Vineyard: Wirtz

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Wine (10.10 5/11/2015)
Recently Tasted Oregon Pinot Noir (10.40 10/20/2016)
Oregon’s Big Table Farm and California’s Big Basin Committed to Whole Cluster (11.32 10/12/2018)
Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Wines (9.32 10/26/2013)
Sips of Oregon Pinot Noir (9.18 1/19/2013)
Sips of Recently Tasted Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (10.22 12/12/2015)
Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Pinot Noir (9.50 11/21/2014)
Sips of Recently Tasted White Wines (10.3 1/22/2015)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Big Table Farm

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2016 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 203 cases, $62. Last vintage from this vineyard since the economic realities of leasing and farming an old vineyard no longer made sense. 45-year-old vines. Coury “clone.” Wild cherries on the label. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Classy aromas of Bing cherry, cardamom spice, burnt tobacco and espresso. Generously layered tiers of ripe ollaliberry, purple grape and blackberry flavors showing significant extraction. There are underlying flavors of grilled pork and spice as well. The suave texture and silky tannins make for seductive drinking. Very charming and harmonious. Score: 93. Reviewed October 12, 2018 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2015 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Edelzwicker

13.3% alc., 299 cases, $28. Label shows pear blossoms from Wirtz Vineyard drawn by Clare. Old vine Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling from Wirtz Vineyard planted in the late 1960s. Barrel fermented in neutral oak to dryness and malolactic complete. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of cut apple and poached pear. Pleasant flavors of apple, pear, and a hint of peach. Steely in character, with a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a dry finish. An all purpose white wine. Score: 87. Reviewed October 19, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2015 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

13.2% alc., 159 cases, $32. Label shows pasture wild flowers drawn by Clare. The clone is particularly dark and the orange color of the wine reflects this. Fermented on the skins and stems, and finished fermenting in old French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate pinkish orange color in the glass. Reserved aromas of peach, spice and terra-cotta. Unique in taste, with flavors of strawberry, peach, yellow raisin and a hint of smoke and baking spice. Nicely balanced with a juicy finish. Score: 88. Reviewed October 19, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

13.6% alc.,162 cases, $32. Fermented 8 to 12 days on the skins and stems. Unfined and unfiltered. · Light orange color in the glass. Aromas and flavors of peach, blood orange and a touch of vanilla creme, fashioned in a medium bodied style with a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a peach driven finish. A delightful wine with plenty of intrigue that will stand up nicely to salmon and other fatty seafoods. Score: 89. Reviewed December 12, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 367 cases, $48. Label shows Maple seeds drawn by Clare. The original plantings were vines obtained from Charles Coury so their origin and clonal type is unknown. 40 plus year-old vines. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Welcoming aromas of cherry, cardamom spice and toasty oak. Light to mid weight flavors of cherry, crystallized raspberry, cranberry, spice and smoke. Good energy and freshness, with surprising mid palate presence, gentle tannins and some finishing goodness. Score: 92. Reviewed October 19, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

11.2% alc., 145 cases, $32. This is an orange wine that defies description. This white grape was left on its skins to add color and texture to the wine, then pressed and fermented to dryness in neutral French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Light copper salmon color in the glass. The aromas are primarily floral including gardenia while the flavors are fruity including poached pear and hints of strawberry, cherry and vanilla. Lighter in weight, soft in texture and easy to drink. Should be chilled and paired with shellfish. Score: 87. Reviewed January 23, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Chardonnay

476 cases, $45. Grapes sourced from Bieze, Durant, Wirtz and Yates Conwill vineyards. Unfined and unfiltered. · Light golden yellow and slightly hazy in the glass. Welcoming aromas of citrus oil, spice, and honeysuckle. Soft and smooth on the palate, with bright flavors of yellow peach, apple, lemon zest and spice. A somewhat demure style that is beautifully balanced, finishing with zippy lemony acidity. Score: 90. Reviewed May 14, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

11.5% alc.,157 cases, $48. 40 plus year old vines. A small amount of Pinot Gris is interplanted in this vineyard and included in the fermentation. 100% de-stemmed since the grapes offer enough spice on their own. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Magical aromas of fresh cherry, berry, toasty oak and spice. Both fruity and savory featuring an array of darker red and purple berry flavors that have uncommon swagger at this low ABV. Nicely composed, with modest tannins, a hint of smoky oak, and a generous, lip-smacking finish that lingers. Score: 92. Reviewed December 12, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., 232 cases, $48. · Moderate reddish purple hue in the glass. Highly aromatic, with bright scents of fresh raspberry coulis, cherry sauce, spice and a bit of smoky oak. A lovely wine with character, displaying a discreetly concentrated core of black cherry and black raspberry fruit. Definitely ripe but not over ripe, with a complimentary accent of oak-driven anise and black tea. The finish is persistent and highly pleasing, driven by tart cherry acidity. Tasted the 16 following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, more floral and spice accents appear, and the soft, fine tannins make for a dreamy mouthfeel. Score: 92. Reviewed November 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

12.6% alc.,110 cases, $28. An “orange” wine created by taking a traditionally white grape and leaving it on it’s skins to add color and texture, then pressing and finished by fermenting to dryness in neutral French oak barrels. Full MLF, unfined and unfiltered. · Medium blood orange color in the glass. An unusual wine that is challenging to describe properly. Aromas of citrus peel, melon and herbs. An easy drinker that is very light and extremely dry on the finish showing flavors of white stone fruits, white raspberries, vanilla, orange peel and toast. A welcome aperitif if chilled, or a good accompaniment to shellfish. Good. Reviewed January 19, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

13.8% alc., 115 cases, $32. An “orange wine” fermented on the skins briefly and then finished in barrel to dryness with complete malolactic fermentation, bottled without fining or filtration. · Medium red-orange color and clear in the glass. An unusual wine which is a challenge to describe. Aromas of peach skin, jasmine and eucalyptus. Soft and smooth on the palate with flavors of dried cherry, yellow peach and baking spice. Similar to Pinot Noir Blanc in its flavor profile. Mild dry tannins and hi-tone acidity, with a trace of heat on the finish. A conundrum. Score: 87. Reviewed October 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

12.6% alc., 119 cases, $45. This vineyard is old by Oregon standards as it was planted in the early 1970s. Brian likes to say he was still wearing diapers when the vines went into the ground in this vineyard. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. This wine reminds of cherry pie baking day at cooking school. Deliciously flavored with ripe cherries and baking spices with a hint of sandalwood and wintergreen. Crisp and juicy with a long, spirited finish. Hard to put your finger on the reasons for it, but this wine grabs your interest and holds on. An old vine treasure. Score: 94. Reviewed October 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Big Table Farm Wirtz Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

13.1% alc., 90 cases, $45. Label features hazelnuts from the neighboring field. Inaugural offering from this vineyard. The vines from this multigenerational site in the northern part of the Willamette Valley average 40 years of age. · Light garnet color in the glass. Complex nose offering aromas of cherries, plums, spice, and toasty oak. Soft and elegant on the palate with restrained tannins and a good spark of acidity. Lighter weight dark red fruits are featured, especially cherry, with a topcoat of smoky oak. A pleasant wine that needs more time to integrate the oak. Good. Reviewed January 19, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »