Dec 30, 2022
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Lavinea Winery
| Owner(s) | Isabelle Meunier, Greg Ralston |
| Web site | www.lavinea.com |
| Link to this site |
Co founded by winemaker Isabelle Meunier, formerly of Evening Land Vineyards, and businessman Greg Ralston, a member of the Board of Advisors at The San Francisco Wine Exchange and past President and CEO of Evening Land Vineyards. Lavinea is Latin for "of the vineyard."
Lavinea is an artisan producer of single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from mature vineyards in the Willamette Valley. The debut vintage was 2014 which were released in 2016 and received high praise from the wine press.
Meunier, a Quebec native, received her training at the Dijon University of Agriculture (ENESAD) and Lincoln University in New Zealand. She was 2011 Winemaker of the Year by Sunset Magazine Western Wine Awards. At Evening Land Vineyards, she worked closely with Dominique Lafon for eight years.
The fist vintage was 2014 after leaving Evening Land. The lineup of wines includes Pinot Noirs from five AVAs in the northern Willamette Valley plus a Chardonnay. The wines are sold through a mailing list.
The owners hope to plant an estate vineyard and built a winery.
Articles About Lavinea Winery
List of Williamette Valley Old Vine Pinot Noir Vineyards by Original Planting Dates 1965-1979 (12.29 6/5/2022)
Lumos Wine Company: Honest Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (12.27 2/20/2022)
Pinot Noir & Chardonnay I Highly Recommend (12.2 2/17/2020)
Reviewed Wines
2018 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $65. Harvest Brix 23.8º. Spontaneous wild yeast
fermentation with no inoculations. Aged in mixed oak
cooperage, 30% new.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass.
Reserved but pleasant aroma of red fruit leather. More fruit-forward
then the 2016 vintage with charming fruit flavors of
cherry and strawberry. There is a pleasing savory side to the wine with
fruit and savory nuances mingling nicely.
this is a poised wine with
admirable elegance and a very long finish. redolent
with red fruits.
Score: 93.
Reviewed February 21, 2022
ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $65. Harvest Brix 23.8º.
Spontaneous native yeast fermentation with no inoculations. Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 30% new.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Reserved but pleasant aroma of red fruit leather. More fruit-forward
then the 2016 vintage with charming fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry. There is a pleasing savory side to
this wine with both fruit and savory nuances mingling nicely. This is a poised wine with admirable elegance and
a very long finish redolent with red fruits.
Score: 93.
Reviewed May 28, 2022
ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Elton Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., $75. Own-rooted Pinot Noir planted in
1983. Volcanic Jory soils. Harvest Brix 22.1º. Spontaneous fermentation without inoculations. Aged in mixed
cooperage, 25% new.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. A perfume of cherry, raspberry and Herbs de
Provence leads to a middleweight styled wine with a giving core of cherry fruit that exhibits expansiveness on
the palate and through the finish. Fresh, juicy and polished with reserved tannins and a shadow of oak.
Score: 92.
Reviewed February 21, 2022
ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Temperance Hill Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $75. A high elevation site above Bethel
Heights Vineyard exposed to the Van Duzer Corridor influence.
Grapes for this wine were planted in 2001 by Dai Crisp and
farmed organically. Harvest Brix 23º. Spontaneous fermentation
without inoculations. Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 35% new.
Dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of
·
Dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of
purple berries, wine cave, cardamom spice and earth. Rich yet
gently powerful in a mid-weight plus style, offering flavors of
darkest cherry, boysenberry, earth, iron and a touch of
complimentary oak. Silken in texture with modest tannic sinew,
and fruit-dominated, expansive length. This wine accurately
reflects the Temperance Hill ethos.
Score: 94.
Reviewed February 21, 2022
ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Temperance Hill Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $75. A high elevation site
above Bethel Heights Vineyard exposed to the Van Duzer Corridor influence. Grapes for this wine were planted
in 2001 by Dai Crisp and farmed organically. Harvest Brix 23º. Spontaneous fermentation without inoculations.
Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 35% new.
·
Dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of
purple berries, wine cave, cardamom spice and earth. Rich yet gently powerful in a mid-weight plus style,
offering flavors of darkest cherry, boysenberry, earth, iron and a touch of complimentary oak. Silken in texture
with modest tannic sinew, and fruit-dominated, expansive length. This wine accurately reflects the Temperance
Hill ethos.
Score: 94.
Reviewed February 21, 2022
ARTICLE »
2016 Lavinea Lazy River Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., 220 cases, $45.
Winemaker Isabelle Meunier, formerly of Evening Land, crafts
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards in five AVAs in the
northern Willamette Valley. This was my first experience with a
Lavinea wine. A Wine Enthusiast top 100 Cellar Selection for
2019. Barrel fermented in 20% new French oak.
·
This is a
stunning wine that is a dead ringer for a Grand Cru Chablis.
Aromas and flavors of lemon curd, yellow peaches, lime and
melon. Bright and slightly tart with a clean, brisk arrow of acidity.
Still great when sampled the following day from a previously
opened bottle. 93-94 score range. Note: available from K&L
Wine Merchants online.
Score: 93-94.
Reviewed February 17, 2020
ARTICLE »
2016 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 239 cases, $65. Dry-farmed,
own-rooted Pommard and Dijon 667. The Pommard was planted in 1974. The unique soils are Laurelwood,
volcanic silt loam, and weathered iron mineral deposits over deep Jory clay. Harvest Brix 23.6º. Spontaneous
native yeast fermentation. Aged in 27% new oak barrels.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are
aromas of red cherry, sous bois and a touch of oak. Light to mid-weight in style, featuring lean red
cherry and strawberry fruits embellished with a mantel of oak. Elegant in character, with
a long, lip-smacking finish.
Score: 91.
Reviewed February 21, 2022
ARTICLE »
2016 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 239 cases, $65. Dry-farmed,
own-rooted Pommard planted in 1974 and Dijon 667 clones. Harvest Brix 23.6º. Spontaneous native yeast
fermentation. Aged in 27% new oak barrels.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are aromas
of red cherry, sous-bois, and a touch of oak. Light to mid-weight in style, featuring leaner red cherry and
strawberry flavors embellished with a mantel of oak. Elegant in character, with a long, lip-smacking finish.
Score: 91.
Reviewed May 28, 2022
ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $65. Harvest Brix 23.8º. Spontaneous wild yeast fermentation with no inoculations. Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 30% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Reserved but pleasant aroma of red fruit leather. More fruit-forward then the 2016 vintage with charming fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry. There is a pleasing savory side to the wine with fruit and savory nuances mingling nicely. this is a poised wine with admirable elegance and a very long finish. redolent with red fruits. Score: 93. Reviewed February 21, 2022 ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $65. Harvest Brix 23.8º. Spontaneous native yeast fermentation with no inoculations. Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 30% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Reserved but pleasant aroma of red fruit leather. More fruit-forward then the 2016 vintage with charming fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry. There is a pleasing savory side to this wine with both fruit and savory nuances mingling nicely. This is a poised wine with admirable elegance and a very long finish redolent with red fruits. Score: 93. Reviewed May 28, 2022 ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Elton Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., $75. Own-rooted Pinot Noir planted in 1983. Volcanic Jory soils. Harvest Brix 22.1º. Spontaneous fermentation without inoculations. Aged in mixed cooperage, 25% new. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. A perfume of cherry, raspberry and Herbs de Provence leads to a middleweight styled wine with a giving core of cherry fruit that exhibits expansiveness on the palate and through the finish. Fresh, juicy and polished with reserved tannins and a shadow of oak. Score: 92. Reviewed February 21, 2022 ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Temperance Hill Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $75. A high elevation site above Bethel Heights Vineyard exposed to the Van Duzer Corridor influence. Grapes for this wine were planted in 2001 by Dai Crisp and farmed organically. Harvest Brix 23º. Spontaneous fermentation without inoculations. Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 35% new. Dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of · Dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of purple berries, wine cave, cardamom spice and earth. Rich yet gently powerful in a mid-weight plus style, offering flavors of darkest cherry, boysenberry, earth, iron and a touch of complimentary oak. Silken in texture with modest tannic sinew, and fruit-dominated, expansive length. This wine accurately reflects the Temperance Hill ethos. Score: 94. Reviewed February 21, 2022 ARTICLE »
2018 Lavinea Temperance Hill Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $75. A high elevation site above Bethel Heights Vineyard exposed to the Van Duzer Corridor influence. Grapes for this wine were planted in 2001 by Dai Crisp and farmed organically. Harvest Brix 23º. Spontaneous fermentation without inoculations. Aged in mixed oak cooperage, 35% new. · Dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of purple berries, wine cave, cardamom spice and earth. Rich yet gently powerful in a mid-weight plus style, offering flavors of darkest cherry, boysenberry, earth, iron and a touch of complimentary oak. Silken in texture with modest tannic sinew, and fruit-dominated, expansive length. This wine accurately reflects the Temperance Hill ethos. Score: 94. Reviewed February 21, 2022 ARTICLE »
2016 Lavinea Lazy River Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., 220 cases, $45. Winemaker Isabelle Meunier, formerly of Evening Land, crafts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards in five AVAs in the northern Willamette Valley. This was my first experience with a Lavinea wine. A Wine Enthusiast top 100 Cellar Selection for 2019. Barrel fermented in 20% new French oak. · This is a stunning wine that is a dead ringer for a Grand Cru Chablis. Aromas and flavors of lemon curd, yellow peaches, lime and melon. Bright and slightly tart with a clean, brisk arrow of acidity. Still great when sampled the following day from a previously opened bottle. 93-94 score range. Note: available from K&L Wine Merchants online. Score: 93-94. Reviewed February 17, 2020 ARTICLE »
2016 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 239 cases, $65. Dry-farmed, own-rooted Pommard and Dijon 667. The Pommard was planted in 1974. The unique soils are Laurelwood, volcanic silt loam, and weathered iron mineral deposits over deep Jory clay. Harvest Brix 23.6º. Spontaneous native yeast fermentation. Aged in 27% new oak barrels. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of red cherry, sous bois and a touch of oak. Light to mid-weight in style, featuring lean red cherry and strawberry fruits embellished with a mantel of oak. Elegant in character, with a long, lip-smacking finish. Score: 91. Reviewed February 21, 2022 ARTICLE »
2016 Lavinea Tualatin Estate Vineyard Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 239 cases, $65. Dry-farmed, own-rooted Pommard planted in 1974 and Dijon 667 clones. Harvest Brix 23.6º. Spontaneous native yeast fermentation. Aged in 27% new oak barrels. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of red cherry, sous-bois, and a touch of oak. Light to mid-weight in style, featuring leaner red cherry and strawberry flavors embellished with a mantel of oak. Elegant in character, with a long, lip-smacking finish. Score: 91. Reviewed May 28, 2022 ARTICLE »