June 2, 2013
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Amalie Robert Estate
| Owner(s) | Dena Drews, Ernie Pink |
| Web site | www.amalierobert.com |
| Link to this site |
Ernie Pink and Dena Drews bought a cherry orchard 15 miles south of Salem, Oregon and converted it to a vineyard beginning in 1999. The couple were Pacific Northwest computer geeks who had no background in the wine business but learned about winemaking and viticulture through the local community college. The 30-acre vineyard was planted primarily to Pinot Noir, with some Pinot Meunier, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier and dry-farmed. The first vintage in 2002 was sold off to notable Willamette Valley wineries. By 2006, they had constructed a gravity-flow winery and bottled their first vintage under the Amalie Robert label. Four bottlings of Pinot Noir included an Estate, The Reserve, Amalie's Cuvée, and a Dijon Clones blend. They still sell grapes to Beaux Freres and Cristom Vineyards.
The wines are available online. Tasting is by appointment (schedule online by e-mail).
Articles About Amalie Robert Estate
Reviewed Wines
2009 Amalie Robert Heirloom Cameo Estate Bottled Oregon Chardonnay
14.5% alc., 80 cases, $50. Two-thirds Dijon clone 76
and one-third Dijon clone 95. I haven’t tasted many Oregon
Chardonnays, but I do taste quite a few California Chardonnays, and
this wine made quite an impression on me. If this wine is indicative of
Oregon’s potential for Chardonnay, more Oregon wineries should
feature this varietal. Although I enjoy Pinot Gris for what it is and
understand it is Oregon’s signature white wine, Chardonnay can potentially offer
more sophisticated drinking.
·
Light straw color and clear in the glass. Enticing
aromas of white peaches, lemon curd, white pears and buttery oak. Delicious
and juicy array of white peach, Asian pear, baked apple and pineapple flavors, honed with just the right amount
of mineral-driven acidity for brightness, and offering a silky mouth feel that excites the senses. A classic, and
maybe the best Oregon Chardonnay I have ever had.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Vintage Debut Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., $30.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass.
Nicely perfumed with vivid aromas of black cherries, spicy stem, and
new oak. Light to medium weight flavors of black cherries and red
berries with complimentary oak. Supple tannins and brisk acidity on
the finish. Nicely put together and very approachable now. I like it
for its easy drinkability. Drink this one while you cellar the other 2008
Amalie Estate Pinot Noirs. Fine the next day from a previously opened and recorked
bottle indicating it will hold up nicely over the next few years. Very good.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Dijon Clone Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 192 cases, $40. Dijon
clones 777 (72%), 115 (23%) and 667 (5%) grown on 3 different rootstocks sourced from 5 dry-farmed blocks.
·
Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. A chameleon in the glass with mellow aromas that come and go
including cherries, strawberries, brier, herbs and spice. Simple and direct, medium-bodied essence of cherries
and cherry skins on the palate, finishing on a cherry and citrus high note. A pretty wine that aims to please.
Very good.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Amalie’s Cuvée Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $50.
·
Moderate reddish-purple
color in the glass. Complex nose offering aromas of cherries, strawberries, sandalwood, wine cellar,
balsam and a little barnyard. The pleasing core of fresh cherries makes quite an impression on the mid-palate
and persists on the long finish that is marked by sharp citrus-driven acidity. Flavors of new oak and tobacco ply
the background. An elegant, vibrant and minerally wine that is ready to drink now. Good (+).
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Estate Estate Selection Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc. ph 3.66, 311 cases,$50. This blend is made by co-founder and coowner
Ernie Pink. Aged in 46% new or second fill French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Aromas of cherry, spice and
sandalwood. Discreetly concentrated core of black cherry fruit with accents of
tobacco-laced oak. Silky in the mouth with substantial smooth tannin and bright
acidity. Picks up interest and depth of flavor over time in the glass. Not as big
as many Pinot Noir wines from Oregon’s 2008 harvest, but its show of elegance
and vibrancy gives the wine high marks. Very good.
Reviewed February 27, 2013
ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Estate Selection Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $50.
·
Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass.
Subdued but pleasant aromas of mixed berries and black cherries with
a violet note. Silky and earth-driven flavors of darker red berries and
subtle baking spice, wrapped in supple tannins with oak playing a
complimentary role in the background. A classy wine with very
impressive persistence on the aromatic finish. The most cellaring
potential of the 2008 Amalie Robert Pinot Noirs and the one with the most Pinot
charm.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Wadenswil Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8%
alc., 50 cases, $50.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Complex
scents of black cherries, blackberries, sassafras, prickly pear and oak vanillin.
Darkly fruited and savory, mysterious and primal, offering flavors of black
currants, blackberries and brown spices enrobed in dusty, fine-grain tannins.
More intrigue and structure and less acidity than the Dijon Clones bottling. A
good cellar candidate. Very good (+).
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Amalie Robert Heirloom Cameo Estate Bottled Oregon Chardonnay
14.5% alc., 80 cases, $50. Two-thirds Dijon clone 76 and one-third Dijon clone 95. I haven’t tasted many Oregon Chardonnays, but I do taste quite a few California Chardonnays, and this wine made quite an impression on me. If this wine is indicative of Oregon’s potential for Chardonnay, more Oregon wineries should feature this varietal. Although I enjoy Pinot Gris for what it is and understand it is Oregon’s signature white wine, Chardonnay can potentially offer more sophisticated drinking. · Light straw color and clear in the glass. Enticing aromas of white peaches, lemon curd, white pears and buttery oak. Delicious and juicy array of white peach, Asian pear, baked apple and pineapple flavors, honed with just the right amount of mineral-driven acidity for brightness, and offering a silky mouth feel that excites the senses. A classic, and maybe the best Oregon Chardonnay I have ever had. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Vintage Debut Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., $30. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with vivid aromas of black cherries, spicy stem, and new oak. Light to medium weight flavors of black cherries and red berries with complimentary oak. Supple tannins and brisk acidity on the finish. Nicely put together and very approachable now. I like it for its easy drinkability. Drink this one while you cellar the other 2008 Amalie Estate Pinot Noirs. Fine the next day from a previously opened and recorked bottle indicating it will hold up nicely over the next few years. Very good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Dijon Clone Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 192 cases, $40. Dijon clones 777 (72%), 115 (23%) and 667 (5%) grown on 3 different rootstocks sourced from 5 dry-farmed blocks. · Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. A chameleon in the glass with mellow aromas that come and go including cherries, strawberries, brier, herbs and spice. Simple and direct, medium-bodied essence of cherries and cherry skins on the palate, finishing on a cherry and citrus high note. A pretty wine that aims to please. Very good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Amalie’s Cuvée Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $50. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Complex nose offering aromas of cherries, strawberries, sandalwood, wine cellar, balsam and a little barnyard. The pleasing core of fresh cherries makes quite an impression on the mid-palate and persists on the long finish that is marked by sharp citrus-driven acidity. Flavors of new oak and tobacco ply the background. An elegant, vibrant and minerally wine that is ready to drink now. Good (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Estate Estate Selection Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc. ph 3.66, 311 cases,$50. This blend is made by co-founder and coowner Ernie Pink. Aged in 46% new or second fill French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Aromas of cherry, spice and sandalwood. Discreetly concentrated core of black cherry fruit with accents of tobacco-laced oak. Silky in the mouth with substantial smooth tannin and bright acidity. Picks up interest and depth of flavor over time in the glass. Not as big as many Pinot Noir wines from Oregon’s 2008 harvest, but its show of elegance and vibrancy gives the wine high marks. Very good. Reviewed February 27, 2013 ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Estate Selection Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $50. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Subdued but pleasant aromas of mixed berries and black cherries with a violet note. Silky and earth-driven flavors of darker red berries and subtle baking spice, wrapped in supple tannins with oak playing a complimentary role in the background. A classy wine with very impressive persistence on the aromatic finish. The most cellaring potential of the 2008 Amalie Robert Pinot Noirs and the one with the most Pinot charm. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Amalie Robert Wadenswil Estate Bottled Oregon Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., 50 cases, $50. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Complex scents of black cherries, blackberries, sassafras, prickly pear and oak vanillin. Darkly fruited and savory, mysterious and primal, offering flavors of black currants, blackberries and brown spices enrobed in dusty, fine-grain tannins. More intrigue and structure and less acidity than the Dijon Clones bottling. A good cellar candidate. Very good (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
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