2014 Willamette Valley, Oregon

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1 2014 Willamette Valley, Oregon

2 Those of you already entranced with the wonderful wines of Oregon will need zero convincing about the newly released perfect 2014 vintage. For anyone still pacing the side of the pool, undecided whether to dip a toe, trust me the water s absolutely beautiful, forget the toe and dive right in! 2014 is a very special vintage in the Willamette Valley. The warm weather which dominated the 2014 growing season - from bud-break to harvest - enabled a large crop to obtain perfect ripeness, allowing growers to pick exactly when they desired. Let s be clear, Oregon isn t typical New World; the vintage really matters in this most marginal of regions. For example, 2010 was a late, cool season which ended dismally when birds decimated the crop. In 2011 the harvest dragged into November because the summer was extraordinarily cold; so 2012, with its ideal conditions, was the first time in 3 years that growers breathed a sigh of relief is wholly relevant here, as it is this fêted vintage which most closely resembles Dick Shea, of his eponymous estate in Yamhill Carlton, says if you want to see how the 2014s are going to be in a couple of years then drink the beautiful 2012s. For our old-school palates, the most exciting thing about the Willamette Valley is that even when the sun shines and temperatures soar the wines do not become overblown. The Coastal Range mountains provide a western weather-break from the worst of the Pacific, however there is a gap in the mountains just south of Salem - the Van Duzer Corridor - which funnels cool air off the ocean each afternoon, rapidly reducing vineyard temperatures and preserving both acidity and the fresh fruit character we all look for... yes, this truly is the promised land of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay! Last year, only Doug Tunnell s Brick House got the pdf treatment ; his 2014s here are simply fantastic! But such has been the enthusiastic reception from A&B clients for our other Oregon growers shipped late last year that we thought it was sensible to widen the main offer. So, in addition to the Brick House beauties from Ribbon Ridge, we have also included the dazzling wines from the hugely-talented Jimmy Arterberry in the hallowed Dundee Hills, alongside long-established Willamette superstars, Shea Cellars in Yamhill Carlton and Bethel Heights in Eola Amity. We have been delighted by your enthusiasm and support shown to our Oregon discoveries, as have the various winemakers, thank you. And if you ve been waiting for an excuse to take the plunge, wait no more; these 2014s are spectacular and show the huge potential of this very exciting region. Simon Davies, May 2016 As improbable as it may sound, 2014 is shaping up as a vintage that s at least the equal of JOSH R AY NOL DS

Arterberry Maresh Young Turk of Dundee Hills Young Jimmy Arterberry is one of the luckier inhabitants of the hallowed Red Hills of Dundee because his grandpa, Jim Maresh Snr, had the foresight to

3 Arterberry Maresh Young Turk of Dundee Hills Young Jimmy Arterberry is one of the luckier inhabitants of the hallowed Red Hills of Dundee because his grandpa, Jim Maresh Snr, had the foresight to plant Chardonnay and heritage clones of Pinot Noir (essentially old Burgundy cuttings) in 1970; only the fifth vineyard in Oregon to do so and the first on the now densely-planted Worden Hill Road. These original Maresh (pronounced 'Marsh') vineyard plantings set within the volcanic soils are the source for Jim s extraordinary Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, some of the finest and most exciting examples in the Willamette Valley. Quality and quantity are a very rare combination in Oregon and 2014 delivered this gift in spades. Our old, non-irrigated vines with deep roots at Maresh, Weber and Juliard thrived. J I M A RT E R BE R RY 2014 Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 6 BOTTLES With such purity and precision, Jim Arterberry s age-worthy Chardonnay has quickly become one of the cult wines of the Valley. Rich and primary, with the cushy warmth of the vintage, this has such wonderful coiled energy, lithe and seamless. A vein of bright minerality weaves around the layers of ripe and textured fruit, adding freshness and proportion through to the palate-staining finish. Jimmy s beautifully-crafted white ticks all our usual criteria too: 16-month élevage on healthy undisturbed lees, 12.8% alcohol, with old-vine balance and lots of character Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 12 BOTTLES Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir 12 BOTTLES I once asked the wine writer Neal Martin where he thought the Vosne Romanée of Oregon was. He immediately replied Dundee Hills. Well, if Dundee is Vosne then the Maresh Vineyard is? I ll let you guess, suffice to say this is a very smart terroir! While Jim Arterberry is perhaps best known for his superb Chardonnay, his Pinots are also outstanding. Josh Raynolds is dead right and the 2014 Pinots here are magnificent, showing the ripeness of the vintage in the darker spectrum of their fruit, certainly vis-à-vis the 2013s. These are not showy New World wines but multifaceted and precise, relying on low-alcohol subtlety the product of meticulous farming of old, non-irrigated own-rooted vines. Used barrels mean the fruit is allowed to express itself unburdened of any ugly oak sheen. The entry-level 2014 Dundee Hills has all the delicious savoury dark-fruited soul of the Grand Vin but in an uncomplicated easy-drinking style; a second fruit selection from the Maresh, Juliard and Webber vineyards, it is a fabulous Oregon value. And then there s the majestic Maresh Pinot, clearly more sophisticated but full of 2014 joy too. The warmth of the vintage gives this Pinot wonderful depth, revealing layers of savoury complexity. But such is the balance of the year, you can either drink on the blissful young fruit or hold and enjoy in 10 years time or longer.

They started with just 14 acres of planted vineyards now they have over 100!

4 Bethel Heights Pioneering Perfection The Casteel family are one of the original `out of town` Willamette pioneers. They established Bethel Heights after abandoning academic careers in 1977 and moved onto 75 acres of promising land northwest of Salem in the south of the Willamette valley. They started with just 14 acres of planted vineyards now they have over 100! Their philosophy from the start has been about sustainability, a model which has been continued with the next generation: cousins Ben and Mimi Casteel who were some of the most intelligent and technically knowledgeable winemakers we met on our trip. The vineyards in Eola are a fascinating mix of Volcanic (as seen in Dundee) and Marine Sedimentary (as seen in Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill) Estate Chardonnay 12 BOTTLES The 2013 incarnation was a very good wine indeed but this 2014 is at a whole other level. This is a Chardonnay with boundless energy, its exuberant fruit absolutely gushes from the glass. Seamless and impeccably layered, the 2014 just speaks balance and finesse. One client, who tasted it a recent Oregon dinner, even likened it to our very own PYCM! A deeply satisfying Chardonnay that will offer fabulous drinking over the next handful of years or longer. SIX BOTTLE CASES AND SHIPMENT In Oregon they sell wines by the dozen, hence our pricing is mainly as such. However, we are keen for you to explore, so ALL the wines offered in this pdf (subject to availability) are available in six bottle cases if preferred. We shall re-pack them in A&B cases upon arrival. The wines will be shipped via temperature controlled reefer over the summer months and will be available for delivery this Autumn Please note, a number of these wines have not been released onto the USA market yet. YAMHILL- CARLTON RIBBON RIDGE CHEHALEM MOUNTAINS RANGE COASTAL THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY THE CASCADES MCMINNVILLE DUNDEE HILLS EOLA-AMITY HILLS NTAINS

Brick House Vineyards Biodynamic Master of Ribbon Ridge The charismatic Doug Tunnell uses language sparingly as a long-time TV foreign correspondent, he can sum up succinctly without any need for

5 Brick House Vineyards Biodynamic Master of Ribbon Ridge The charismatic Doug Tunnell uses language sparingly as a long-time TV foreign correspondent, he can sum up succinctly without any need for sensationalism. So if he describes a growing season as very special it s worth paying attention We knew there was potential for a very special vintage when the vines began to flower in early June. The weather was absolutely ideal. Mother Nature permitted no waste; from every flower was born a tiny grape and every grape formed into a classic fist of a cluster. The summer sun was unrelenting. On September 15th, we called in the crew for an early morning pick. By the third week of September the winery was filled to capacity, it was a large, healthy and ultra-ripe crop. Bottled in early 2016, the wines are only just beginning to unwind into complex, layered expressions of this unique Oregon vintage. Ribbon Ridge Pinots that serve as future benchmarks for what is possible with this grape in the Willamette Valley. DAV I D SC H I L DK N EC H T 2014 Cascadia Chardonnay 12 BOTTLES Cascadia Chardonnay 6 MAGNUMS A selection of Doug s finest Chardonnay fruit, the Cascadia always has terrific cut, perfectly judged, capturing all the personality of the Brick House site. This has pure Zen energy Doug s wines are never fat even in the warmer years so the flavours are still citrus and ripe stone fruit. Like his good buddy Vincent Dancer s wines it s worth giving this beauty a splash decant before serving Cuvée du Tonnelier Pinot Noir 12 BOTTLES Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir 12 BOTTLES Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir *LIMITED AVAILABILIT Y 6 M AGNUMS Evelyn s Pinot Noir 12 BOTTLES Evelyn s Pinot Noir *LIMITED AVAILABILITY 6 MAGNUMS Our focus in 2014 is on Doug s three spellbinding Crus, three exquisite Ribbon Ridge Pinots: Tonnelier is 100% Pommard clone, classically sculpted and with delicious hightoned dark berry fruit. Neal Martin describes the 2014 as a classy wine for sure and he s absolutely bang on! Burgundy fans will adore this suave Pinot. Dijonnais is a step up, both texturally and structurally. The warmth of the vintage has rendered this as pure silk gabardine, just glorious. Decant in advance if you want to drink on the young, luxurious fruit. Evelyn s Doug s tribute to his mother is a barrel selection of 50% Dijon and 50% Pommard clones, a cuvée only produced in the finest vintages. It combines the best of Tonnelier and Dijonnais but with an extra dimension, not weight exactly these are light, tiptoe wines! but certainly more concentration. Power and finesse, a 2014 Willamette Pinot at its very finest: silky, penetrating and rich yet fresh, precise and energetic too, with outstanding clarity. Wait 2-3 years minimum and age a decade plus with ease.

Shea Wine Cellars The Greatest Vineyard in Oregon? So which is the greatest vineyard in Oregon? Winemakers, estate owners, as well as local wine shops all say the same: Shea Vineyard.

6 Shea Wine Cellars The Greatest Vineyard in Oregon? So which is the greatest vineyard in Oregon? Winemakers, estate owners, as well as local wine shops all say the same: Shea Vineyard. This highly acclaimed sun-trap vineyard set on ancient sedimentary soils in Yamhill was founded by Dick Shea in the late 80s, whilst he was still a Wall Street banker. The land was planted plot by plot and now has circa 60 hectares under vine. Fruit is sold to a veritable who s who of the local wine scene: Penner-Ash, Bergström, and Beaux Freres (20 plus wineries with a long waiting list!). In 1996 Dick employed Patricia Green to domaine bottle from the choicest parcels and Shea Wine Cellars was born. He now uses 25% of the celebrated vineyard to produce his own cuvées which are made by the very talented Kiwi, Blair Trathan. Blair has a great touch with Pinot Noir, pushing the rich, glorious fruit to just the right level but never making wines which feel forced or heavy Estate Pinot Noir 12 BOTTLES We re-tasted this glorious 2014 alongside the 2012 recently and both showed fantastically; I m tempted to say that I agree with Dick and say that the 2014 just has the edge! There s just so much juicy, vibrant blue-pinot fruit with the vintage. This wine comes with a warning though; the Shea Estate Pinot is dangerously drinkable, a client recently confessing that he opened a bottle of the 2012 Estate at dinner and his guests enjoyed it so much they devoured the whole case! Drink from Micro-Cuvée Selection Case 12 BOTTLES (12 bottle case containing 3 bottles each of Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, West Hill Pinot Noir, Block 7 Pinot Noir, and Block 23 Pinot Noir) These parcel cuvées were originally instigated by Patty Green during her tenure as winemaker and they reflect the multifaceted nature of this wonderful Shea Vineyard. The Pommard Clone is floral and high-toned while the West Hill has more structure and a wonderful sappy quality. Block 7 is made from 100% Wädenswil clone and shows spicy liquorice fruit, whilst the Block 23 is much more on the deep, red fruit side. All are aged in 50% new French oak, barely perceptible thanks to the rich, layered fruit Homer Pinot Noir 6 BOTTLES Homer is a selection of Dick s best barrels from the Estate blend and, in a vintage as terrific as 2014, it must have been hard to know what to choose! Both wines have lots in common but the Homer has an extra dimension of both depth and energy. It combines richness with vivacity, a powerful yet lithe Pinot that finishes with impressive energy. Of course it s very primal at the moment but with time this will be a show-stopping wine. Drink Dick Shea s famed vineyard is one of, if not the, most highly regarded in the state and has long been a site of choice for many of Oregon s top producers. JOSH R AY NOL DS

To order or more information, please contact us Tel 01892 724977 wine@abvintners.co.uk www.abvintners.co.uk Terms and Conditions The prices quoted are in-bond per case (12 x 75cl) excluding duty (currently 24.

7 To order or more information, please contact us Tel Terms and Conditions The prices quoted are in-bond per case (12 x 75cl) excluding duty (currently 24.60) and vat. We shall be shipping the wines at various times during Please enquire. Card payments: Credit Card payments are subject to a surcharge of 2%. There is no surcharge for debit cards. Delivery to UK addresses excluding Scotland, and offshore islands: 1 4 cases 10 (ex VAT). For 5cs or more there is no charge. For delivery to Scotland and offshore islands please enquire for current rates. In-bond transfers: 8.00 (ex VAT) per transfer to LCB Warehouses. Transfers to other bonded warehouses will be at the delivery rates above. We are happy to hold onto the stock whilst a consignment is built up, for a maximum of 3 months only. For longer periods, we offer a storage facility in our private client reserves, current rate 9.75 per case ex VAT (incl of insurance to replacement value). Photography and design Doug Tunnell, Brick House Vineyards

2013 Piedmont Part I: Fiorenzo Nada Una Grande Annata

2013 Piedmont Part I: Fiorenzo Nada Una Grande Annata Every so often a vintage comes along which has everything, and I mean EVERYTHING: 2013 in the Langhe Hills of Piedmont is that kind of year, where