January 25, 2012
|
|
White Rose Estate
| Owner(s) | Greg Sanders |
| Web site | www.whiterosewines.com |
| Link to this site |
Owner and winemaker, Greg Sanders, took over the well-established 10-acre White Rose Vineyard in the Dundee Hills in 2001. The vineyard is well-placed with several prominent producers nearby including Archery Summit, Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin Oregon. He has spent considerable time upgrading the vineyard and built an unusual tasting room with a small, charming winery underneath that looks out on the Willamette Valley and Mt Hood in the far distance.
Greg is a Burgundian nut who uses some of Burgundy's top Grand Crus as his model in crafting his wines. He began experimenting with whole cluster fermentations in 2004 and by 2011 plans to use exclusively 100% whole clusters in his estate wines. In the past, he has sold grapes to other wineries including St. Innocent, but now keeps all the fruit for his own estate wines.
Since the 2008 vintage, these have been among Oregon's finest wines and consistently won praise from me as well as the general wine press. The wines are sold through a mailing list, wine club and on the website, with very limited retail distribution.
Articles About White Rose Estate
2011 Oregon Pinot Noir All-Americans First Team (8.47 12/20/2011)
2011 Oregon Pinot Noir All-Americans Second Team (8.47 12/20/2011)
Drinking Small Part 2 (8.27 12/14/2010)
Dundee Hills (7.7 12/17/2008)
More Sips of Noiregon Pinot (7.2 9/15/2008)
Oregon Pinot Noir 2004 (6.15 2/12/2007)
Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting (6.20 3/27/2007)
Plenty of Oregon ’08 and ’09 Pinot Bounty in the Marketplace Oregon (8.45 11/1/2011)
White Rose Estate: Simply Stunning Pinot (8.46 11/29/2011)
Reviewed Wines
2009 White Rose Vineyard Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $24.
·
Very appealing nose displaying aromas of fresh
cherries, black raspberries, spice and subtle oak. A lighter-weighted
style with charming cherry fruit, picking up intensity over time in the
glass. Still a bit tight, with tannins mildly secluding the fruit flavors and
the nose currently trumping the palate. Needs another 6 to 12 months
in bottle. Good (+).
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.78, 308 cases, $70. 60% whole cluster
fermentation. Sourced from the four oldest blocks of the vineyard. Aged
15 months in 8% new Rousseau oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple
color in the glass. Glorious nose offering aromas of cherry pie just
out of the oven, baking spice, and potpourri. The palate is long and
elegant, featuring waves of dark cherries and magic spice with well-mannered
dusty tannins and perfectly matched acidity. Spectacular the next day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle. A very classy wine that speaks of low
yields and old vine fruit.
Reviewed November 29, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Estate Winemaker’s Cuvée Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.70, 48
cases, $70. 60% whole cluster fermentation. Winemaker Jesus Guillen’s favorite barrels: 1 barrel from Block 1
of White Rose Vineyard and 1 barrel of Bell Road Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains. Aged 15 months in
100% neutral oak.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of dark stone and berry
fruits including marionberry, sassafras and a hint of herbal oak. The intense plum and dark red berry flavors
arrive with conviction on the mid palate and persist on the finish. Silky smooth in texture with impeccable
balance, this wine is still unevolved and linear, and will benefit from a couple years in the cellar. Very good.
Reviewed November 29, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Whole Cluster Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.72, 124 cases, $90. White
Rose Vineyard Block 1, 100% whole cluster. Aged 15 months in 100%
neutral French oak.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass.
This wine really grabs your attention with a festival of ripe and forward
aromas and flavors including dark pie cherries and sexy spice. Upon
entry, the wine jolts your taste buds to action, offering substantial pleasure while
displaying a seductive charm that carries over to the long and silky, cherry-soaked
finish. Still mildly reserved, this marvelous juice should improve
effortlessly over the next three to five years, and drink well for another five to ten
years beyond that. Pick any superlatives you wish: my choice is “libidinous.”
Reviewed November 29, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Dragon’s Bluff White Rose Vineyard Hand-Select Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $75. 50% whole cluster.
·
Moderate
reddish-purple color in the glass. A bit funky upon opening, improving with
swirling to reveal aromas of black raspberries, candied apple, oak toast and
vanillin. Discreetly rich flavors of dark red raspberries and Red Vines with an
underpinning of vanilla oak and spice. The zingy acidity brightens the fruit and
the soft, dusty tannins allow for easy drinking. The wine finishes with a lingering
grip of generous fruit. Good.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.45, 176 cases, $75. The
winery’s flagship wine. Fruit from blocks 2, 3 and 5 was 80% de-stemmed
with 20% whole cluster, and fruit from block 1 was 100% whole cluster
fermented. 20 to 26 days of skin contact, pressed off with a wooden
basket press. Aged 14 months in 13% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately deep ruby color in the glass. Shy, but haunting aromas of black
cherries, grilled meat and spice. A black tie, sophisticated wine that is still a bit
stiff and formal and needs time to unwind. That said, it offers a perfect balance of perfecgtly
ripe cherry and berry fruit, vital acidity and refined tannins. The silky mouth feel
adds to the allure. The beauty of this wine grows on you over time in the glass and is spectacular the next day
from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Very classy juice.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 White Rose Estate Whole Cluster White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.51, 98 cases, $75.
100% whole cluster fermentation. 15 day post-fermentation maceration
yielding a total of 26 days of skin contact. Pressed off in a wooden
basket press and barreled down in neutral French oak for 14 months.
Racked once after MLF and again just before blending.
·
Gorgeous
perfume of cherries flush with baking spices including cinnamon, with added
notes of rose petals and sandalwood. Happy to just smell this wine. Stylish and
expressive, the luscious fruit is alive with charm accented by exotic spices and
edible flower with plenty of firm tannin to balance the fruit. Never fades in the
glass, pumping out lively aromas and flavors until the glass is emptied. I am a sucker for whole cluster done
right and this wine really delivers.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 White Rose Dragon’s Bluff White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc.,198 cases, $75. This wine is produced
only in exceptional vintages. The White Rose Vineyard was planted
in 1980 on east facing Jory soils at 750-900 feet (one of the highest
in the Dundee Hills). The wine represents a selection of the best
barrels from the vineyard. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels.
·
Tremendous aromas of red cherries, Asian spice and warm cookies.
Sweet red fruit fills the mid palate with touches of sassafras and oak. Nicely composed and very approachable
now, although the core of flavors will be more expressive with a couple of years in the cellar.
Reviewed December 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 White Rose Wines Nekaia Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $18.
·
A shy
nose with likeable raspberry flavors and some bubble gum in the background. Sweet red dark fruits,
tobacco, and a hint of oak lead to a lively ending. A bit shallow in the middle, but perfectly drinkable and
with a little chill perfect with ribs.
Reviewed February 12, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 White Rose Vineyard Quotee’s Lair Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $50.
·
Cherry syrup, oak char and spearmint aromas lead to pleasant black cherry flavors set off by toasted oak.
Some stems flavors intrude. There is plenty of bright acidity producing a tart citric finish.
Reviewed September 15, 2008
ARTICLE »
2004 White Rose Vineyard Dragon’s Bluff Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
100% whole cluster. Floral
and spice perfumed, this is a fruity Beaujolais-style wine that is shallow in the middle and on the finish.
Reviewed March 27, 2007
ARTICLE »
2004 White Rose Wines Quiotee’s Lair White Rose Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8%
alc., $40. 20-25 year old own-rooted Pommard clone vines. Owner and winemaker Greg Saunders has
renovated this vineyard and built a winery and tasting room on his property which is adjacent to
Domaine Drouhin and Domaine Serene in the Dundee Hills. Greg has quite a sense of humor and this
is reflected in the names of his wines. He is, however, passionate about Pinot Noir and very serious in
his winemaking approach.
·
This is an elegantly styled Pinot Noir with plenty of cherries, red currents,
cola, and oak to please. More fullness than the Nekaia with more interest. The wine possesses a good
acid backbone and a clean finish. The oak may be a little overdone, but this is being picky and some
drinkers may welcome this wood accent.
Reviewed February 12, 2007
ARTICLE »
2002 White Rose Vineyard Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc..
·
This wine was been
troubled by Brett and has not shown lately like it did on release. The pristine fruit was a fading memory,
but the wine still drank decently.
Reviewed March 27, 2007
ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Vineyard Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $24. · Very appealing nose displaying aromas of fresh cherries, black raspberries, spice and subtle oak. A lighter-weighted style with charming cherry fruit, picking up intensity over time in the glass. Still a bit tight, with tannins mildly secluding the fruit flavors and the nose currently trumping the palate. Needs another 6 to 12 months in bottle. Good (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.78, 308 cases, $70. 60% whole cluster fermentation. Sourced from the four oldest blocks of the vineyard. Aged 15 months in 8% new Rousseau oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Glorious nose offering aromas of cherry pie just out of the oven, baking spice, and potpourri. The palate is long and elegant, featuring waves of dark cherries and magic spice with well-mannered dusty tannins and perfectly matched acidity. Spectacular the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. A very classy wine that speaks of low yields and old vine fruit. Reviewed November 29, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Estate Winemaker’s Cuvée Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.70, 48 cases, $70. 60% whole cluster fermentation. Winemaker Jesus Guillen’s favorite barrels: 1 barrel from Block 1 of White Rose Vineyard and 1 barrel of Bell Road Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains. Aged 15 months in 100% neutral oak. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of dark stone and berry fruits including marionberry, sassafras and a hint of herbal oak. The intense plum and dark red berry flavors arrive with conviction on the mid palate and persist on the finish. Silky smooth in texture with impeccable balance, this wine is still unevolved and linear, and will benefit from a couple years in the cellar. Very good. Reviewed November 29, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Whole Cluster Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., pH 3.72, 124 cases, $90. White Rose Vineyard Block 1, 100% whole cluster. Aged 15 months in 100% neutral French oak. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. This wine really grabs your attention with a festival of ripe and forward aromas and flavors including dark pie cherries and sexy spice. Upon entry, the wine jolts your taste buds to action, offering substantial pleasure while displaying a seductive charm that carries over to the long and silky, cherry-soaked finish. Still mildly reserved, this marvelous juice should improve effortlessly over the next three to five years, and drink well for another five to ten years beyond that. Pick any superlatives you wish: my choice is “libidinous.” Reviewed November 29, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Dragon’s Bluff White Rose Vineyard Hand-Select Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $75. 50% whole cluster. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. A bit funky upon opening, improving with swirling to reveal aromas of black raspberries, candied apple, oak toast and vanillin. Discreetly rich flavors of dark red raspberries and Red Vines with an underpinning of vanilla oak and spice. The zingy acidity brightens the fruit and the soft, dusty tannins allow for easy drinking. The wine finishes with a lingering grip of generous fruit. Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.45, 176 cases, $75. The winery’s flagship wine. Fruit from blocks 2, 3 and 5 was 80% de-stemmed with 20% whole cluster, and fruit from block 1 was 100% whole cluster fermented. 20 to 26 days of skin contact, pressed off with a wooden basket press. Aged 14 months in 13% new French oak barrels. · Moderately deep ruby color in the glass. Shy, but haunting aromas of black cherries, grilled meat and spice. A black tie, sophisticated wine that is still a bit stiff and formal and needs time to unwind. That said, it offers a perfect balance of perfecgtly ripe cherry and berry fruit, vital acidity and refined tannins. The silky mouth feel adds to the allure. The beauty of this wine grows on you over time in the glass and is spectacular the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Very classy juice. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 White Rose Estate Whole Cluster White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.51, 98 cases, $75. 100% whole cluster fermentation. 15 day post-fermentation maceration yielding a total of 26 days of skin contact. Pressed off in a wooden basket press and barreled down in neutral French oak for 14 months. Racked once after MLF and again just before blending. · Gorgeous perfume of cherries flush with baking spices including cinnamon, with added notes of rose petals and sandalwood. Happy to just smell this wine. Stylish and expressive, the luscious fruit is alive with charm accented by exotic spices and edible flower with plenty of firm tannin to balance the fruit. Never fades in the glass, pumping out lively aromas and flavors until the glass is emptied. I am a sucker for whole cluster done right and this wine really delivers. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 White Rose Dragon’s Bluff White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc.,198 cases, $75. This wine is produced only in exceptional vintages. The White Rose Vineyard was planted in 1980 on east facing Jory soils at 750-900 feet (one of the highest in the Dundee Hills). The wine represents a selection of the best barrels from the vineyard. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. · Tremendous aromas of red cherries, Asian spice and warm cookies. Sweet red fruit fills the mid palate with touches of sassafras and oak. Nicely composed and very approachable now, although the core of flavors will be more expressive with a couple of years in the cellar. Reviewed December 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 White Rose Wines Nekaia Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $18. · A shy nose with likeable raspberry flavors and some bubble gum in the background. Sweet red dark fruits, tobacco, and a hint of oak lead to a lively ending. A bit shallow in the middle, but perfectly drinkable and with a little chill perfect with ribs. Reviewed February 12, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 White Rose Vineyard Quotee’s Lair Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $50. · Cherry syrup, oak char and spearmint aromas lead to pleasant black cherry flavors set off by toasted oak. Some stems flavors intrude. There is plenty of bright acidity producing a tart citric finish. Reviewed September 15, 2008 ARTICLE »
2004 White Rose Vineyard Dragon’s Bluff Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
100% whole cluster. Floral and spice perfumed, this is a fruity Beaujolais-style wine that is shallow in the middle and on the finish. Reviewed March 27, 2007 ARTICLE »
2004 White Rose Wines Quiotee’s Lair White Rose Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $40. 20-25 year old own-rooted Pommard clone vines. Owner and winemaker Greg Saunders has renovated this vineyard and built a winery and tasting room on his property which is adjacent to Domaine Drouhin and Domaine Serene in the Dundee Hills. Greg has quite a sense of humor and this is reflected in the names of his wines. He is, however, passionate about Pinot Noir and very serious in his winemaking approach. · This is an elegantly styled Pinot Noir with plenty of cherries, red currents, cola, and oak to please. More fullness than the Nekaia with more interest. The wine possesses a good acid backbone and a clean finish. The oak may be a little overdone, but this is being picky and some drinkers may welcome this wood accent. Reviewed February 12, 2007 ARTICLE »
2002 White Rose Vineyard Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc.. · This wine was been troubled by Brett and has not shown lately like it did on release. The pristine fruit was a fading memory, but the wine still drank decently. Reviewed March 27, 2007 ARTICLE »
TRAVEL ALONG THE PINOT TRAIL | PINOT FESTIVALS | PODCASTS AND VIDEO | TESTIMONIALS | GRAPE RADIO | LINKS
© 2003-2011 Rusty Gaffney MD | Contact the Prince: Prince@PrinceOfPinot.com