Memorial Day weekend is usually a great time to go out into wine country in Oregon and visit various wineries. They plan special events and are all geared up for the extra traffic. We got some invitations and decided we'd stay on the north side of the valley. We planned to hit Beaux Freres, Bergstrom, Adelsheim and Brick House. Unfortunately, we decided to swap Brick House for Trisaetum because the folks at Bergstrom talked us into it. It was close, and they said that Bergstrom was consulting there (and his wines are very good). Anyway, here's a map of where we went:



We started at Adelsheim; we came from the northeast -- down 219, and across North Valley Road (once you finish "mini hell's canyon" -- as one of Adelsheim's employees described it -- over Mt Chehalem).



We had two kids in tow, and luckily arrived just as they opened at 11am.



Adelsheim had a nice variety of wines to taste:

• 2007 Willamette Valley, Pinot Gris ($19)
• 2007 Willamette Valley, Auxerrios ($22)
• 2008 Rosé, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir ($19)
• 2007 Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir ($32)
• 2007 Bolder Bluff, Pinot Noir ($58)
• 2007 Deglace (ice wine), Pinot Noir ($35)

Most notable for me in terms of the wine were the Rosé (100% Pinot Noir), and the Auxerrios. The guy pouring the wine mentioned that Auxerrios was a blending grape (white), and that they'd been experimenting with it. It was very crisp and citrusy. I liked it (though perhaps $22 was a bit on the steep side). We brought some of the Rosé (which we'll review shortly).

The underground cellar (actually below the parking lot) was impressive. They had a great cheeses -- a hard and a soft -- fresh bread, and salami.



The bummer about Adelsheim was that it obviously set up for the masses. Everything was positioned to move people through the place -- almost like a maze (cheese and all). We went early, so we weren't rushed or anything like that; but still, it had the feel that we were cattle just with the set-up. And the worst part was the price: $25 per person to taste. Ouch. I've never seen it that steep before. Sure, there were 6 wines, but still.

However, this is not to impugn the wine; we actually bought a number of bottles while we were there. We just didn't care for the tasting set-up.



Next up was Bergstrom.Very different from Adelsheim: it's just a big warehouse with tasting stations. The kids ran wild, and that was great (bothering no one).



Bergstrom bested Adelsheim with 7 wines to taste (though 2 were futures):

• 2007 Dr. Bergstrom Riesling ($28)
• 2008 Gewurztraminer, Hyland Vineyard ($28)
• 2007 Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir ($45)
• 2007 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir ($65)
• 2007 Bergstrom Vineyard Pinot Noir ($75)
• 2008 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir (Futures; $35)
• 2008 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Futures; $35)

Bergstrom was only $15 (most typical fee these days). And they had many kinds of breads, cheese, and salmon! Yummy. It sounds unimportant, but when you're drinking wine on a hot day, you gotta eat something!



I took a picture of their Gewurztraminer thinking I would take notes on it. But alas, the kids made it a little too hectic. It was nice, but not nice enough to buy. I'll have to leave it at that.



Ahh, Beaux Freres. It was third on our route -- and it probably ought to have been the last stop. It's just very hard to follow their wonderful wines. Yeah, they're not cheap, but then, they are really memorable wines (I had the memory of their taste on my mouth for the entire evening).



Beaux Freres' sign (above) is almost completely inconspicuous -- sort of like a cool manhattan nightclub: it's non-descript in a way that makes you think it's meant to remain unknown to the masses. They have a simple warehouse-like building, and there's no "tasting room" in any typical sense. It's simply where they make the wine.



Beaux Freres wines included:

• 2007 Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($50)
  
• 2007 Beaux Freres Vineyard (Ribbon Ridge) Pinot Noir ($80)
  
• 2007 Beaux Freres Upper Terrace Pinot Noir ($90)
  
• 2008 Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($45)
  
• 2008 Beaux Freres Vineyard (Ribbon Ridge) Pinot Noir ($65)
  
• 2008 Beaux Freres Upper Terrace Pinot Noir ($75)
  

and if you asked (and we did) hidden on the side was:

• 2006 Beaux Freres Upper Terrace Grenache ($75)
  

All of these were just stunning. I don't like Grenache by itself -- or at least very, very rarely -- but their Upper Terrace Grenache is just incredible. Talking with one of the wine makers, apparently they made a 2003, and a 2006. But they just haven't gotten the quality to where they want it to offer any other releases. I picked up one of the last 6 bottles of the stuff (or so they say).

The Pinots were haunting and delicious. Lots of cedar, fruit, and silky smooth. The Willamette Valley and Upper Terrace (but not the Ribbon Ridge) 2008 futures had a noticeable yeast smell to them. Yep: young. And yes: I bought some futures of the much discussed 2008 vintage (it's supposed to be a blockbuster).



Last up was Trisaetum. Again, we had originally planned on Brick House. But we were talked into this instead.



Unlike Bergstrom or Beaux Freres, this was more like Adelsheim: it was build for visitors. And they also sported the tasting maze.



Trisaetum wines:

• 2007 Trisaetum Riesling ($28)
• 2008 Trisaetum Riesling ($28)
• 2007 Trisae Pinot Noir ($36)
• 2008 Pinot Noir (Futures; $85)
• 2007 Trisaetum Pinot Noir ($85)
• 2008 Lassa Late Harvest Riesling ($40)

I hate to say anything bad, but this was a little disappointing. First, it's hard to follow Beaux Frerés -- whoever you might be. But this was a new winery. And their wines, while interesting and well done in many respects -- seemed over priced. It's hard not to compare them to Beaux Freres; Beaux Freres was actually cheaper (relative to each other) and much better (in my humble opinion).

You'd never see stuff like this at Beaux Freres:



Yes, apparently their 2006 Pinot Noir ($75) received a 93 rating from Wine Spectator.


Suffice it to say, we had a great time. Words to the wise: plan your trip and pick wineries that are fairly close, or along a single route. Unless you like the chaos, visit 3 or 4 wineries -- max. And if you can, go early and avoid all the crowds. Though, some of our friends actually enjoy the crowds -- the excitement and the conversation (people are usually buzzing). But me, and with my kid -- sparse is preferred to crowded.



Happy tasting!