Dec 30, 2022
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Franchere Wine Co.
| Owner(s) | Mike Hinds |
| Link to this site |
Montreal native Gabriel Franchere traveled to Oregon in the employ of fur magnate John Jacob Astor in 1811. Two centuries later, his ancestor Mike Hinds is making wine in Oregon.
The fruit for the 2013 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir comes from Zenith, Illahe, and Zena Springs vineyards, all in the Eola-Amity Hills. This inexpensive wine is made at Illahe.
Articles About Franchere Wine Co.
Reviewed Wines
2016 Franchere Havlin Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.60, 40 cases, $28.
Clone 115, Harvest Brix 23.2º. Native yeast fermentation. 10% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in used French
oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Dark garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of smoky ash and woodshed
with no fruit arriving over time. Mid weight plus in style, displaying flavors of blackberry and cassis. Husky,
dense and brooding, with daunting tannins. No change when re-tasted several hours after opening. Veers to
Syrah in character.
Score: 87.
Reviewed February 2, 2019
ARTICLE »
2015 Franchere Havlin Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.6% alc.,pH 3.64, TA 0.59, 60
cases, $28. Vineyard is located in the Van Duzer Corridor (the Willamette Valley’s newest AVA).
Soils are marine sedimentary over rare ironstone bedrock. Harvest Brix 21.9º. 60% Pommard,
40% 115. 10% whole cluster. Native yeast fermentation, aged 10 months in used oak barrels.
Bottled unfined and unfiltered with Diam closure.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose
opens slowly to reveal aromas of blackberry, spice, bramble and damp soil. Earthbound fruit
flavors of purple and black fruits are framed by gutsy, but not aggressive tannins. Good liveliness,
with a boysenberry-driven finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed February 2, 2019
ARTICLE »
2014 Franchere Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., pH 3.54, TA 0.61, 150 cases, $24. Release
September 2016. Sourced from Zenith Vineyard (83%, Harvest Brix 23.4º) and Zena Springs Vineyard (17%,
Harvest Brix 22.1º). 100% de-stemmed, no cold soak, spontaneous native yeast fermentation, 1g/L tartaric acid
addition, aged 10 months in used oak barrels. Bottled with Diam closure unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate
reddish purple color in the glass. The nose offers a strange mix of aromas including muddled black cherry,
hops, bruised apple and Beaujolais nouveau. Light to mid weight in style, soft in the mouth, with simple flavors
of black cherry and dark red berries energized with a lively acid spine, balanced tannins, and a modest finish.
Score: 85.
Reviewed July 9, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Franchere Zena Springs Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
12.6% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.63,
48 cases, $28. Release September 2016. Harvest Brix 22.1º. Native yeast ferment, 0.5 g/L tartaric acid
addition, aged 15 months in used French oak barrels. Bottled with Diam closure unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Deep aromas of black fruits, forest path and white pepper.
The exuberant, sweet, and sappy flavors of blackberry and cassis are overwhelmed by muscular, drying
tannins that ply the finish with a vengeance. Better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked
bottle when the tannins had ameliorated some but this will always be a tannic wine. Best to decant this wine if
drunk now.
Score: 87.
Reviewed July 9, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Franchere Zenith Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 70 cases, $34. Release
September 2016. Native ferment, addition of 1 g/L tartaric acid, aged in used French oak barrels for 15 months
and bottled with Diam closure unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Shy
aromas of black fruits, cassis, black grape syrup and a hint of bruised apple. The mid weight plus core of black
cherry and black raspberry fruits are nicely spiced and charming. The mouthfeel is silky and the tannins,
although evident, are nicely integrated and do not haunt the enjoyable, purple-fruited finish.
Score: 88.
Reviewed July 9, 2016
ARTICLE »
2016 Franchere Havlin Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.60, 40 cases, $28. Clone 115, Harvest Brix 23.2º. Native yeast fermentation. 10% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in used French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Dark garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of smoky ash and woodshed with no fruit arriving over time. Mid weight plus in style, displaying flavors of blackberry and cassis. Husky, dense and brooding, with daunting tannins. No change when re-tasted several hours after opening. Veers to Syrah in character. Score: 87. Reviewed February 2, 2019 ARTICLE »
2015 Franchere Havlin Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.6% alc.,pH 3.64, TA 0.59, 60 cases, $28. Vineyard is located in the Van Duzer Corridor (the Willamette Valley’s newest AVA). Soils are marine sedimentary over rare ironstone bedrock. Harvest Brix 21.9º. 60% Pommard, 40% 115. 10% whole cluster. Native yeast fermentation, aged 10 months in used oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with Diam closure. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose opens slowly to reveal aromas of blackberry, spice, bramble and damp soil. Earthbound fruit flavors of purple and black fruits are framed by gutsy, but not aggressive tannins. Good liveliness, with a boysenberry-driven finish. Score: 89. Reviewed February 2, 2019 ARTICLE »
2014 Franchere Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., pH 3.54, TA 0.61, 150 cases, $24. Release September 2016. Sourced from Zenith Vineyard (83%, Harvest Brix 23.4º) and Zena Springs Vineyard (17%, Harvest Brix 22.1º). 100% de-stemmed, no cold soak, spontaneous native yeast fermentation, 1g/L tartaric acid addition, aged 10 months in used oak barrels. Bottled with Diam closure unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose offers a strange mix of aromas including muddled black cherry, hops, bruised apple and Beaujolais nouveau. Light to mid weight in style, soft in the mouth, with simple flavors of black cherry and dark red berries energized with a lively acid spine, balanced tannins, and a modest finish. Score: 85. Reviewed July 9, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Franchere Zena Springs Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
12.6% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.63, 48 cases, $28. Release September 2016. Harvest Brix 22.1º. Native yeast ferment, 0.5 g/L tartaric acid addition, aged 15 months in used French oak barrels. Bottled with Diam closure unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Deep aromas of black fruits, forest path and white pepper. The exuberant, sweet, and sappy flavors of blackberry and cassis are overwhelmed by muscular, drying tannins that ply the finish with a vengeance. Better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when the tannins had ameliorated some but this will always be a tannic wine. Best to decant this wine if drunk now. Score: 87. Reviewed July 9, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Franchere Zenith Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 70 cases, $34. Release September 2016. Native ferment, addition of 1 g/L tartaric acid, aged in used French oak barrels for 15 months and bottled with Diam closure unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Shy aromas of black fruits, cassis, black grape syrup and a hint of bruised apple. The mid weight plus core of black cherry and black raspberry fruits are nicely spiced and charming. The mouthfeel is silky and the tannins, although evident, are nicely integrated and do not haunt the enjoyable, purple-fruited finish. Score: 88. Reviewed July 9, 2016 ARTICLE »