Dec 30, 2022
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Grochau Cellars
| Owner(s) | John Grochau |
| Web site | www.gcwines.com |
| Link to this site |
Grochau (pronounced grow-shaw) Cellars is a new producer with a fledgling and unfinished website. Noted wine writer Matt Kramer touted Grochau Cellars wines by saying, “A couple of sips will tell you he’s a purist winemaker interested in finesse, nuance and what can admiringly be called a certain tenderness (Some other Oregon winemakers strive for power and what might be called a “smash mouth” effect.).”
Michael Alberty is a retailer (meaning they can get carried away and hype just about any wine that they have for sell) but I respect the wines he recommends. John Grochau (it would have been easier to name his wines John’s Cellars, but that would have been boring) learned his winemaking craft under Doug Tunnell at Brick House Wines and it doesn’t get much better than that. (Grochau is also the sommelier at Higgins Restaurant in Portland)
Michael feels that John’s wines reflect Tunnell’s hands off approach and “the wines are thoughtfully made, thoughtfully priced and a true expression of the grape variety from which it came.” Alberty and Grochau (and Grochau’s wife Kerri) graduated from Sunset High School in Beaverton, Oregon, so Alberty naturally has a soft spot for these wines. The wines are sold through several Oregon retailers.
A tasting room opened in 2015 in Amity, Oregon at 9360 SE Eola Hills Road. The hours are Friday through Sunday, 11:00-5:00.
Articles About Grochau Cellars
Reviewed Wines
2007 Grouchau Cellars (GC Wines) Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc.,
1,350 cases, $24. A relative newcomer in Oregon founded in 2002 by John
Grochau and his wife Kerri. John is a sommelier (13 years at Higgins in Portland)
who learned his winemaking at Brick House and Erath Winery. This wine is a
blend of 4 vineyards.
·
Darker fruited nose enhanced by scents of violets, grapes
and buttered toast. Blackberries are most prominent on the palate. The wine has
a very sensual velvety texture, minimal tannins and a lively acid backbone making
it easily approachable and satisfying. I have found that sommeliers have a special
winemaking touch, particularly with Pinot Noir.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Grochau Cellars Toute De Suite Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $18. The name of
this wine is from the French, “at once, right now.” A wine meant to be enjoyed now,
not later.
·
The scents are true to Pinot Noir with dark cherries, smoke and clove. Simple
cherry, earth and wood flavors are soft on the palate and the whole package ends
in a clean and refreshing finish. Easy to like, easy to drink.
Reviewed January 30, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Grochau Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $24. This is
Grochau’s entry level serious Pinot Noir but that doesn’t mean it is wimpy. It is a
blend of fruit from multiple vineyards.
·
The aromatics are striking with dark berries
and plums showing off. Dark fruits continue on the palate with oak and mushroom nuances.
The after taste of black Pinot fruits is haunting and lengthy. A lot of pinotosity.
Reviewed January 30, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Grochau Cellars Cuvee Des Amis Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $36. Sourced
from five different vineyards.
·
A lovely, but demure, nose of dark fruits that need coaxing. A big gulp of
dark cherries and blackberries with a subtle hint of oak. Harmonious from start to finish, but reluctant at
this stage. Cellaring will be rewarded.
Reviewed January 30, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 Grochau Cellars Anderson Family Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., 25
cases, $35. The Anderson Family vineyard is planted to Dijon clone 667 in the Yamhill-Carlton District.
·
Prominent oak char that runs through the wine from start to finish. Big in the mouth, the plush dark berry
fruit has an appealing earthiness. The wine possess fine-grained tannins and a clean finish. It is a little too
oaky for me at this time but the oak may integrate better with time.
Reviewed January 30, 2008
ARTICLE »
2007 Grouchau Cellars (GC Wines) Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 1,350 cases, $24. A relative newcomer in Oregon founded in 2002 by John Grochau and his wife Kerri. John is a sommelier (13 years at Higgins in Portland) who learned his winemaking at Brick House and Erath Winery. This wine is a blend of 4 vineyards. · Darker fruited nose enhanced by scents of violets, grapes and buttered toast. Blackberries are most prominent on the palate. The wine has a very sensual velvety texture, minimal tannins and a lively acid backbone making it easily approachable and satisfying. I have found that sommeliers have a special winemaking touch, particularly with Pinot Noir. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Grochau Cellars Toute De Suite Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $18. The name of this wine is from the French, “at once, right now.” A wine meant to be enjoyed now, not later. · The scents are true to Pinot Noir with dark cherries, smoke and clove. Simple cherry, earth and wood flavors are soft on the palate and the whole package ends in a clean and refreshing finish. Easy to like, easy to drink. Reviewed January 30, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Grochau Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $24. This is Grochau’s entry level serious Pinot Noir but that doesn’t mean it is wimpy. It is a blend of fruit from multiple vineyards. · The aromatics are striking with dark berries and plums showing off. Dark fruits continue on the palate with oak and mushroom nuances. The after taste of black Pinot fruits is haunting and lengthy. A lot of pinotosity. Reviewed January 30, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Grochau Cellars Cuvee Des Amis Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $36. Sourced from five different vineyards. · A lovely, but demure, nose of dark fruits that need coaxing. A big gulp of dark cherries and blackberries with a subtle hint of oak. Harmonious from start to finish, but reluctant at this stage. Cellaring will be rewarded. Reviewed January 30, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 Grochau Cellars Anderson Family Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., 25 cases, $35. The Anderson Family vineyard is planted to Dijon clone 667 in the Yamhill-Carlton District. · Prominent oak char that runs through the wine from start to finish. Big in the mouth, the plush dark berry fruit has an appealing earthiness. The wine possess fine-grained tannins and a clean finish. It is a little too oaky for me at this time but the oak may integrate better with time. Reviewed January 30, 2008 ARTICLE »