Dec 30, 2022
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Tendril Wine Cellars
| Owner(s) | Tony Rynders |
| Web site | www.tendrilwines.com |
| Link to this site |
New label in 2008 started by winemaker Tony Rynders who spent 10 years as the winemaker at Domaine Serene. Rynders began his career in 1989 at Mirassou Vineyards in San Jose, CA. He later attended University of California at Davis and obtained a Master's degree in Enology and Viticulture in 1992. His early winemaking experience came at Acacia Winery, Petaluma Winery (Australia), Col d'Orcia (Italy), Argyle Winery and Hogue Cellars. In 2008, Rynders launched his own wine consulting business, Tony Rynders Consulting, after leaving Domaine Serene. He also provides custom winemaking services for several clients including Cornerstone Cellars and Sitar.
Two Tendril Pinot Noirs are offered: White Label which is a blend of his vineyard sites from multiple appellations and Tight Rope, a more focused special barrel selection.
Tendril Wine Cellars is open for tasting by appointment (503-858-4524). Tendril wines are also available at various Oregon wine bars. The wines are sold through an order form on the website.
Articles About Tendril Wine Cellars
Reviewed Wines
2014 Tendril Willamette Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., 195 cases, $40. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 25% new.
Winemaker Tony Rynders has crafted Oregon Chardonnay since 1998.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the
glass. The nose leads with scents of buttery brioche, lemon custard and nutty oak. Discreetly rich in the mouth,
with flavors of lemon, pineapple and golden apple. Slightly creamy, with a restrained oak imprint. A thoroughly
satisfying wine with commendable balance and spirit.
Score: 92.
Reviewed October 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Extrovert Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 367 cases, $48. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 43% new.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Very demure aromas of cherry and sweet oak. Light to mid weight in
style with cherry and blueberry flavors that extend the juicy finish. An easygoing and forward style with enough
tannin to pair with the fruit. Very solid wine, and embodies its “extrovert” name, but lacks aromatic intrigue even
over time in the glass.
Score: 89.
Reviewed October 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Mt. Richmond Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 104 cases, $60. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. A
dry-farmed vineyard planted in sedimentary soils west of Yamhill owned by Adam Campbell of Elk Grove Winery.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromatics of cherry, rose and nutty oak lead to a middleweight wine
that is both husky and sleek, as well as harmonious. Intriguingly earthy, with a dark cherry and berry core of fruit
framed by the typical tannins of Yamhill-Carlton. The wine finishes with exceptional joy and length.
Score: 92.
Reviewed October 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Pretender Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 124 cases, $60. Aged 15 months in 0% new French oak barrels. A Pinot
Noir Blanc wine in which a red varietal is “pretending” to be a white wine. Winemaker Tony Rynders introduced
this style of Pinot Noir to Oregon while working at Domaine Serene.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color with a
slight pink tinge. Aromas of cut apple, poached pear and brown butter lead to a polished wine in the mouth
offering flavors of apple, white grape, watermelon and subtle spice and nuttiness. Satiny, even slightly viscous on
the palate, with a polished demeanor and a quenching finish. Still fine when tasted the following day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle, if not a little bit more enjoyable. I am not a big fan of Pinot Noir Blanc, so
the wine may be slightly underscored.
Score: 91.
Reviewed October 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Tendril Tightrope Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 150 cases, $64. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 67% new. The goal
of this wine is to capture the best qualities of the vintage.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of
cherry, blueberry compote and white rose petal draw you into the glass. The tasty cherry core saturates the mid
palate with goodness. Impressive vibrancy and length in an easy to like wine that ends with plenty of aromatic
cherry pleasure.
Score: 91.
Reviewed October 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Tendril C Note Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0%
alc., 73 cases, $100. Aged 17 months in 100% new French
oak barrels with 3-year, air-dried staves.
·
Moderate garnet
color in the glass. An array of pleasurable aromas arrive in the
glass including dark cherry, spice box, burnt tobacco and a
feminine perfume. The oak treatment is overbearing upon
opening, but when the wine was tasted later in the day, the oak
had integrated beautifully. The wine is mid weight in style with waves of
black cherry and dark berry fruits accented with a touch of oak-driven
tobacco. The ripe, very fine-grain tannins create textural charm. Perhaps
the most striking feature of this wine is the extra, I mean extra, long finish.
Decant or keep your hands off this another couple of years. Clearly a
special wine.
Score: 94.
Reviewed October 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2012 Tendril White Label Willamette Valley Oregon Chardonnay
13.5% alc., $40. Crafted by noted
winemaker Tony Rynders. 62% Yamhill-CArlton and 38% Chehalem Mountains. Aged 15 months in French oak
barrels, 30% new.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Leading off are aromas of grilled
lemon, green apple, spice and talc. Sound acidity and silky texture make this a highly enjoyable wine that
features flavors of lemon curd, caramel and slight butterscotch. There is definitely evidence of fermentation and
aging in oak, but the effect is complimentary rather than intrusive.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 9, 2016
ARTICLE »
2009 Tendril Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $45.
Winemaker Tony Rynder’s first label after making wine for others for 20 years.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Very shy aromatics with demure
aromas of berries, fennel, cut flowers and roasted nuts. Medium weight tasty
core of black cherries and black raspberries with a complimentary spice and
vanilla accent. Very charming in the mouth, striking an impression on the mid
palate and sporting a pleasing velvety texture. The flavors trump the nose at
this stage. Very good.
Reviewed January 12, 2012
ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Willamette Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., 195 cases, $40. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. Winemaker Tony Rynders has crafted Oregon Chardonnay since 1998. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose leads with scents of buttery brioche, lemon custard and nutty oak. Discreetly rich in the mouth, with flavors of lemon, pineapple and golden apple. Slightly creamy, with a restrained oak imprint. A thoroughly satisfying wine with commendable balance and spirit. Score: 92. Reviewed October 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Extrovert Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 367 cases, $48. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 43% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Very demure aromas of cherry and sweet oak. Light to mid weight in style with cherry and blueberry flavors that extend the juicy finish. An easygoing and forward style with enough tannin to pair with the fruit. Very solid wine, and embodies its “extrovert” name, but lacks aromatic intrigue even over time in the glass. Score: 89. Reviewed October 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Mt. Richmond Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 104 cases, $60. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. A dry-farmed vineyard planted in sedimentary soils west of Yamhill owned by Adam Campbell of Elk Grove Winery. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromatics of cherry, rose and nutty oak lead to a middleweight wine that is both husky and sleek, as well as harmonious. Intriguingly earthy, with a dark cherry and berry core of fruit framed by the typical tannins of Yamhill-Carlton. The wine finishes with exceptional joy and length. Score: 92. Reviewed October 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Tendril Pretender Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 124 cases, $60. Aged 15 months in 0% new French oak barrels. A Pinot Noir Blanc wine in which a red varietal is “pretending” to be a white wine. Winemaker Tony Rynders introduced this style of Pinot Noir to Oregon while working at Domaine Serene. · Moderately light golden yellow color with a slight pink tinge. Aromas of cut apple, poached pear and brown butter lead to a polished wine in the mouth offering flavors of apple, white grape, watermelon and subtle spice and nuttiness. Satiny, even slightly viscous on the palate, with a polished demeanor and a quenching finish. Still fine when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, if not a little bit more enjoyable. I am not a big fan of Pinot Noir Blanc, so the wine may be slightly underscored. Score: 91. Reviewed October 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Tendril Tightrope Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 150 cases, $64. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 67% new. The goal of this wine is to capture the best qualities of the vintage. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of cherry, blueberry compote and white rose petal draw you into the glass. The tasty cherry core saturates the mid palate with goodness. Impressive vibrancy and length in an easy to like wine that ends with plenty of aromatic cherry pleasure. Score: 91. Reviewed October 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Tendril C Note Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., 73 cases, $100. Aged 17 months in 100% new French oak barrels with 3-year, air-dried staves. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. An array of pleasurable aromas arrive in the glass including dark cherry, spice box, burnt tobacco and a feminine perfume. The oak treatment is overbearing upon opening, but when the wine was tasted later in the day, the oak had integrated beautifully. The wine is mid weight in style with waves of black cherry and dark berry fruits accented with a touch of oak-driven tobacco. The ripe, very fine-grain tannins create textural charm. Perhaps the most striking feature of this wine is the extra, I mean extra, long finish. Decant or keep your hands off this another couple of years. Clearly a special wine. Score: 94. Reviewed October 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2012 Tendril White Label Willamette Valley Oregon Chardonnay
13.5% alc., $40. Crafted by noted winemaker Tony Rynders. 62% Yamhill-CArlton and 38% Chehalem Mountains. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Leading off are aromas of grilled lemon, green apple, spice and talc. Sound acidity and silky texture make this a highly enjoyable wine that features flavors of lemon curd, caramel and slight butterscotch. There is definitely evidence of fermentation and aging in oak, but the effect is complimentary rather than intrusive. Score: 90. Reviewed July 9, 2016 ARTICLE »
2009 Tendril Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $45. Winemaker Tony Rynder’s first label after making wine for others for 20 years. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Very shy aromatics with demure aromas of berries, fennel, cut flowers and roasted nuts. Medium weight tasty core of black cherries and black raspberries with a complimentary spice and vanilla accent. Very charming in the mouth, striking an impression on the mid palate and sporting a pleasing velvety texture. The flavors trump the nose at this stage. Very good. Reviewed January 12, 2012 ARTICLE »