruit is harvested from a LIVE-certified vineyard, some of which is grown from cuttings sourced from the first block planted in 1974 by David Adelsheim. Drink now-2038+
2018 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Ribbon Springs (RT95) Crafted in the same style as the Calkins Lane and Boulder Bluff pinot noirs using 10% whole cluster fermentation, the Ribbon Springs is a hulking bruiser that bellows out deep notes of black cherry, hints of ripe plum, a puff of gun smoke and layers and layers of minerality. The palate is equally massive, with a rich, late harvest quality that delivers sexy, ripe richness, deep acidity, and super ripe, sweet tannins. Yet is maintains a decided weightlessness throughout its delivery. This wine is stunning in everyway and can be drunk now (with ample air), or for maximum enjoyment laid down in the cool shadows of your wine cellar for a decade-plus. Roughly 5000 bottles produced and aged in French oak for 10 months, of which 30% was new. Drink now-2038+
