The 2021 vintage was an impressive success for Gina Hennen and her winemaking team at Adelsheim. From their classic Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs to their single vineyard Pinot Noirs and their other more esoteric bottlings, the consistency of ripeness, depth, dimension, and aging potential commands one’s attention, the wines are impressively compelling!
2021 also coincides with the 50th anniversary of David and Ginney Adelsheim starting the winery, so the timing for a benchmark, celebratory vintage could not have been more perfect. Reflecting on those early days, David is credited with bringing Pommard clones over from Burgundy, a strategic move that has greatly influenced the quality of Pinot Noir being produced in Willamette Valley today. Some argue it propelled the region to produce world class wines. Today the winery is owned by Lynn Loacker. Initially she and her husband were partners dating back to 1994.
Not all was easy in 2021. Like most great vintages, there were hiccups along the journey. Searing heat spikes exceeding 110f. hit the area at one point. Fortunately, it only lasted for a short period. There was also a three-month-long dry spell with a meager 0.02 inches of rain. Interestingly, it all ended on the upside as full phenolic ripeness and superb acidity made for a successful harvest.
While the vast majority of Adelsheim’s fruit is estate grown, they do source some fruit from qualified grower-partners. Adelsheim is proud to be a LIVE-certified sustainable winery and focuses on maintaining sustainable vineyard management. Today, their winery produces a wide range of wines crafted from mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, yet they also delve into intriguing varieties like Pinot Blanc and craft an intriguing series of sparkling wines. Adelsheim remains a work in progress as winemaker Gina Hennen leads the Team, where she employs a progressive, highly experienced style that responds dynamically to the fruit she works with, always employing a delicate, masterful touch. Her mastery is enhanced by the diverse micro-climates, soil types and quality of fruit. The future is bright at Adelsheim! Visit their website for more information at: www.adelsheim.com
2021 Adelsheim, Chardonnay, Willamette Valley (RT92) Right out of the starting gate the 2021 Willamette Chardonnay shows impressive fruit and balance as its light golden hue gives way to a clean, precise aromatic expression with notes of white peach, crisp white melon, and layers of chalk. The palate is beautifully styled with perfectly ripe fruit, wonderful acidity and a generous mouth coating texture. This steers clear of excessive malo-richness – only 20% of the fruit goes through malolactic – displaying a classic, fresh Burgundian style. A large production affair for Adelsheim with more than 32,000 bottles made. It is sold in 12 pack cases. A large portion of the wine was fermented and aged in French oak barrels for 11 months, yet you would never know it. The remainder sees stainless, which supports its fresh style. Fruit comes from four single vineyards, of which 90% are estate owned – Grand Oak, Boulder Bluff, Ribbon Springs, and Bryan Creek – creating its classic Willamette persona. Downright delicious! Drink now-2029 Tasted April 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge, Ribbon Springs Vineyard (RT94) One can immediately sense the depth and dimension of the 2021 Ribbon Ridge as rich notes of ripe Asian pear, golden apple, Georgia peach, buttressing minerality and puff of smoke rise from the stemware. The palate echoes the suggestions of the bouquet with beautifully ripe fruit poised on a horizon of tension and excitement, with the glass begging you to take another sip. Magical stuff, while this goes through full malolactic, one would never know it as Gina Hennen’s winemaking skills shine away! The grapes were hand-picked and gently pressed ala whole cluster, then allowed to briefly settle before racking and the start of fermentation then transferred to French oak – both barriques and puncheons – for 12 months, followed by another 5 months in stainless. Sourced entirely from their LIVE-certified sustainable Ribbon Springs estate vineyard, fruit is sourced from three blocks spread over two distinct hillsides. All three blocks are Dijon clone 76, two planted on 3309 rootstock and the third on 101-14. Drink now-2031 Tasted April 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley (RT92+) It’s been more than a year since I last tasted the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, and it’s developing nicely. While this is Adelsheim’s largest production wine with more than 200,000 bottles under screw cap, the quality is impressive. Especially considering this is their base wine. Notes of strawberry, Morello cherry, wet forest floor and mushroom create a relatively deeply nuanced wine. The palate is rich and ripe, while maintaining freshness, the acidity keeps it fresh, the tannins sweet. This is a wonderful food wine, perfect with grilled meats and hearty pasta dishes. A wine of this production scale requires the utmost in winemaking skills and here Gina Hennen’s vast experience brings it all together in an overwhelming and convincing manner. This wine receives a smattering of new French oak at 18%, with the balance neutral and is aged for 9 months. A diversity of vigneron techniques are on display in this complex wine, including both destemmed and whole cluster fermentations, native and inoculated fermentations, and both shorter and extended macerations. 90+% of the fruit is Estate grown. This is a Less is More style of wine and will benefit from a year or two in the bottle. Drink 2025-2035+ Tasted April 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Breaking Ground (RT93+) Taking a step upward in quality, 2021 Breaking Ground is an alluring wine that offers Willamette Valley nuances in spades. Fruit for this bottling is sourced from 8 select vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains AVA and more than ¾ of the fruit is estate grown. The selection of these vineyards by design is intended to profile the depth and varied dimension offered within this AVA and features a selection of various clones and differing rootstock. All three significant soil types found in Chehalem AVA are represented in this bottling: loess, sedimentary and volcanic. Displaying notes of wild cherry, strawberry compote, sweet herbs, umami, and hints of spice, this is an exemplary bottling focusing on the varied nuances created by the differing soil types and microclimates. The palate is cunningly crafted showing waves of sweet ripe fruit, soft acidity, and suave ripe tannins. This is aged 11 months in French oak, of which only 20% was new, the balance neutral barrels. Drink now-2032+ Tasted April 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Calkins Lane Vineyard (RT94) This is one of the largest bottlings of their single vineyard Pinots with 5500+ bottles marketed in 12 packs. Just over 1/3 of the French oak is new, the balance 2nd and 3rd pass, and it’s aged for 14 months prior to bottling. Like all of the single vineyard wines, this is crafted from one of many of Adelsheim’s LIVE-certified sustainable vineyards and of great interest to winery visitor this vineyard surrounds the winery and tasting room. Grapes planted include Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777. This is currently showing dominant fruit-driven notes but will evolve into a more refined, terroir-driven bouquet as it ages in the cellar. Sweet Marasca cherry, cranberry compote, Burgamot orange, an appealing streak of minerality, and hints of sous bois waft from the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced showing its perfectly ripe fruit, while the acidity remains hidden behind the curtain of fruit. This is drinking par-excellence in its current stage of evolution but do yourself a favor and save a few bottles in your cellar for 5-10 years down the line. You will be handsomely rewarded! Drink 2025-2035+ Tasted March 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Boulder Bluff Vineyard (RT95) Exciting aromatics burst from the stem, this is supercharged with Chehalem Mountains character as notes of red cherry, dried strawberries, fresh Empress plum, underbrush, and spiced herbs. The palate reveals a sweet nugget of ripe strawberries, backed by deeply ripe fruit, beautiful, food friendly acidity, and sweet ripe tannins. Another stunning single vineyard bottling in a lineup of 2021s! Aged in 30% new French oak, it was harvested in the first few days of Sept. and is typically their first Pinot harvested each fall. This vineyard lies on a steep south-facing site comprised of volcanic soil and uses Willamette Valley clone 777 and Pommard clone. Another small production bottling, less than 5000 bottles produced. Some of these vines are directly grown from cuttings sourced from the first block planted in 1974 by David Adelsheim. Drink now-2038+ Tasted March 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, Ribbon Springs Vineyard (RT96) The masculinity of the 2021 Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir reveals a surge of power as notes of Maraschino cherry, dark plum sauce, hints of mushrooms, wet soil and pungent minerality. Deep and thunderous, this is a broad shouldered Pinot Noir with sufficient structure to age for a couple decades in the cellar and is not to be missed. Approximately 1/3 new French oak barrels are used, with the balance neutral Franch oak. Ribbon Springs is Adelsheim’s largest vineyard, but only 55 of the 100 acres are planted and contains both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyard varies from 400-600’ elevation and is composed of ancient seabed sedimentary soils. Crafted in the same style as the Calkins Lane and Boulder Bluff bottlings, 10% whole cluster fermentation was employed, the balance was destemmed. This is another in a string of 2021 single vineyard Pinots to lay down in the cellar and behold the magic of cellaring. Drink now-2041+ Tasted March 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Laurelwood District, Laurel Leaf Vineyard (RT95+) Super sexy and alluring, this is a gorgeous Pinot that reveals sweet, ripe notes of cranberry preserves, red raspberry reduction sauce, ripe Morello cherries, hints of dried fall forest floor, wisps of green tea leaf and the dew of a foggy fall morning. Simply beautiful, the palate is full of exciting gorgeously balanced fruit with charismatic, fresh acidity. A magical wine that will deliver many years of impressive enjoyment. This impressive plot was acquired just 5 years ago, is a small production, single vineyard, bottling and is packaged in both 12 and 6 packs. The wine was aged in 1/3 new French oak for 14 months prior to bottling. Consistent with their modus operandi, this is a LIVE-certified sustainable vineyard located high in the Chehalem Mountains ridge at an elevation of 750-875’. The soils in this vineyard lend well to both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink 2026-2038+ Taste March 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Winderlea Vineyard (RT95+) This tiny production wine displays why it’s worth their efforts to obtain the fruit and go through the considerable effort to bottle it. Notes of alluring character waft from the glass as Ulster cherry, dried cranberries, anise, and hints of rose hips caress the senses. With time in the stem, it grows increasingly complex. The palate is built on firmly ripe fruit with gorgeous acidity, and a long, long finish. Another fabulous effort from Gina Hennen, this is a thing of mesmerizing beauty. This is a teeny weenie production wine, one of Adelsheim’s smallest, with just over 2200 bottles produced! You may find yourself asking why a winery bottles in such small quantity, and that’s a terrific question. My thoughts are simply because it’s worth it! A tribute to yet another impressive vineyard site! Grapes for this bottling are hand-picked and completely destemmed. 25% of the French oak barrels are new, and the fruit comes from the Winderlea vineyard, a LIVE-certified sustainable site rooted in the volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills. Adelsheim is able to source just one block – 1.1 acres – of clone 667, which is grown on Riparia Gloire rootstock, and the vines are now 25 years old. Drink 2026-2038+ Tasted March 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Bryan Creek Vineyard (RT96) Another small production bottling here the delivers Willamette-ized, Burgundian notes of intense wild cherry, ripe dark plum, raspberry liqueur and accents of fall forest floor, mushrooms and a streak of minerality. This is a stunning wine, a real thing of beauty. The palate is equally mesmerizing with its full throttle fruit, perfect acidity and long finish marked by suave tannins. This is one of Adelsheim’s smallest production wines with little more than 1700 bottles made. The grapes were hand-picked during the end of harvest and clusters were destemmed into tank. New French oak barrels once again are kept in check, with just 35% comprising the balance, the rest are 2nd and 3rd passage. Here the wine is aged a bit longer at 14 months prior to bottling, and still, the final balance and finesse reveals nearly zero new oak. Fruit for this bottling is sourced from Adelsheim’s LIVE-certified sustainable Bryan Creek Vineyard high up in the Chehalem Mountains foothills, which are old vine Pommard clones planted in 1989. Rather than being grafted, these vines thrive on their original root stock. Drink 2026-2037 Tasted March 2024
2021 Adelsheim, Pinot Noir, Laurelwood District, Grand Oak Vineyard (RT96+) Here is one of my favorites of the entire 2021 line up, crafted from single vineyard fruit that is both exquisitely ripe and masterfully crafted. Deeply ripe notes of black cherry, crushed pomegranate arils, anise, and a puff of smoky ash gently wafts from the glass. This is full throttle on the palate, showing broad shouldered fruit, beautiful acidity, and a long structured finish. Clearly one to lay down and fascinate as it evolves, but it is already delivering an impressive performance! Resist if you can. The fruit for this wine is grown in a vineyard once called the Nicholas Vineyard, but today is known as the Grand Oak Vineyard. Crafted from mostly destemmed clusters, with just a small amount of whole cluster added. Aged in French oak barrels, of which a modest 1/3 were new, for what appears to be Adelsheim’s time-in-barrel de rigeur: 10 months. This is one fabulous Pinto Noir, get ready for an impressive ride down the cellaring alley! Drink 2026- 2041 Tasted March 2024