HAPPY HOUR WINE TASTING FEATURING DIFFERENT TERROIRS OF CHARDONNAY FROM CALIFORNIA AND OREGON WITH WAYFARER VINEYARDS, BETHEL HEIGHTS WINERY AND FOXEN WINERY Thursday, August 25, 2022 6:00 PM
"Now wines are wonders; great wines are magical; and winemakers are mad. Like horse fanciers, they are always trying to improve the breed." - William E. Massee
We are constantly trying to improve what we do here at the Wine Bar, and we have some great new menu items for the private dining on the cave on Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights. This week we have all three nights available in the wine cave. Contact Toni@winewatch.com to check out this week’s menu options for a private dining experience at Wine Watch.
We will take up to 15 people but will accept as few as 6 for a curated dinner by Chef Toni. We must know in advance what food items you want so you will have to coordinate the menu with Toni ahead of time but she can put together any of your favorites from past Wine Bar menus or whatever you want if she has enough notice. The best thing about this table is the view of the wine, we have the largest selection of vintage wine in South Florida and everything is available at a retail price!! You may want to bring a sweater it is 64 degrees in the wine cave.
Wine Tastings this week:
Thursday, August 11, 2022 - 6:00 PM
HAPPY HOUR WINE TASTING EXTREME TERROIR TOUR FEATURING WINES FROM SOMMELIER SELECTIONS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SEBASTIAN VERRIER AND JUAN ERNESTO HERNANDEZ. Jouin us as we welcome two of the brightest mind in the wine industry in South Florida to the wine bar to show a few dozen of their hand picked selections from SommSelect. Check out the line-up at: Happy Hour Wine Tasting Extreme Terroir Tour featuring wines from Sommelier Selections with Special Guests Sebastian Verrier and Juan Ernesto Hernandez - Wine Watch
Friday, August 12, 2022 - 7:30 PM
VINTAGE AUSTRALIAN WINE TASTING FEATURING 2001 AND 2002 VINTAGES. This tasting will showcase just how well the top wines of Australia age. These two great back to back vintages are drinking at their peak and the price of this event is less than a bottle of the Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road Barossa, just one of the great wines on the table tonight and did I mention all our events come with dinner? Check out the line-up at: Vintage Australian Wine Tasting featuring 2001 and 2002 Vintages - Wine Watch
Saturday, August 13, 2022 - 7:30 PM
VINTAGE LOUIS JADOT GRAND CRU RED BURGUNDY WINETASTING. Everything on the table tonight is over 10 years old and almost everything is Grand Cru!! Almost all the wines on the table are more than the price of admission tonight, check out the line-up and menu at: VINTAGE LOUIS JADOT RED BURGUNDY WINETASTING - Wine Watch
Our summer Happy Hours continue Thursday nights with three great producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for our “Terroir Tour” with good friend Florent Blanchet from XXI Wines and Spirits in two weeks on Thursday, August 25th. In addition to the nine wines that we have below we will also be serving a few older vintages from each of these wineries that we have in our stash. I have included all the wines from these wineries that are available in addition to the wines we are showing on this offering.
The fee for this tasting is $95 + tax and we only have 25 spaces available for this event. For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.
HAPPY HOUR WINE TASTING FEATURING DIFFERENT TERROIRS OF CHARDONNAY FROM CALIFORNIA AND OREGON WITH WAYFARER VINEYARDS, BETHEL HEIGHTS WINERY AND FOXEN WINERY
Thursday, August 25, 2022 - 6:00 PM
2020 WAYFARER ROSE WF2 FORT ROSS SEAVIEW
Price: $30.00 Sale $26.40
A medley of watermelon, white peach and orange zest aromas unfold in the glass, along with notes of kumquat and Asian pear. Tangerine and lemon come together for an intensely juicy entry, while a touch of richness satiates the palate.
2019 WAYFARER CHARDONNAY WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW SONOMA
Price: $97.50 Your Price: $85.80
A beautiful bouquet with that briny mineral quality with notes of lightly toasted oak spice lemon curd and white flowers with a big creamy texture on the tongue a long layered finish echoing the nuance from the nose lengthening the finish, lots of minerality and chalky mineral notes. Finish 45+ Most Excellent +
2020 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WF2 FORT ROSS SEA VIEW
List Price: $51.00 Sale $44.88
The 2020 vintage opens with aromas of vibrant dark fruit, blueberry and blackberry compote, subtle forest floor and savory earth. Delicious pomegranate enters the palate, at once refreshing, dense and powerful. Rich notes of dark chocolate round out the finish. Enjoy as the wine continues to open in the glass.
2018 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW SONOMA
Price: $100.50 Your Price: $88.44
(98+ Points) "The 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard has a medium ruby color and slowly opening perfume of garrigue, dried orange peel, prosciutto and rose petals with mineral-laced cranberry and red and black berry fruits. The medium-bodied palate, grainy and incredibly fresh, slowly gains in flavor amplitude and nuance in the mouth, ending in a fanfare of spicy detail." Wine Advocate
2016 BETHEL HEIGHTS CHARDONNAY CASTEEL WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Price: $78.00 Your Price: $68.64
(95 Points) The 2016 Chardonnay Casteel opens with intense mineral notions on the nose, aromas of pulverized stone and petrichor over lemon meringue, Red Delicious apples, hazelnuts, honey toast and clotted cream. Medium-bodied with a light creamy texture, it has beautiful white flowers in the mouth with honey nut and apple pie nuances and a streak of crushed rock running with the very bright acidity, finishing very, very long and honeyed. WINE ADVOCATE
2019 BETHEL HEIGHTS JUSTICE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR EOLA AMITY HILLS
Price: $60.00 Your Price: $52.80 Quantity in Stock: 24
(96 points) Outer quote mark The 2019 Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard comes from mostly Dijon clone vines planted in 1999. It has lovely scents of blood orange, blueberries, tea leaves and cinnamon. The palate offers finely detailed flavors and an abundance of silty tannins, finishing with fantastic length and layers. (EB) Inner quote mark (12/2021) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2018 FOXEN VINEYARD & WINERY CHARDONNAY BLOCK UU BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $37.50 Your Price: $33.00
(93 Points) The 2018 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Block UU sports a light gold color as well as a pure, crystalline bouquet of honeyed apple, pineapple, citrus blossom, spice, and white flower. It has a kiss of background oak, but it's beautifully integrated, and the fruit is front and center. With good acidity, a balanced, layered texture, and a great finish, it’s already drinking nicely yet should keep for 7-8 years, if you're so inclined. Jeb Dunnuck
2017 FOXEN PINOT NOIR BLOCK 8 BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $75.00 Your Price: $66.00
(94 Points) The 2017 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8 saw the same upbringing but comes from a larger block. Its slightly lighter ruby/plum color gives way to a more savory, medium to full-bodied effort that offers classic notes of dried cherries, forest floor, and earthy, loamy soil notes. It too is beautifully balanced and layered, and it a terrific wine. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. Jeb Dunnuck
2019 FOXEN PINOT NOIR JULIA'S VINEYARD SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $75.00 Your Price: $66.00
(95 Points) The 2019 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is more elegant and finesse-driven, with a beautiful perfume of framboise, wild strawberries, violets, and sappy flowers. All about red fruits and flowers, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a seamless, flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, good acidity, and just a hint of classic Santa Maria salinity on the finish. Aged 16 months in 21% new French oak, this brilliant Pinot Noir is up with the crème de la crème in the vintage. Jeb Dunnuck
Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
King Salmon Sliders with Lemon Dill Lavender Aioli
Wild Mushroom Flatbread with Savory Herbs and Smoked Tomato
Duck Confit Tacos with Cherry BBQ and fresh Mint
The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewtach.com.
A bit about the Three Wineries that we are featuring tonight:
They have been on a constant path of improvement at Wayfarer Winery and when Jayson Pahlmeyer started out in 1986, he had no winery and no vineyards but was determined to make one of California’s best wines and one that would stand up to the best of those made in Burgundy France and the rest of the world.
I was happy to accept the Pahlmeyer family’s invitation to visit the Wayfarer Vineyard in August of 2013 and it worked out perfectly for me as I was already out on the west coast for the Washington State Wine Auction. It was great to visit the Fort Ross Seaview appellation with one of the state’s best ocean side resorts Tamber Cove. This place was a throwback in time, one of the most unique establishments that I have ever visited and the only place to have a group stay that is coming out to visit the vineyards here on the true Sonoma Coast.
The story of the Wayfarer Vineyards begins with Helen Turley as winemaker for Pahlmeyer in the early day she found this property for Jayson. It was an organic farm one of the most northern vineyard m the Fort Ross Ava. They are in a warm spot in a cold area. David Abreu planted the vineyard in 2002 and they are two ridge lines in from the ocean so to say the least extreme growing conditions. In 2011 the Fort Ross AVA was approved all of which is above 900 foot elevation and is right on the ocean.
The vineyard here is planted with a very tight density 6 x 3 as opposed to 8 x 10. More concentrated fruit is the result. It is 30 acres broken down to 30 blocks of 1 acre each. They are on 3 main ridges they used three different root stocks because of the different flavor profiles because of the temperatures in the vineyards. They have several different clones on the property and these are the first releases from this exciting new label from this extreme growing region.
2018 WAYFARER THE TRAVELER PINOT NOIR FORT ROSS SEAVIEW
Price: $157.50 Your Price: $138.60 Quantity in Stock: 2
(97 Points) All destemmed and brought up 83% new French oak, the tiny production 2018 Pinot Noir The Traveler is a gem of a wine that ranks with the top tier releases in the vintage. Made by Todd Kohn and all from the estate Wayfarer Vineyard, it offers a beautiful bouquet of ripe strawberries, framboise, white flowers, toasted spice, and pine/forest floor-like nuances. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with stunning tannins, a seamless texture, and flawless balance. It has a big core of sweet fruit (I'd guess Russian River blind) yet is just pure class, with nothing out of place and a great, great finish. It needs an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon, and it's going to evolve for a solid decade. Jeb Dunnuck
2014 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW SONOMA MAGNUM
Price: $234.00 Your Price: $198.90 Quantity in Stock: 3
(93 points) Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard has a gregarious nose of ripe Bing cherries, cranberry sauce and rhubarb pie with hints of mossy bark, lavender and cumin seed. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful restraint and a quiet intensity, with chewy tannins and seamless freshness framing the savory flavors, finishing on an appealing dried herb note. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2013 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR GOLDEN MEAN FORT ROSS-SEAVIEW SONOMA
Price: $125.25 Your Price: $110.22 Quantity in Stock: 1
WINERY NOTES: Tasting Notes Golden Mean is a union of contrasts: the earthy aromatics and powerful structure of the Pommard clone married with the elegance and alluring perfume of the Swan clone. This wine is an aromatic journey, beginning with floral notes of magnolia and lavender, leading to vibrant fruit tones of cranberry and mandarin, finishing with warm garden scents of marjoram and fresh anise. The velvet mouthfeel glides through a mid-palate rich with raspberries, rose hips and hints of black pepper and cedar. Ready to savor upon release, this wine will age beautifully for another 10-15 years.
Winemaking Notes We hand-picked and hand-sorted the fruit, reserving 35% for whole-cluster fermentation. The remaining berries were then de-stemmed and hand-sorted again before transfer to tank. Five to seven days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The fruit was then gently pressed, its free-run juice transferred to 54% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging.
Vintage Notes The 2013 growing season was initially noted for its 40%-below-average rainfall amidst California’s escalating drought. However, the vintage will ultimately be remembered for its intense, concentrated flavors and exceptional quality across every vineyard block. Mild spring temperatures beckoned bud break as normal beginning March 25th with the Swan Clone on the west-facing slope of Block 20. While a touch of gentle spring rain accelerated canopy growth, strategic shoot positioning and leaf removal afforded ideal air circulation and sun exposure for the beautifully formed clusters. Veraison began on July 26th and harvest began September 4th with Block 20 and finished with Block 22 on September 17th.
2013 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR MOTHER ROCK FORT ROSS-SEAVIEW SONOMA
Price: $125.25 Your Price: $110.22 Quantity in Stock: 3
WINERY NOTES: Tasting Notes A cuvée of clones 37 and Dijon 777, this wine is named for Wayfarer’s sandstone substrate that urges our vines to burrow deeply, their fruit echoing the unlocked terrain below. Dense ruby in color, the 2013 vintage is as delicate and spirited as it is focused and powerful. The nose bounds with sexy ripe strawberry and fresh raspberry aromas followed by savory hints of raw leather, walnut burl and flint. Most stunning is the luxurious mouthfeel, plush with soft tannins and buoyant with laser-focused acidity. Flavors of blackberry cordial and fresh red cherry cascade into a long finish lifted by expansive notes of lavender oil and lightly toasted oak. Ready to enjoy upon shipment, it will age beautifully for another 7–10 years.
Winemaking Notes We hand-picked and hand-sorted the fruit, reserving 18% for whole-cluster fermentation. The remaining berries were then de-stemmed and hand-sorted again before transfer to tank. Five to seven days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The fruit was then gently pressed, its free-run juice transferred to 50% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging. Vintage Notes The 2013 growing season was initially noted for its 40%-below-average rainfall amidst California’s escalating drought. However, the vintage will ultimately be remembered for its intense, concentrated flavors and exceptional quality across each vineyard block. Mild spring temperatures beckoned bud break as normal beginning on March 24th in Block 3 and Block 11. While a touch of gentle spring rain accelerated canopy growth, strategic shoot positioning and leaf removal afforded ideal air circulation and sun exposure for the beautifully formed clusters. Veraison began on July 28th, and we harvested Block 3 on September 10th and Block 11 on September 13th.
2018 WAYFARER THE TRAVELER PINOT NOIR FORT ROSS SEAVIEW
Price: $157.50 Your Price: $138.60 Quantity in Stock: 2
This is made from a single suitcase clone and this wine had a beautiful bouquet of exotic spices violet and rose floral notes an array of raspberry coulis cranberry wild strawberry very complex array of aromas. Wow this wine has a wonderful elegance to it an array of exotic spices and a velvety texture that is framed with a firm hand of acidity. This wine is incredibly rich but has wonderful balance a very long finish. Finish 50%. Killer
A bit more about the Pahlmeyer family and the Wayfarer Vineyard:
In 1972, while finishing law school, Jayson Pahlmeyer was at the starting gate of his grapes-to-wine quest. He and John Caldwell, a good friend and fellow wine explorer, had developed a penchant and a deep admiration for the Bordeaux style of grape growing and winemaking. Their shared wine palate and nose led them on investigative trips to the famous French vineyards where they acquired cuttings from the five classic Bordeaux varietals. Back in California with their Bordeaux cuttings, they began their grand experiment.
The Caldwell family owned a 55-acre parcel off the beaten path in the Coombsville area. Despite being out of the accepted loop for what was considered "Wine Country," Jayson and John decided to perform the trans-Atlantic transplanting here that would produce Jayson's dream "California Mouton." The area's wine experts grimaced at their plan. Even at a mere 500-foot elevation, a good portion of the acreage was vertical, presenting massive rock-clearing problems due to the extreme pitch of the land. The boulder-like size and density of the rock pieces were formidable obstacles. Also, there were stout 300-year-old oak trees blocking important sunlight. But Pahlmeyer and Caldwell would not let pessimism rule.
In stepped Jack Caldwell, John's father, helping them refurbish a junked mining rig salvaged from Montana. With additional shovel-help from a crew of eight men, they planted around the long-standing oaks and lava rocks, sacrificing a considerable amount of usable acreage to preserve the natural environment.
Jayson now recounts, "It took us six years to get our first commercial harvest. In 1981, '82 and '83 if you had come out to the vineyard, you would have said it looks like these guys really screwed up. The vines just sat there doing nothing." The immigrant vines were unaccustomed to the soil and the standard three year maturation period extended to six long years. But Jayson and John's patience-some called it delusion-paid off.
A vineyard neighbor, friend, and guru of Napa Valley winemaking, Randy Dunn, was so impressed with the fruit's intensity and complexity that he offered to purchase every bit of the 1986 crop.
Randy's entry into the Pahlmeyer saga was extremely timely because now that the vines were finally ready, Jayson would need the expertise of a bonafide winemaker to bring the experiment to the ultimate test: the tasting.
Helen Turley was offered the reins as winemaker when Randy moved on to concentrate on personal projects. At Pahlmeyer, Helen immediately began her steady rise to world-renown prominence for the vineyard and winemaking magic she performed. A pioneer in the industry, she constantly pushed the envelope in winegrowing and winemaking with cutting-edge and risky techniques. She also became instrumental in opening doors to women in the wine industry, an insular world known for its fierce attachment to tradition.
Helen continually sought out better fruit sources for Pahlmeyer. As the new millennium emerged Pahlmeyer sourced fruit from low-yield sites in Spring Mountain, Wooden Valley, Atlas Peak and Coombsville. In order to push their quality to new levels Jayson knew that he would have to have complete control over what was happening in the vineyards. The only way to do this was to plant estate vineyards, leading to the development of Pahlmeyer's Waters Ranch and Wayfarer Farm.
The Waters were pioneers in Napa Valley, establishing their Ranch in the early 20th Century. Their original home built in 1908 is still standing. Childless, in the 1950's they turned their spread into a camp for Girl Scouts. In 1996, the Waters' ranch came to Jayson's attention. At 1,500 to 2,100 feet above sea level, the property was ideally situated for raising Bordeaux-style grapes. Today, the vineyard supports just over 70 acres of vines planted over the saddleback of the mountain by the vineyard developer extraordinaire David Abreu. Each block of the vineyard is unique, offering the different growing conditions needed for Chardonnay and each of the five Bordeaux varietals that go into the Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec. Jayson, as before, set out to plant this vineyard with land preservation and conservation in mind, donating 57 acres of the property to the Land Trust of Napa Valley. The Pahlmeyer brand was sold to Gallo in 2019 but they still Waters Ranch in Napa Valley.
The story of the Pahlmeyer’s Sonoma Coast property, Wayfarer Farm, begins with David and Dorothy Davis, an archetypical 1970's California couple. They supported their chosen simplistic lifestyle by selling the Farm's small fruit and vegetable crops to local upscale restaurants like Chez Panisse and Zuni. By the late 1990's they were ready to retire to Oklahoma. Helen Turley and her husband John had already established their nearby Marcassin Vineyard, which has become the iconic vineyard of the region. As consultants to Pahlmeyer at that time, they introduced Jayson to the Davis's. Pahlmeyer purchased Wayfarer Farm in 1997 and enlisted David Abreu to develop the property.
The bulk of Abreu's previous work in vineyard design had been exclusive to the Napa Valley. Wayfarer Farm was the first vineyard he developed on the Sonoma Coast. His meticulous eye and penchant for perfectionism produced another state-of-the-art vineyard for Pahlmeyer.
Wayfarer Farm would be the proving ground for one of the first "true" Sonoma Coast wines. The locale boasts an extremely rare combination of climate and geography. The Pacific Ocean's cold water currents mix with the land's warm air to produce a night fog ideal for growing Burgundian varietals. Today, this amazing appellation is the prime viticultural source for Chardonnay and Pinot noir and has been referred to by Jayson as California's Cote d'Or.
With the next generation of Pahlmeyer’s taking over Cleo Pahlmeyer and winemaker Todd Kohn are now focused on one thing- making the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this incredible vineyard site on the true Sonoma Coast
Inheriting her father’s vision and verve, Cleo Pahlmeyer is the new generation of Wayfarer.
Raised in Napa, her education took her east where she received a BA in Art History from the University of Virginia, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Connoisseurship of Fine and Decorative Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London.
Returning to the family winery after working in the international art world, Cleo has worked closely with her father since 2008 to learn every aspect of the family business. Cleo began as a sales assistant, answering the phone and entering orders, and went on to manage direct to consumer sales and marketing, then public relations. In 2017, she was appointed President.
When it came time to realize Wayfarer’s estate label, it was obvious who would bring the energy and expertise needed. "The great wines of the world do not come from a blend of various sites; they hail from individual vineyards, specific vineyard blocks," Cleo says. "Wayfarer is no exception, and it has been the opportunity of a lifetime to bring these wines to life."
A mother of three, the vineyard is now beloved by her children too, not to mention her husband, Jamie Watson, who pours his own passion for wine into Wayfarer. “I must be my father’s daughter,” Cleo explains, “because like him, I have naturally gravitated to Pinot Noir. Wayfarer is a very special place for me personally. It has a soul that can only be felt by breathing in its air, walking on its soil, feeling its warmth."
Wayfarer Winemaker Todd Kohn has deep roots in Northern California. He grew up in the town of Redding, just three hours north of Sonoma. Graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology, Todd always enjoyed science, and had a strong desire to work with his hands. During his first harvest internship—at the California sparkling wine house, Schramsberg—he fell in love with wine, and the dedicated work of harvest.
Additional internships, focused in the vineyard, lab and cellar, helped develop Todd’s thorough knowledge of winegrowing and winemaking. Experience at several premiere Napa Valley wine producers, including Opus One, soon led to an opportunity in Australia, at Moorooduc Estate. Working in the Mornington Peninsula region of Australia gave Todd invaluable insight into growing and crafting world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—great preparation for his role at Wayfarer.
Todd joined Wayfarer in the beginning of 2013 as Assistant to the Winemaker. Over the next 5 years, he worked hand in hand with the Consulting Winemaker to define Wayfarer’s vineyard practices and winemaking techniques, before taking the helm as Winemaker in December of 2017.
A bit about Bethel Heights Winery:
United by their interest in wine, in 1977 Ted Casteel, Pat Dudley, Terry Casteel, and Marilyn Webb abandoned the academic life and, together with Pat’s sister Barbara Dudley, bought 75 promising-looking acres northwest of Salem, with 14 acres of newly planted cuttings in the ground. They moved to the vineyard in 1978 (except Barbara, who was in California working as a lawyer for farmworkers with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board) and started a new life. In 1979 they cleared and planted 36 more acres. In 1981 they harvested their first crop and started home winemaking in Terry’s basement. In 1984 Bethel Heights produced their first commercial vintage of 3000 cases: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Gewurztraminer, all Estate Grown.
For the first thirty years Ted was responsible for managing the vineyards and Terry made the wine. Pat and Marilyn shared responsibilities for marketing and business management. Over thirty years they grew their wine production to 10,000 cases, and made common cause with our fellow pioneers to establish the Willamette Valley as the home of New World Pinot Noir.
Meanwhile, five cousins grew up knowing the tidy rows and wild hidden places of Bethel Heights as their backyard playground, science lab and adventure park. Now they have taken their places as co-owners, co-workers, and stewards of this place.
In 2005 Ben Casteel (son of Terry and Marilyn) took over from his father as Winemaker at Bethel Heights. In 2007 Jon Casteel (second son of Terry and Marilyn) launched Casteel Custom Bottling, a mobile bottling company that serves wineries throughout Oregon, including Bethel Heights of course. Mimi Casteel (daughter of Ted and Pat) worked with the family at Bethel Heights until 2017 when she started farming her own vineyard at Hope Well and launched her Hope Well Wine project. Jessie Casteel grew up among the vines at Bethel Heights, but now lives in Chicago. Jessie brings a creative outlier perspective to the direction of the family business and serves as our ambassador in Chicago and points east.
So where did the name Bethel Heights came from? They found the answer in a small booklet written in 1941 by John E. Smith called Bethel, Polk County, Oregon. According to Smith, “One of the earliest settlers in this vicinity was Rev. Glen O. Burnett who came to Oregon in 1846 and built his house half a mile or so north of the present location of Bethel School. To the heights eastward, he gave the name ‘Bethel Hills’, Bethel being the name of the church in Missouri that he had recently served as pastor.”
The property now known as Bethel Heights Vineyard was originally platted in 1909 and recorded under the name Bethel Heights Walnut Groves. A number of the original walnut trees and their children still flourish around the edges of the vineyard.
Since 1984, both the Estate Pinot Noir and Estate Chardonnay have been the most transparent statement of Bethel Heights terroir that they produce, the sum of all its parts. Old vine storytelling delivered with tension and energy – these wines are the foundation of this producer and a statement to the terroir of their vineyards.
All the Bethel Heights Wines available:
2019 BETHEL HIEGHTS ESTATE CHARDONNAY EOLA AMITY
Price: $30.00 Your Price: $26.40 Quantity in Stock: 10
(95 points) The 2019 Chardonnay Estate has detailed scents of fresh quince, white flowers, roasted almonds and flinty tones, offering up more nuance over time. Medium-bodied, it has a satiny texture and layer after layer of floral fruit on the extended finish, its fresh acidity calling you in for another sip. Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Dec 2021)
2015 BETHEL HEIGHTS ESTATE CHARDONNAY EOLA AMITY
Price: $30.00 Your Price: $26.40 Quantity in Stock: 17
The fruit was whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented in neutral 500L oak puncheons, traditional 228 L barrels, and one 3000L foudre (a big oval shaped oak tank). The new wine was aged on the lees with complete malolactic fermentation, and bottled after eleven months in barrelThe fruit was whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented in neutral 500L oak puncheons, traditional 228 L barrels, and one 3000L foudre (a big oval shaped oak tank). The new wine was aged on the lees with complete malolactic fermentation, and bottled after eleven months in barrel.
2014 BETHEL HEIGHTS CHARDONNAY ESTATE EOLA AMITY
Price: $29.25 Sale Price: $25.74 Quantity in Stock: 2
(92 Points Editors’ Choice) An outstanding value in a top-level Oregon Chardonnay, this beautifully rendered, barrel-fermented wine is a showcase of sharply defined flavors. The tree fruits are highlighted with details of spice and new wood, clearly delineated and well-matched. Wine Enthusiast
2015 BETHEL HEIGHTS CHARDONNAY JUSTICE VINEYARD
Price: $67.50 Your Price: $59.40 Quantity in Stock: 11
The Chardonnay from Justice Vineyard over the years has developed a haunting sea breeze, saline quality both in the aroma and on the palate that distinguishes it from every other Chardonnay in our portfolio. The wine’s freshness, purity, and unique fingerprint are framed by bright acidity and a crystalline structure, perhaps providing a window into the marine sedimentary soils where it’s planted, soils that were once layers of sand on the floor of the ocean millions of years ago.
2015 BETHEL HEIGHTS CHARDONNAY CASTEEL WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Price: $78.00 Sale Price: $68.64 Quantity in Stock: 8
Chardonnay has been the preeminent white wine at Bethel Heights since the first vines were planted here in 1977. Today we have six different blocks of Chardonnay planted on various benches and slopes around our Estate vineyards, each with its own tale to tell.
(94 Points) “From what I consider one of the best Chardonnay vineyards/wineries in Oregon: Bethel Heights … The 2015 Chardonnay Casteel has a seductively savory and rich nose of brioche, cashews and beeswax over a core of honeyed apricots, cedar and ginger. Medium-bodied and with a gorgeous creaminess to the texture, it fills the mouth with stone fruit and spice flavors, finishing with great length and depth.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown THE WINE ADVOCATE
2014 BETHEL HEIGHTS CHARDONNAY CASTEEL WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Price: $55.00 Your Price: $48.40 Quantity in Stock: 2
2014 BETHEL HEIGHTS CHARDONNAY CASTEEL WILLAMETTE VALLEY MAGNUM
Price: $125.00 Your Price: $110.00 Quantity in Stock: 10
(92 Points) The 2014 Chardonnay Casteel Reserve had just been bottled. It has a perfumed nose of white flowers and melted candle wax, very well defined with lime and frangipane aromas developing. The palate is well balanced with a crisp, citrus lemon and lime-driven opening. This feels spicier than the Justice Vineyard Chardonnay, gaining depth towards the finish that has a bit of fire in its belly. This is a very well-crafted Chardonnay that should age with style. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2021 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR ESTATE EOLA AMITY HILLS
Price: $35.25 Your Price: $31.02
This wine blends fruit from all the different sections of our estate vineyard. It truly encompasses the entire breadth of expression at Bethel Heights from the youthful exuberance of our youngest vines planted in 2002. A good amount of black raspberry and dark cherry fruit pretty floral notes and some exotic spices here on the nose a bit of a sauvage like character. A big and fruity wine with a firm hand of acidity silky smooth tannins and a nice balance of spice, earth and fruit. Finish 45+ Excellent +
2021 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR AEOLIAN EOLA AMITY HILLS
Price: $52.50 Sale $46.20
Named for the wind that defines our EolaAmity Hills AVA, the Æolian Pinot Noir is our vehicle to explore the dynamic evolving landscape that we farm. The sense of place and specificity that we value most highly in our wines takes many years to evolve. With our oldest vines we allow each block to speak for itself in a separate bottling. The secondgeneration vines at Bethel Heights, on the other hand, are just beginning to find their voice. In these years in between, the Æolian allows us the freedom to dream of what lies beyond the horizon.
Throughout the Willamette Valley, 2021 was generous in terms of yields, ripeness, and quality and health of the fruit. Overall, the growing season was earlier than average. Harvest started on September 14 and finished on October 12. There were a couple of extreme heat events early in the summer that were devastating to some crops in the Valley, but in the vineyards the timing was just right to scour the powdery mildew out of the vineyard without harming the fruit, which had not yet begun to soften. August was also very hot, but temperatures cooled significantly in September, and rain showers in September and early October allowed us to take advantage of an extended ripening period for enhanced flavor development.
2017 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR AEOLIAN EOLA AMITY HILLS MAGNUM
List Price: $97.50 Your Price: $85.80 Quantity in Stock: 8
Black truffle along with an array of dark spices, black raspberry fruit and much more earth here on the nose. Nice structure here on the tongue brgith black raspberry and wild strawberry fruit with a good hand of that earthy character through the finish, nice spice and a bit of tannins here . Finish 45+ Excellent
2017 BETHEL HEIGHTS JUSTICE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR EOLA AMITY HILLS
Price: $90.00 Your Price: $79.20
Justice Vineyard sits adjacent to Bethel Heights Vineyard on the south, at a slightly lower elevation, where the underlying primeval sea-floor is tilted up and exposed to the surface below a very thin layer of volcanic topsoil. Grapes grown on these ancient marine sediments have a very different life experience from those grown in the volcanic soils at Bethel Heights, and the wines from Justice tell that tale quite dramatically.
2015 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR WEST BLOCK MAGNUM
Price: $159.00 Your Price: $139.92 Quantity in Stock: 4
(93 Points) “The 2015 Pinot Noir West Block delivers notes of red roses, tilled soil, dried leaves and black truffles over a core of red currants and black cherries. Medium-bodied with lovely, finely grained tannins to texture the generous red berry and earth layers, it has plenty of freshness and great persistence. The Wine Advocate
2015 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR FLAT BLOCK MAGNUM
Price: $159.00 Your Price: $139.92 Quantity in Stock: 3
Since its first separate bottling in 1991, the Flat Block has always been the standard of grace and purity at Bethel Heights, a stark contrast to its sibling block that sits just below, the sometimesrowdy Southeast Block. We treat the Flat Block as gently as possible, keeping fermentations cool and extraction minimal to maintain aromatic intensity and complexity, and to preserve freshness and vibrancy. 95 Points JamesSuckling.com; Read more about the 2017 Flat Block.
(94+ Points) “The 2015 Pinot Noir Estate Flat Block has a restrained, earthy nose of mossy bark, fungi and damp soil over a core of cranberries and red currants plus a hint of wild thyme. Mediumbodied, it delivers a fine, refreshing structure of tightly-grained tannins and light acid, framing intense, earthy flavors that finish long and layered.” The Wine Advocate
2015 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR "CASTEEL" EOLA AMITY
Price: $75.00 Sale Price: $66.00
Aromas of black cherry, pine resin, and black currants with hints of cooking chocolate and cinnamon lingering in the background. Flavors of black berries and dark chocolate play over a sinewy, taut structure of mineral laden acidity and fine-grained tannins. In a vintage that threatened to be over-wrought and soft, we were very pleased that the core of our Estate maintained the energy and focus we have come to expect, to support and carry the fruit long into the future.
2014 BETHEL HEIGHTS PINOT NOIR CASTEEL EOLA-AMITY HILLS MAGNUM
Price: $165.00 Your Price: $145.20
A Pioneer Reaches the Pinnacle in Oregon - Wine Spectator, February 2017
Bethel Heights Vineyard grows its grapes on 103 acres in the Eola- Amity Hills AVA, a windy area just north of Salem, the state capital. The family-owned winery is an Oregon pioneer, founded in 1977, and all its wines are produced from estate-owned vineyards. Cousins and co-owners Ben and Mimi Casteel represent the second generation of the winery's founding Casteel, Dudley and Webb families. Ben, the winemaker, pursues a light and delicate style, decidedly old-school, putting the emphasis on fruit flavors and intensity and delivering a marvelous sense of weightlessness in the wines.
The original Bethel Heights vineyard and the adjacent Justice Vineyard, which was planted in 1999, cover 74 acres on the undulating western slopes of the Eola Hills. Ingram Lane, planted in 2008, tucks into rolling hills on the eastern side of the AVA. The winery specializes in Pinot Noir from specific blocks within these three vineyard sites. The family now makes more than 2,000 cases of an entry-level estate Pinot Noir, and more than 1,000 cases of an estate Chardonnay. Smaller lots, including the Casteel Reserve (a blend of selected barrels) and single-block bottlings, go for a bit more. A stunning wine called Æolian is sourced from recent plantings in windy portions of the estate vineyard.
Other bottlings, such as Flat Block, West Block and Southeast Block, each made from specific sections of estate vineyards, demonstrate the differences in flavor and structure that can come from plots literally feet apart. These contrasts are much like those found in Burgundy.
A bit about Foxen Winery:
Bill Wathen and Dick Doré (also known as the “Foxen Boys”) have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery & Vineyard at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic in northern Santa Barbara County. Since that time, their dedication has remained the same—the creation of very small production, sustainably-farmed, vineyard-focused wines using a "minimalist" approach to winemaking.
Life has come full circle for Dick Doré. Born and raised on the family-owned Rancho Tinaquaic, this sixth generation Santa Barbara County resident returned to his roots in 1985 where he established FOXEN Vineyard & Winery with Bill Wathen.
After working as a banker in the late sixties and seventies, this University of California at Santa Barbara graduate gave up his nine-to-five job and moved his family to Europe. Over the next year and a half, Dick traveled the back roads of France, Italy and Spain, where he developed his love of wine. Dick returned to the Rancho Tinaquaic in the late seventies, just as the Santa Barbara County wine industry was emerging. With his passion for great wines firmly established, he initially worked to support his family, which included working for the Tepusquet Mesa Vineyard. It was here that Dick and Bill’s paths crossed and a life-long friendship and partnership was established.
Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Bill Wathen is a true Central Coast native. He chose to attend Cal Poly University where he graduated in 1975 with a degree in Fruit Science, specializing in vineyard management. After graduation, Bill’s first job was to work for two Santa Barbara County viticultural pioneers -- Dale Hampton and Louie Lucas, at the Tepusquet Mesa Vineyard (now owned by Cambria Estate) and the Nielsen Vineyard (currently owned by Byron Vineyard.)
In 1978, Bill went north to become vineyard manager at Chalone Vineyard, where he was mentored by California wine pioneer and Chalone founder, Dick Graff. It was here that Bill learned traditional French winemaking techniques and appreciation for great Burgundies. Graff’s influence inspires Bill’s winemaking philosophy to this day. Bill’s approach to winemaking is straightforward as he explains, “It goes back to my roots as a viticulturist. I make every effort to make the perfect wine in the vineyard. Maximized viticulture equals minimalist winemaking.”
Returning to Santa Barbara County in the early eighties, Bill joined long-time friend, Dick Doré, and began making plans to make wine together.
The winery was named in memory of William Benjamin Foxen, an English sea captain and Dick's great-great grandfather, who came to Santa Barbara in the early 1800's. In 1837, this Santa Barbara County pioneer purchased the Rancho Tinaquaic, a Mexican Land Grant that originally totaled nearly 9000 acres and comprised most of what is now known as Foxen Canyon. Captain Foxen adopted the distinctive "anchor" as his ranch cattle brand, which has become a trademark of the winery. It is very fitting that FOXEN has made its home on the 2000-acre Rancho Tinaquaic, which remains in family hands.
With the completion of FOXEN’s new solar-powered winery and tasting room in 2009, the historic and beloved “tasting shack was renamed “Foxen 7200”, where Bill and Dick now feature their Bordeaux and Cal-Ital-style wines, under a newly designed label. FOXEN Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Rhône-style wines are showcased in the new solar-powered tasting room at 7600 Foxen Canyon Road.
All the Foxen Wines Available:
2020 FOXEN CHENIN BLANC ERNESTO WICKENDEN VINEYARD SANTA MARIA
Price: $28.50 Your Price: $25.08
2019 FOXEN CHENIN BLANC ERNESTO WICKENDEN VINEYARD SANTA MARIA
Price: $28.50 Sale Price: $25.08 Quantity in Stock: 4
One of the best kept secrets at Foxen is their Chenin Blanc made from the oldest planted vines in California Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard was planted in 1966. This wine has incredible depth and complexity and has an aging potential of a decade or more. WINE WATCH REVIEW: There were only 900 cases of the 2019 vintage of Foxen’s Chenin Blanc produced and this wine has a wonderful bouquet of quince kiwi and starfruit with notes of lightly toasted oak spice and a distinct minerality, white flowers and more as this wine opens. Rich and creamy on the tongue with a solid core of fruit, zesty acidity and a long-layered finish. Try this wine on the second day after the bottle is opened it is even better! Finish 50+ TASTING DATE 3/24/21.
2018 FOXEN PINOT NOIR SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $39.00 Your Price: $34.32 Quantity in Stock: 8
(93 points) Outer quote mark Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley would be a great introduction to Pinot Noir from the region as well as to the style of Foxen. Lighter ruby, with a beautiful bouquet of spiced cherry and strawberry fruits interwoven with subtle forest floor and floral notes, it's medium-bodied and has a wonderfully pure, elegant texture, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. Inner quote mark (8/2020) Jeb Dunnuck
2018 FOXEN PINOT NOIR JULIA'S VINEYARD SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $75.00 Your Price: $66.00
(95 Points) Also from the Santa Maria Valley, the 2018 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard offers more layers and complexity, with beautiful spiced raspberry fruits, crushed flowers, flowery incense, orange blossom, and subtle oak aromas and flavors. Polished, medium-bodied, and nicely balanced, with silky tannins, it's drinking great today, yet I suspect it will evolve for upwards of a decade, if you're so inclined. Jeb Dunnuck
2018 FOXEN PINOT NOIR JOHN SEBASTIANO SANTA RITA HILLS
Price: $65.00 Your Price: $57.20 Quantity in Stock: 3
(95 Points) "The 2018 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is bursting at the seams with energy and intensity. A touch of whole clusters (25%) adds energy to a Pinot that impresses with its explosive power and overall tension. The bright red fruit is extremely primary today. I would cellar the 2018 for a few years to allow more aromatic nuance to develop, but that will be challenging, as it is so compelling right now." - Vinous
2019 FOXEN PINOT NOIR BLOCK 43 SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $75.00 Your Price: $66.00
(94 Points) "The 2019 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43 is laced with crushed flowers, cedar, mint and sweet tobacco that give the Block 43 tons of aromatic nuance. Medium in body and yet fleshy, the 2019 has so much going on. This is an especially savory, earthy Bien Nacido Pinot." Vinous
2017 FOXEN PINOT NOIR BLOCK 43 SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $75.00 Your Price: $66.00 Quantity in Stock: 4
(93 points) "The 2017 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43 is bright, punchy and full of character. Next to the Block 8, the Block 43 has more overt fruit, while floral and savory notes lie in the background. Sweet red cherry, plum, and blood orange build in a supple, absolutely engaging Pinot that will drink well right out of the gate. This is such a pretty wine." – Vinous
2018 FOXEN SYRAH WILLIAMSON-DORÉ VINEYARD LOS OLIVOS DISTRICT
Price: $55.00 Your Price: $48.40 Quantity in Stock: 10
(96 Points) "A stunning wine, the 2018 Syrah Williamson-Doré Vineyard soars out of the glass with remarkable intensity in every dimension. Powerful, muscular tannins wrap around a core of inky dark fruit. Hints of lavender, licorice, leather and cloves develop later in this very young wine. The 2018 is 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier done with 10% whole clusters." - Vinous
2017 FOXEN SYRAH WILLIAMSON-DORÉ VINEYARD LOS OLIVOS DISTRICT
Price: $55.50 Your Price: $48.84 Quantity in Stock: 12
Appellation: Los Olivos DistrictClone(s):Entav 174 (57%) and Entav 877 (43%) Harvest:Harvested by hand on September 15th, 2016Yields:1.98 tons per acre Crush:90% whole berry destemmed/10% whole cluster into open-top fermenters; 4-day cold maceration Innoculum:Rhône 2056 Fermentation:19 day active with punch downs 2 times daily Barrel Regime:20 months in large format French and Hungarian oak puncheons, 50% newRacking: Once late spring 2017; then prior to bottling in June 2018Bottling: Without fining or filtration late June 2016Alcohol: 14.1% by volume TA: 0.56 g/100mlpH: 3.67 Production:400 cases
2016 FOXEN SYRAH WILLIAMSON-DORÉ VINEYARD LOS OLIVOS DISTRICT
Price: $55.50 Sale Price: $44.00
(92 Points) Combines elegance and brooding power, offering layered blueberry, spiced cinnamon and smoked meat accents that dance on a long finish, ending with refined tannins. Drink now through 2026. Wine Spectator
2015 FOXEN SYRAH WILLIAMSON-DORÉ VINEYARD LOS OLIVOS DISTRICT
Price: $55.50 Your Price: $48.84 Quantity in Stock: 1
(93 Points) "The 2015 Syrah Williamson-Doré Vineyard is fabulous. Inky blue/purplish fruit, crème de cassis, menthol, licorice, lavender and exotic spice notes are pushed forward in this sensual, exotically ripe Syrah from Foxen. There is plenty of tannin and structure lurking beneath all of the fruit and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced throughout." – Vinous
2017 FOXEN HERITAGE CABERNET FRANC TINAQUAIC VINEYARD - OLD VINES SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Price: $64.50 Your Price: $56.76
(94 Points) "Better, the 2018 Cabernet Franc Tinaquaic Vineyard Heritage Club is all varietal and spent 22 months in 33% new French oak. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has terrific cassis and cherry fruits as well as sappy flower, violets, and herbal notes. The purity of fruit is spot on, and it has the balance and class to evolve for 10-12 years with no issues." - JebDunnuck.com