Dec 30, 2022
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Bells Up Winery
| Owner(s) | David Specter, Sara Specter |
| Web site | www.bellsupwinery.com |
| Link to this site |
David and Sara Specter were inspired to open a winery after a vacation at Chehalem Ridge Bed & Breakfast in Newberg in 2008. David began to pursue winemaking after a legal career beginning in 2009. He made wine at an urban winery in Cincinnati, won some awards at national amateur winemaking competitions, and earned an enology certification through Washington State University. Finally, he moved his family to Oregon in the summer of 2012.
The Specters have a home and winery in the Chehalem Mountains on Bell Road. The estate vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc (a French hybrid that David worked with in Ohio). David interned with Bryan Weil, the winemaker at Alexana Winery in the nearby Dundee Hills. Neighbors Mark and Tina Hammond of Privé Vineyard have served as mentors. David also received guidance from Myron Redord, founder of Amity Vineyards.
The winery opened in March 2015. The winery's logo, a French horn, is a tribute to David's passion of playing the French horn and the winery's name is musically-inspired. The wines, which include Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir Rosé are named after famous music compositions.
The Specters have planted 5.5 acres of Pinot Noir with five different clones on their hillside property.
The winery tasting room in a former barn is open to the public Memorial Day. Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends and by appointment.
Articles About Bells Up Winery
Reviewed Wines
2016 Bells Up Titan Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., pH 3.72, TA 0.58, 131 cases, $40. Released
September 1, 2018. Clones 115 and 77 from a vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and Pommard clone from a
Chehalem Mountains Vineyard. Harvest Brix 24.2º. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, 39% new.
·
Moderately light ruby red color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of red cherry, strawberry and sandalwood.
A lighter, gentle and elegant wine featuring red fruits with an ancillary botanical note. Forward drinking, with
gossamer tannins, good acidity, and a slightly tart and short red cherry finish. The wine gives the impression of
under ripe fruit and displays somewhat shallow extraction on the mid palate and finish.
Score: 88.
Reviewed April 16, 2019
ARTICLE »
2015 Bells Up Prelude Willamette Valley Oregon Rosé of Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., 65 cases, $18. 15-year-old,
non irrigated vines, clones 777 and 115. Exposed to skins for 24 hours, then pressed before fermentation.
Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral oak.
·
Light pinkish orange color in the glass. Aromas of ripe
strawberries, brown spices and orange zest. Pure flavors of blood orange, strawberry and spice. Nicely
balanced and easy going.
Score: 88.
Reviewed September 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Bells Up Rhapsody Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Blanc
12.8% alc., 116 cases, $22. Aged on the
lees in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. No malolactic fermentation.
·
Light greenish-yellow color in the glass.
Aromas and flavors of apple, citrus and pear in a clean and fresh style, with a savory bent and a riff of aciddriven
salinity.
Score: 86.
Reviewed September 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Titan Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.59, 128 cases, $40. Fall release.
24% Pommard (25-years-old), 38% 115 (15-years-old), and 38% 777 (15-years-old). Both Jory and Willakenzie
soils. 100% de-stemmed, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 35% new.
·
Light reddish purple color in the
glass. Decanted before tasting, but still shy, offering aromas and flavors of dark cherry, plum, spice and toast.
Well-balanced, with a modest but satisfying finish.
Score: 89-90.
Reviewed September 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Bells Up Villanelle Tonnelier Vineyard Reserve Yamhill-Carlton Oregon Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 53
cases, $54. A barrel selection. From a 3.5-acre vineyard on sedimentary Willakenzie soil. Equal parts free run
clones 115 and 777 (15-year-old vines) aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 45% new.
·
Light reddish purple
color in the glass. Inviting complexity in this wine sporting aromas of black cherry, dark raspberry, spice and
tobacco, and flavors of black cherry, orange pekoe tea and spice. Plenty of fruit driven power to please, but
easy to cozy up to with suede-like tannins and an energetic finish.
Score: 90-91.
Reviewed September 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 Titan Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.60, 163 cases, $40. 34%
Pommard clone from Chehalem Mountains and 33% each clones 115 and 777 from Yamhill-Carlton. Both
vineyards are planted in Willakenzie soil. Grapes picked after September rains. Aged 11 months in 40% new
and 60% neutral French oak barrels.
·
Light reddish purple color in the glass. Earth-kissed aromas of cherry and
orange pekoe tea. Elegant, with a “crunchy” texture, featuring cherry and spiced plum flavors, and a juicy
finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed September 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2016 Bells Up Titan Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., pH 3.72, TA 0.58, 131 cases, $40. Released September 1, 2018. Clones 115 and 77 from a vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and Pommard clone from a Chehalem Mountains Vineyard. Harvest Brix 24.2º. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, 39% new. · Moderately light ruby red color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of red cherry, strawberry and sandalwood. A lighter, gentle and elegant wine featuring red fruits with an ancillary botanical note. Forward drinking, with gossamer tannins, good acidity, and a slightly tart and short red cherry finish. The wine gives the impression of under ripe fruit and displays somewhat shallow extraction on the mid palate and finish. Score: 88. Reviewed April 16, 2019 ARTICLE »
2015 Bells Up Prelude Willamette Valley Oregon Rosé of Pinot Noir
12.9% alc., 65 cases, $18. 15-year-old, non irrigated vines, clones 777 and 115. Exposed to skins for 24 hours, then pressed before fermentation. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral oak. · Light pinkish orange color in the glass. Aromas of ripe strawberries, brown spices and orange zest. Pure flavors of blood orange, strawberry and spice. Nicely balanced and easy going. Score: 88. Reviewed September 18, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Bells Up Rhapsody Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Blanc
12.8% alc., 116 cases, $22. Aged on the lees in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. No malolactic fermentation. · Light greenish-yellow color in the glass. Aromas and flavors of apple, citrus and pear in a clean and fresh style, with a savory bent and a riff of aciddriven salinity. Score: 86. Reviewed September 18, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Titan Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.59, 128 cases, $40. Fall release. 24% Pommard (25-years-old), 38% 115 (15-years-old), and 38% 777 (15-years-old). Both Jory and Willakenzie soils. 100% de-stemmed, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 35% new. · Light reddish purple color in the glass. Decanted before tasting, but still shy, offering aromas and flavors of dark cherry, plum, spice and toast. Well-balanced, with a modest but satisfying finish. Score: 89-90. Reviewed September 18, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Bells Up Villanelle Tonnelier Vineyard Reserve Yamhill-Carlton Oregon Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 53 cases, $54. A barrel selection. From a 3.5-acre vineyard on sedimentary Willakenzie soil. Equal parts free run clones 115 and 777 (15-year-old vines) aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 45% new. · Light reddish purple color in the glass. Inviting complexity in this wine sporting aromas of black cherry, dark raspberry, spice and tobacco, and flavors of black cherry, orange pekoe tea and spice. Plenty of fruit driven power to please, but easy to cozy up to with suede-like tannins and an energetic finish. Score: 90-91. Reviewed September 18, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 Titan Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.60, 163 cases, $40. 34% Pommard clone from Chehalem Mountains and 33% each clones 115 and 777 from Yamhill-Carlton. Both vineyards are planted in Willakenzie soil. Grapes picked after September rains. Aged 11 months in 40% new and 60% neutral French oak barrels. · Light reddish purple color in the glass. Earth-kissed aromas of cherry and orange pekoe tea. Elegant, with a “crunchy” texture, featuring cherry and spiced plum flavors, and a juicy finish. Score: 89. Reviewed September 18, 2016 ARTICLE »