Dec 30, 2022
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Flâneur Wines
| Owner(s) | Grant Coulter, Marty Doerschlag, Russell Lichtenthal |
| Web site | www.flaneurwines.com |
| Link to this site |
Winemaker Grant Coulter worked for years at Beaux Frères Winery before leaving at the end of 2015 and became the Director of Vineyards and Winemaker at Flâneur Winery. Michael D. Etzel, Mike Etzel's son, took over the direct winemaking at Beaux Frères.
The first vintage was 2013 and from 2013 to 2016 the wines were crafted by Kely Kidneigh. The 2016 vintage is Coulter's first vine to bottle vintage.
The winery is a partnership between Coulter, Russell Lichtenthal and Martin Doerschlag. Doerschlag, who is from Virginia, bought a 7-acre vineyard in the Ribbon Ridge AVA (Flânerie Vineyard, planted in 2003 by previous owners Bonnie and Matt Saikkonen), and also purchased 40 acres of an abandoned cherry and prune orchard in the Chehalem Mountains, turning it into a 35-acre vineyard called La Belle Promenade. The estate vineyard, La Belle Promenade ("The Beautiful Walk") was planted to 28 acres of Pinot Noir, 5 acres of Chardonnay and 2 acres of Pinot Meunier in the spring of 2014. Jory soils, 700-800 feet elevation.
The word, flâneur can be described as follows: "A flâneur observes one's surroundings and takes time to appreciate the amazing details of life."
The winery is located in Carlton and the tasting room opened in 2016 .
A Rosé from the 2015 vintage, and a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir were introduced from the 2013 and 2014 vintages. An X-Novo Chardonnay is also available and a sparkling wine will be released in 2020.
Doerschlag also bought a grain elevator in Carlton from Ken Wright and is converting it into a tasting venue and event space, expected to open in November 2018.
The Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and sparkling wines are available online and through a mailing list. Current production is 3,000 cases.
Articles About Flâneur Wines
2018 Oregon Value Priced Pinot Noir All-Americans (11.36 12/29/2018)
Are There Any Under $30 2018 Domestic Pinot Noirs Worth Drinking? 30 Prospects Priced Less Than $30 (12.10 11/11/2020)
Embraceable (and Affordable) New Pinot Noir Releases from Oregon (11.19 2/20/2018)
Mining Oregon’s Willamette Valley for Good Pinot Noir Priced at or Less Than $30 (11.37 1/17/2019)
Sips of Recently Tasted Willamette Valley Wines (11.5 6/25/2017)
Reviewed Wines
2018 Flaneur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $24.40, screw cap (Vinopolis, Portland, OR).
Produced and bottled by Flaneur Wines, Carlton, OR. Native yeast fermentation. Aged in 5% new French oak
barrels.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose offers not particularly redeeming aromas of peppery
spice, black cherry and underbrush. Better on the palate with middleweight flavors of dark red and black cherry.
The tannins rise up noticeably on the modest finish.
Score: 86.
Reviewed November 12, 2020
ARTICLE »
2017 Flaneur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.51, 2,170 cases,
$28. 68% La Belle Promenade Vineyard (Chehalem Mountains) and 32% Flanerie
Vineyard (Ribbon Ridge). Mixed Pinot Noir clones. The wine was fermented in a variety of
stainless steel tanks and one large oak vessel. 36% whole cluster. Native yeast
fermentation, and aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 11% new.
·
Moderately light
garnet color in the glass. Initially, reserved aromas of red berry, red cherry and earthy
flora unchanged over time in the glass. Mid weight flavors of dark red and purple berries backed by
mild, silky tannins. The slightest oak is complimentary. This wine underwent a significant
transformation when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle offering
more giving fruit aromas, and more charm on the palate. Unusual for Willamette Valley AVA wines, but
this one needs decanting.
Score: 89.
Reviewed January 16, 2019
ARTICLE »
2016 Flâneur Bon Vivant Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.55, 122
cases, $50. Release summer 2018. Wax closure. 75% Belle Promenade and 25% Flânerie
vineyards. Native yeast fermentation, 100% whole cluster inclusion. Aged 12 months in French oak
barrels, 25% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. The seductive nose offers penetrating
aromas of muddled cherry, dried rose petal and exotic spice (a nose you could drink). A complex
and layered wine with mid weight flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, spice, tobacco and edible flower. The
whole cluster driven tannic backbone is supportive yet rather imperceptible creating a caressing mouth feel.
More sumptuous when tasted later in the day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. A regal wine in
which the whole cluster inclusion fits perfectly.
Score: 95.
Reviewed February 21, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Flâneur Cuvée Constantine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.80, TA 0.53,
602 cases, $40. Release summer 2018. Wax closure. Constantin Guys was a stroller, observer and
painter of crowds in the streets of Paris in the mid-19th century, 40% La Belle Promenade, 45%
Flânerie and 9% X-Novo vineyards. Native yeast fermentation, 28% whole cluster. Aged 12 months
in French oak barrels, 23% new.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Shy, but emerging
aromas of dark cherry, earthy flora, nutty oak and a hint of vanilla. Prodigious mid weight plus core
of black fruits complimented by a toasty oak thread. Good integration of tannins, with a smooth
texture and a very powerful boysenberry-driven finish. Still young and evolving and considerably more aromatic
and giving when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.
Score: 94.
Reviewed February 21, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Flâneur Flânerie Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.56, 416 cases, $50.
Released. Marine sedimentary soils (Willakenzie). Clones are Wädenswil (60%), 667 (27%) and 777 (13%).
Fermented with ambient yeast. 20% whole cluster. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. Bottled
unfiltered.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Rising from the glass are scents of dark red cherry,
potpourri, oats and herbs. The mid weight charge of black cherry, pomegranate and spice flavors attack with
intent, then following thru with mid palate intensity and finishing with generosity. Sleek and juicy, with some
tenacious tannins showing up on the finish.
Score: 91.
Reviewed February 21, 2018
ARTICLE »
2014 Flâneur Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5%
alc., 250 cases, $40. 60% estate Flanerie Vineyard and 40%
X-Novo Vineyard. Fermented with feral yeast, aged 18
months in French oak barrels (40% new) and bottled
unfiltered.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Heady
aromas of black cherry, spice and floral bouquet captivate.
Opens slowly in the glass, offering a core of sappy black
cherry and black raspberry goodness accented with welcome spice and
framed by muscular tannins. The finish is particularly impressive, leaving
a trail of spiced dark fruits in its wake. Even better when tasted later in
the day from a previously opened bottle.
Score: 92.
Reviewed June 25, 2017
ARTICLE »
2018 Flaneur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $24.40, screw cap (Vinopolis, Portland, OR). Produced and bottled by Flaneur Wines, Carlton, OR. Native yeast fermentation. Aged in 5% new French oak barrels. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose offers not particularly redeeming aromas of peppery spice, black cherry and underbrush. Better on the palate with middleweight flavors of dark red and black cherry. The tannins rise up noticeably on the modest finish. Score: 86. Reviewed November 12, 2020 ARTICLE »
2017 Flaneur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.51, 2,170 cases, $28. 68% La Belle Promenade Vineyard (Chehalem Mountains) and 32% Flanerie Vineyard (Ribbon Ridge). Mixed Pinot Noir clones. The wine was fermented in a variety of stainless steel tanks and one large oak vessel. 36% whole cluster. Native yeast fermentation, and aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 11% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Initially, reserved aromas of red berry, red cherry and earthy flora unchanged over time in the glass. Mid weight flavors of dark red and purple berries backed by mild, silky tannins. The slightest oak is complimentary. This wine underwent a significant transformation when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle offering more giving fruit aromas, and more charm on the palate. Unusual for Willamette Valley AVA wines, but this one needs decanting. Score: 89. Reviewed January 16, 2019 ARTICLE »
2016 Flâneur Bon Vivant Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.55, 122 cases, $50. Release summer 2018. Wax closure. 75% Belle Promenade and 25% Flânerie vineyards. Native yeast fermentation, 100% whole cluster inclusion. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The seductive nose offers penetrating aromas of muddled cherry, dried rose petal and exotic spice (a nose you could drink). A complex and layered wine with mid weight flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, spice, tobacco and edible flower. The whole cluster driven tannic backbone is supportive yet rather imperceptible creating a caressing mouth feel. More sumptuous when tasted later in the day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. A regal wine in which the whole cluster inclusion fits perfectly. Score: 95. Reviewed February 21, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Flâneur Cuvée Constantine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.80, TA 0.53, 602 cases, $40. Release summer 2018. Wax closure. Constantin Guys was a stroller, observer and painter of crowds in the streets of Paris in the mid-19th century, 40% La Belle Promenade, 45% Flânerie and 9% X-Novo vineyards. Native yeast fermentation, 28% whole cluster. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, 23% new. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Shy, but emerging aromas of dark cherry, earthy flora, nutty oak and a hint of vanilla. Prodigious mid weight plus core of black fruits complimented by a toasty oak thread. Good integration of tannins, with a smooth texture and a very powerful boysenberry-driven finish. Still young and evolving and considerably more aromatic and giving when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 94. Reviewed February 21, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Flâneur Flânerie Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.56, 416 cases, $50. Released. Marine sedimentary soils (Willakenzie). Clones are Wädenswil (60%), 667 (27%) and 777 (13%). Fermented with ambient yeast. 20% whole cluster. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. Bottled unfiltered. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Rising from the glass are scents of dark red cherry, potpourri, oats and herbs. The mid weight charge of black cherry, pomegranate and spice flavors attack with intent, then following thru with mid palate intensity and finishing with generosity. Sleek and juicy, with some tenacious tannins showing up on the finish. Score: 91. Reviewed February 21, 2018 ARTICLE »
2014 Flâneur Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 250 cases, $40. 60% estate Flanerie Vineyard and 40% X-Novo Vineyard. Fermented with feral yeast, aged 18 months in French oak barrels (40% new) and bottled unfiltered. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Heady aromas of black cherry, spice and floral bouquet captivate. Opens slowly in the glass, offering a core of sappy black cherry and black raspberry goodness accented with welcome spice and framed by muscular tannins. The finish is particularly impressive, leaving a trail of spiced dark fruits in its wake. Even better when tasted later in the day from a previously opened bottle. Score: 92. Reviewed June 25, 2017 ARTICLE »