FRIENDS & FAMILY FALL 2024 ALLOCATION
Hello Friends and Family!
Happy holidays from the Hazelfern fam! We hope that you had an amazing Summer and are as excited for the Holiday season as we are.
Here at the winery, the Fall rains have set in (yay?) and we’re excited to share that harvest and crush 2024 is almost finished! We had a cooler summer here in the Willamette Valley - a season of slow and steady ripening, ideal temperatures, and perfect harvest conditions. The 2024 wines are going to be incredible… a truly epic vintage (read Bryan’s thoughts in this article).
We’ll have all the new wines in barrels by the end of next week, and we’re excited to cozy up for the holidays and share some amazing food and wine with our friends and family! In a year of such political divide, we’re comforted in knowing that wine is a love language that brings friends and family together – we are looking forward to more togetherness this holiday season.
Enough about this year – let’s talk about the amazing new wines we’re sharing with you this Fall from the 2022 vintage!
Follow along on Instagram for regular updates from the farm!
Fall Friends & Family Wine Allocation:
First up is our second bottling of Pinot Noir from Three Cedars Vineyard on the Laurelwood District side of the Chehalem Mountains. Three Cedars is a small, family-owned, 5-acre vineyard that grows such beautiful Pinot Noir. The wind-blown soils lend to elegant wines with spicy red raspberry and rose petal tones, and Three Cedars is quickly becoming one of our favorite kids in the cellar.
We’re also excited to share our first-ever bottling of Pinot Noir from La Belle Promenade Vineyard here in the Chehalem Mountains. In 2021, we had a chance to work with fruit from Flanerie Vineyard, and in 2022 we moved up the mountain to Flanerie’s sister vineyard, La Belle Promenade. La Belle is a high elevation vineyard with incredibly rocky soils, and we are in love with the unique fruit profile we’re tasting in this wine.
Last, but certainly not least, is our next rendition of single-vineyard Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley. As much as we love Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, we have fallen in love with terroir driven, single-vineyard Syrah. This Fall we are featuring Syrah from Stoney Vine Vineyard – a very special vineyard planted in the ancient, and very rocky, Walla Walla River bed On the Oregon side of the border. We pick our Syrah on the early side to retain freshness, acidity, and elegance, and the new Stoney Vine Syrah will be a savory addition to your holiday tables.
Your Fall Friends & Family allocation includes six bottles:
(qty. 2) 2022 Pinot Noir, Three Cedars Vineyard, 96 Points (Friends & Family $50/bottle)
(qty. 2) 2022 Pinot Noir, La Belle Promenade Vineyard, 95 Points (Friends & Family $50/bottle)
(qty. 2) 2022 Syrah, Stoney Vine Vineyard (Friends & Family $50/bottle)
In addition to the wines we’ve made for Friends & Family, we’re excited to offer some limited edition wines for your holiday tables including this year's release of Winter Rosé, and our brand new Gamay Noir and Trousseau! Quantities are small, so don’t sit on these beauties as they are extremely limited (only 50 cases of Winter Rosé this year!!)
'Tis the Season for Winter Rosé! Rosé isn't just for Summer you guys, and we've purposefully been making this barrel-aged rosé to pair with heartier winter meals since 2015. This barrel-aged rosé is fresh and fruit forward yet savory, with vibrant acidity and a fuller-bodied texture – perfect for pairing with roasted meats and winter vegetables. Winter Rosé is also perfect for Holiday gifting!
Additional wines available this Fall:
NEW!: 2023 Winter Rosé, Willamette Valley (Friends & Family $22/bottle: Regularly $30/bottle)
NEW!: 2023 Trousseau, Chehalem Mountains (Friends & Family $35/bottle: Regularly $45/bottle
NEW!: 2023 Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley (Friends & Family $35/bottle: Regularly $45/bottle
2021 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley (Friends & Family $30/bottle: Regularly $39/bottle) 94 Points
2021 Chardonnay, Prime Cut (Friends & Family $62/bottle: Regularly $75/bottle) 97 Points
2022 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley (Friends & Family $30/bottle: Regularly $39/bottle) 93 Points
2021 Pinot Noir, Prime Cut (Friends & Family $72/bottle: Regularly $85/bottle) 98 Points
UPDATE YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS, CREDIT CARD, AND/OR ORDER ADDITIONAL WINES HERE
Fresh News:
NEW HAZELFERN ACCOLADES:
Jeb Dunnuck 2022 Willamette Valley Round-Up
"The new releases from the Willamette Valley offer many wines that are not to be missed and are age-worthy additions to cellars."
97 Points: 2022 Prime Cut Pinot Noir
95 Points: 2022 Sea Ghost Pinot Noir
95 Points: 2021 La Belle Promenade Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 Points: 2021 Little Hells Chardonnay
93 Points: 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
93 Points: 2022 Trousseau
JamesSuckling.com Oregon Tasting:
"Look for outstanding 2021 chardonnays from the likes of Soter, Ponzi, Domaine Serene, Hazelfern and Antica Terra"
95 Points: 2021 Prime Cut Chardonnay
95 Points: 2021 Rock Block Chardonnay
95 Points: 2021 Three Cedars Vineyard Pinot Noir
International Wine Report (by subscription):
96 Points: 2022 Three Cedars Vineyard Pinot Noir
96 Points: 2022 Prime Cut Pinot Noir
95 Points: 2022 La Belle Promenade Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 Points: 2022 Sea Ghost Pinot Noir
93 Points: 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
We’re extremely grateful for all your continued support and enthusiasm for Hazelfern – our family is so thankful for the opportunity to share our wines with you. Hope to see you back in the barn soon!
Thanks!
-Laura, Bryan, Adalyn, Ava, Gus & Sadie
Fall 2024 Wines and Bryan's Tasting Notes:
About the 2022 Vintage in the Willamette Valley:
2022 will go down as a miracle vintage highlighted by a late frost in mid-April that damaged the primary buds on the vines and delayed the start to the growing season.
The 2022 vintage was set-up with a mild winter and warm and dry March, prompting an early bud break and setting up the risk for frost. On April 14th, the Willamette Valley was hit with a rare late frost which damaged the buds and reset the season. Thankfully, grape vines have secondary buds to mitigate risk, and these new buds emerged 3-4 weeks later kicking off a late start to our growing season.
The weather stayed cool and wet through the end of May, and then a warm and dry Willamette Valley summer ensued. With the late frost reset, harvest was pushed into late September and October. We had a very warm October here in Oregon with temps reaching into the 90’s. This late dry and warm weather ensured that all grapes achieved peak ripeness before the Fall rains arrived in November.
The results?
Chardonnay: Unfortunately, we lost most of our Chardonnay fruit to the frost. Chardonnay buds emerge earlier in the season than Pinot Noir, so the Chardy plants were more impacted by the frost. The vines survived the season, but the fruit yields were extremely low, and there is not a lot to go around.
Pinot Noir: The 2022 Pinot Noirs have incredible intensity and depth while remaining light on their feet (they are sexy!). The wines show velvety texture with enough balanced grip to help them age, and these wines are sure to be crowd favorites.
About the 2022 Vintage in the Walla Walla Valley:
A cool, wet start to the growing season contributed to a delayed harvest, but similar to the Willamette Valley, a warmer than average late Summer and Fall ripened the fruit and resulted in high quality wines.
After a cold, wet winter, buds started to break at the beginning of April, somewhat early but not unprecedented. An unseasonable snow storm hit the region between April 11th and 13th, and temperatures dipped into the mid-20s. The cold weather damaged some primary buds and set the season behind schedule.
Cool temperatures remained throughout June, and bloom occurred 2-3 weeks later than normal. But, like we saw in the Willamette Valley, bloom moved quickly, and warm, dry weather finally arrived in July and August.
With the later start to the season, we started picking our Syrah grapes in early October – the first Walla Walla vintage we have picked Syrah in October.
(qty. 2) 2022 Pinot Noir, Three Cedars Vineyard, Laurelwood District, Willamette Valley
*$60 / $50 (Friends & Family)
I'm so excited to share our second bottling of Pinot Noir from Three Cedars Vineyard!
I've wanted to make a Pinot Noir from the Laurelwood District AVA for several years and finally got the chance after meeting Keith and Jane Johnson, owners of Three Cedars Vineyard, in 2021.
The Laurelwood District is famous for producing textured and elegant Pinot Noirs with beautiful floral aromatics (specifically red rose petal). The Laurelwood District is nested on the North side of the Chehelam Mountains AVA, and the soils are a unique wind-blown Loess (called Laurelwood). Geology Nerd Alert: It is believed that the floral aromas are caused by small iron BB's called pisolites that are unique to the Laurelwood soils.
Three Cedars Vineyard sits on a north facing slope in the hills West of the town of Sherwood, OR. The vineyard is farmed using organic practices by our vineyard manager, Jessica Cortell, and is planted to three clones of Pinot Noir: Pommard, Dijon 115, and Dijon 667, and we lease all the blocks of Pinot Noir.
I have fallen in love with the elegance and velvety texture I'm seeing from this vineyard, and am so excited to work with the fruit long term. I hope you enjoy our newest kid as much as we have been!
Tasting Notes:
Elegant, charming, and dreamy. Fresh pomegranate, wild raspberries, bergamot, rose petals, and rhubarb are accented by allspice, cocoa dust, and a stony minerality. Mouthwatering acidity with fine tannins that linger in the background and bring you back for more.
Acclaim: 96 Points (International Wine Report)
Delicious with: gruyère cheese, olives, filet mignon
100% Pinot Noir
13.2% alcohol
Geek out:
Aged 15 months in 100% French Oak (25% new oak)
Featured clones: Pommard and Dijon clones 115 and 667
6-day cold soak
14-day fermentation
0% whole cluster fermentation
pH: 3.75
Unfined and Unfiltered
Vineyard Facts:
Three Cedars Vineyard:
Clones: Pommard and Dijon clones 115 and 667 planted in 2013
Dry farmed using organic farming principles
Laurelwood District AVA in the Chehalem Mountains
Soil: Laurelwood (wind-blown Loess)
Elevation: 540-595 ft
(qty. 2) 2022 Pinot Noir, La Belle Promenade Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley
*$60 / $50 (Friends & Family)
I'm so excited to welcome a brand new vineyard to the Hazelfern family this Spring - please help me in welcoming La Belle Promenade Vineyard!
In 2021, we had a chance to work with fruit from Flanerie Vineyard, and in 2022 we moved up the Chehalem Mountains to Flanerie’s sister vineyard, La Belle Promenade. La Belle is a high elevation vineyard off Kings Grade Road at 820 feet with incredibly rocky and volcanic soils. The volcanic material lends to bright fruit notes while the rocks add a depth of iron minerality and stoniness.
The resulting wine is very interesting and unique – I could smell it all day long. It has tart red fruits but also darker blue fruits. The saline and iron quality adds so much cool complexity to the wine. She’s a beauty, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
Tasting Notes:
Unique, exotic, and luxurious. Italian blue plums, red cherries, crushed roses, and wet gravel are accented by aromas of iron, blood orange zest, white truffle shavings, and cinnamon. On the palate, this wine has bright acidity and fine tannins with a long and delicious finish.
Acclaim: 95 Points (Jeb Dunnuck and International Wine Report)
Delicious with: salty cheeses, olives, pork chops
100% Pinot Noir
13.0% alcohol
Geek out:
Aged 14 months in 100% French Oak (22% new oak)
Featured clones: Pommard, Wädenswil, and 4407
5-day cold soak
14-day fermentation
15% whole cluster
pH: 3.68
Unfined and Unfiltered
Vineyard Facts:
La Belle Promenade Vineyard:
Clones: Pommard, Wädenswil, and 4407 planted in 2012
Organic farming practices
Chehalem Mountains AVA
Soil: Jory and Nekia (volcanic)
Elevation: 820 ft
(qty. 2) 2022 Syrah, Stoney Vine Vineyard, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla Valley
*$60 / $50 (Friends & Family)
I've really loved making Syrah from Les Collines Vineyard since 2017, and starting in 2020, I wanted to add a second complimentary Syrah from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. I've really enjoyed the unique savory and stoney characteristics from other winemakers' wines from "The Rocks," and in 2020 I wanted to take a crack at making one myself.
The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is a very small AVA that is nested within the Walla Valley AVA, but resides on the Oregon side of the border. The vines are literally planted on the dried up cobblestone bed of the Walla Walla River. The vines have to work very hard here, and the resulting wines are incredibly unique - they have a velvety texture with more savory tones like olives and stones. It's so much fun to compare this wine side by side with the Les Collines Syrah as they are so different - Syrah is very terroir driven, just like Pinot Noir is!
With this wine, I fermented the grapes with 66% whole clusters to push the texture, spice, and savory tones, and I aged the wine in neutral French Oak barrels (0% new oak), as I believe that new oak tends to mask the unique terroir of Rocks Syrah.
I really love this wine – it’s low in alcohol and light on its feet, yet complex, elegant, and velvety with the layered and savory aromatics… its very pretty. I really hope you enjoy it!
Tasting Notes:
Savory and unique! Aromas of black plum, blueberry, stones, olive tapenade, and mandarin orange rind, are accented by scents of coriander, white pepper, and sea salt. On the palate, this wine is velvety soft with a nice balance of acidity and tannins that carry a gratifying finish.
Delicious with: English cheddar, olives, pork
100% Syrah
12.8% alcohol
Geek out:
Aged 24 months in 100% French Oak (0% new oak)
Featured Clones: Shiraz 07
5-day cold soak
18-day fermentation
66% Whole Cluster fermentation
pH: 3.88
Unfined and unfiltered
Vineyard Facts:
Stoney Vine Vineyard:
The land is formed by the ancient bed of the Walla Walla River
The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA nested on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA
Soil: Freewater Very Cobbly Loam
Syrah planted in 2007
Elevation: 850 feet
