Jun 14, 2020
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Iris Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Richard Boyles, Pamela Frye |
| Web site | www.irisvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Iris Vineyards is owned by native Oregonians, Pamela Frye and Richard Boyles. Chalice Vineyard at Iris Hill was planted in 1996 and the inaugural vintage was 2001. The family lives on their 870-acre family estate overlooking Iris Vineyards south of Eugene. A winery was built on the estate with a 25,000 case capacity, opening with the 2008 vintage.
The winemaker is Aaron Liberman who has over a decade of experience in Oregon winemaking. The portfolio of wines includes Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
A tasting room is in the former kitchen of the owners in Cottage Grove, Oregon and is open Monday-Friday.
The brand is nationally distributed. The wines are reasonably priced and also sold through the winery's website store.
Articles About Iris Vineyards
Reviewed Wines
2017 Iris Vineyards Chalice Estate D Block Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.7% alc., pH 3.64, TA 0.56, RS
<0.1 g/L, 300 cases, $39.99. Released March 2019. Style is intended to be full-bodied, rich, fruit forward and
with a strong French oak influence. Harvest Brix 20.8º. Dijon 115. 100% de-stemmed, aged 11 months in
French oak barrels, 20% new, 20% once-used.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are
aromas of espresso, smoke and red cherry. The mid weight flavors of black cherry and raspberry build in
intensity over time in the glass. Bright acidity propels the wine that has balanced tannins and a juicy finish. A
thread of smoky oak plies the background. Unchanged when tasted the following day from a previously opened
bottle.
Score: 88.
Reviewed July 8, 2019
ARTICLE »
2016 Iris Vineyards Areté Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.58, RS 0.1 g/L, 100 cases,
$59.99. Released August 2019. A selection of the best barrels from the best blocks of the estate vineyard.
Harvest Brix 24.5º. Wädenswil, Pommard, 115 and 113 clones. 100% de-stemmed into 1.25-ton open-top
fermenters. Aged in French oak barrels, 25% new.
·
The nose is primarily oak-driven , even when sampled the
following day from a previously opened bottle. There is some nice black cherry and purple berry fruits at the
heart of this wine, but the oak treatment overrides the pleasure. The silky texture is quite appealing as is the
finish that has some purpose. When tasted the following day, the oak had somewhat integrated indicating this
wine would benefit from more time in the cellar but will always be oak infused. Just not my cup of tea.
Score: 89.
Reviewed July 8, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Iris Vineyards Chalice Estate D Block Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.7% alc., pH 3.64, TA 0.56, RS <0.1 g/L, 300 cases, $39.99. Released March 2019. Style is intended to be full-bodied, rich, fruit forward and with a strong French oak influence. Harvest Brix 20.8º. Dijon 115. 100% de-stemmed, aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 20% new, 20% once-used. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of espresso, smoke and red cherry. The mid weight flavors of black cherry and raspberry build in intensity over time in the glass. Bright acidity propels the wine that has balanced tannins and a juicy finish. A thread of smoky oak plies the background. Unchanged when tasted the following day from a previously opened bottle. Score: 88. Reviewed July 8, 2019 ARTICLE »
2016 Iris Vineyards Areté Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.58, RS 0.1 g/L, 100 cases, $59.99. Released August 2019. A selection of the best barrels from the best blocks of the estate vineyard. Harvest Brix 24.5º. Wädenswil, Pommard, 115 and 113 clones. 100% de-stemmed into 1.25-ton open-top fermenters. Aged in French oak barrels, 25% new. · The nose is primarily oak-driven , even when sampled the following day from a previously opened bottle. There is some nice black cherry and purple berry fruits at the heart of this wine, but the oak treatment overrides the pleasure. The silky texture is quite appealing as is the finish that has some purpose. When tasted the following day, the oak had somewhat integrated indicating this wine would benefit from more time in the cellar but will always be oak infused. Just not my cup of tea. Score: 89. Reviewed July 8, 2019 ARTICLE »