Dec 30, 2022
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Daedalus Cellars
| Owner(s) | Aron Hess, Pam Hess |
| Web site | www.daedaluscellars.com |
| Link to this site |
A family owned winery founded in 2000 by Aron and Pam Hess. The focus at Daedalus Cellars was Pinot Noir, particularly from grapes grown in the Dundee Hills AVA in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Production was performed at the 12th & Maple Wine Company, a custom crush facility in Dundee, Oregon, where Aron was the head winemaker and crafted wines for over 20 clients as well as the wines for his own Daedalus Cellars and Jezebel labels.
Aron aimed for age ability in his Pinot Noirs which were crafted in a modestly rich style. Vineyard sources included Maresh Vineyard and Murto Vineyard, both in the Dundee Hills. Production was approximately 3,000 cases of Daedalus Cellars wines and 5,000 cases of Jezebel wines.
In 2009, Aron and Pam Walden Hess separated and the following year she took over the Daedalus and Jezebal brands. She replaced Daedalus with her own Willful Wine label. Sadly, Aron passed away in 2013.
Articles About Daedalus Cellars
2011 Oregon Pinot Noir All-Americans Second Team (8.47 12/20/2011)
2015 Oregon Pinot Noir Second Team All-Americans (10.23 12/27/2015)
Daedalus Cellars (7.15 3/26/2009)
Dundee Hills (7.7 12/17/2008)
Not Too Late For Oregon ’08 (8.42 8/11/2011)
Pinot Gris: Oregon’s Signature White Wine (7.15 3/26/2009)
Portland Monthly: Oregon’s 50 Best Wines (9.12 10/1/2012)
Rece$$ion Bumpers (7.15 3/26/2009)
Reviewed Wines
2008 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc..
·
Moderately light dark cherry color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of cherry, wilted rose, spice and
timber. Delicious attack of cherry and cranberry fruits infused with suave tannins. Somewhat ephemeral, with
a lip-smacking cherry-infused finish. Ideal now, but could hold short term.
Score: 92.
Reviewed February 8, 2015
ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.4% alc..
·
Moderately light red
cherry color in the glass. Terrific aromatic presence with vivid
aromas of cherry and rose petal. Juicy and light on its feet,
feminine in character, with a charge of cherry and red berry fruit
on the attack and an amazingly long finish that seems to return in
waves. Ideal now, but could hold short to mid term.
Score: 94.
Reviewed February 8, 2015
ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc.,
1,180 cases, $25. Released May 2011. Sourced from five vineyards
in three AVAs. Long cold-soak (21-36 days) with a cuvaison of 32 to
56 days. Native yeast fermentation. 15% whole cluster. Aged 21
months in 18% new French oak.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple
color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of black cherries,
violets, dark chocolate and a hint of oak. A lighter-weighted wine that
still offers plenty of pleasure including flavors of red fruits, savory herbs and a
hint of coffee. Supple tannins make for easy drinking now. Very Good.
Reviewed August 13, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 71 cases, $45. Released May 2011.
A winemaker’s cuvée of the best wine in the cellar. 70% Maresh Vineyard, 20% Durant Vineyard and small
amounts of Thistle and Murto vineyards. 53% Pommard, 38% Wädenswil and 9% mixed Dijon clones. Native
fermentation. Cold soak 21-36 days with total cuvaison of 32-56 days. 15% whole cluster. Aged 21 months in
18% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Enticing aromas of cherry
tart, brioche, seasoned oak and dried rose petals. Delicious red raspberry flavor with complimentary spice and
oak. Soft and juicy in the mouth with notable persistence on the fruit-filled finish. A lighter-weighted, but
fulfilling wine. Very Good.
Reviewed August 13, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
12.4% alc., 24 cases, $60. Released May 2011. From the oldest
vineyard on Worden Hill Road in the Dundee Hills. 60% Wädenswil
and 40% Pommard clones. Since 2007, the southern half of the
vineyard has been farmed by Daedalus organically. Yields 1.0-1.6 tons
per acre. 32-day cold soak. Native fermentation. Unfined and
unfiltered.
·
Lighter redder-toned color in the glass. Intense aromas of dark red
cherries and berries with oak in the background. Impressive mid palate flavors
of dark red cherries, raspberries and cranberries with complimentary oak spice
and toast. Seamless, sophisticated and classy with a capital C. Very light on
its feet and elegant in structure. Will be better over time as the oak integrates but hard to resist now.
Reviewed August 13, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Daedalus Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Gris
13.6% alc., screw cap. Tall
Alsatian bottle. From four vineyards (Carabella, Croft, Mahona and Murto) cropped to 2
tons per acre. Fermented with five different yeasts in 50% stainless steel and 50%
neutral oak.
·
Rather intense aromas of pear, baking spices and almonds. Light and
delicate flavors of pears and honey with a creamy mouth feel and some length to the
finish.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Jezebel Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 4,674 cases, $20, screw cap. This second label
of Daedalus is named after a biblical whore. This wine is a blend of several vineyards and is
crafted by winemaker Aron Hess. Fermented in 60% stainless steel, 5% new and 35% neutral
French oak.
·
Lightly colored with very demure Pinot fruit flavors. Oak char and herbs are to the
front. Light and silky.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Jezebel Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc.,4,674 cases, $20, screw cap. Second label of
Daedalus named after a biblical whore. This wine is a blend of several vineyards ranging from
the Columbia Valley to the Umpqua Valley to the Willamette Valley. Fermented in 60% stainless
steel, 5% new and 35% neutral French oak.
·
Lightly colored with very demure Pinot fruit flavors.
Oak char and herbs are to the front. Light and silky and ready to go now.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 620
cases, $45. This wine is a cuvée of some of the best barrels in the cellar in any given
vintage. Primarily Pommard clone with some Dijon 114 and Wädenswil clones from
old-vine fruit sourced from Seven Springs, Maresh and Murto vineyards and younger
fruit from Carabella Vineyard. Cold soaked for 7 to 32 days, 15% whole cluster
fermentation, processed entirely by gravity, total skin contact 17 to 42 days, aged 14
months in 28% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Aromas of toasty oak, hay,
earth and barnyard dominate the demure dark fruits. The wine has a tasty core of
black cherries and black raspberries with an underlying woodiness and a touch of citric peel on the persistent
finish. The tannins are reigned in nicely. This wine should improve in the bottle over the next several years.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Daedalus Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 1,330 cases, $30.
A blend of seven Willamette Valley vineyards. 20% whole cluster. Aged 14 months in
17% new, 8% second fill and 75% neutral French oak. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Aromas
of oak dominate the dark red fruit with secondary notes of hay and herbs. There is a
tasty black cherry and berry attack with a hint of spice. Velvety in texture with supple
tannins, ending with a lively tang on the finish that leaves an oak hangover.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
620 cases, $45.
32% Dundee Hills fruit (Maresh Vineyard, Murto Vineyard), 24% Chehalem Mountains
fruit (Carabella Vineyard), and 44% Eola-Amity Hills fruit (Seven Springs Vineyard).
Pommard (mostly), Wädenswil, and 114 clones. 7-32 day cold soak, 15% whole
cluster fermentation, total skin contact 17 to 42 days, aged 14 months in French oak
28% new, 32% second fill and 40% neutral. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
A darker fruit
driven wine with layered flavors and appealing floral aromas. Nicely balanced with
perfect integration of oak.
Reviewed December 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Daedalus Cellars Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 140 cases, $60. Aron has worked with fruit from the
Maresh Vineyard since his time at Rex Hill Vineyards starting in 1998 and is
his favorite vineyard. Maresh Vineyard is the oldest planting on Worden Hill
Road in the Dundee Hills. Yields are naturally low (1 to 1.6 tons per acre).
·
Very fruity scents of dark red berry compote with oak playing a pleasing
supportive role. Luscious and vibrant core of raspberry fruit with a hint of
brioche. Harmonious in every way with an unbelievable persistence on the aromatic
finish lasting at least 30 seconds. The pedigree of the fruit really shines through. In
my experience, it is extremely rare to find a Pinot Noir with such remarkable persistence.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Daedalus Cellars Nyarady Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 220 cases, $60.
A blend of the best wine in the cellar from three vineyards: Carabella (Chehalem Mountains)
42%, Maresh (Dundee Hills) 38% and Seven Springs (Eola Hills) 20%. Dijon 114, Pommard
and Wädenswil clones. 10 to 17 day cold soak, partial whole cluster fermentation, aged 15
months in 20% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. The name of this wine was
auctioned to benefit the Jimmy Mancbach Memorial Scholarship Fund. Pablo and Lynanne
Nyarady won the bid and named the wine in honor of Pablo’s 85 year-old father. Hess likens
this wine to Labyrinth ‘squared,” meaning a little broader shouldered than the Labyrinth
bottling.
·
The floral nose is highly perfumed with violets initially, evolving and becoming more
expressive over time to reveal demure dark fruits, spice, oak and fir. Very plush in the mouth
with plumy dark fruits, notable oak accents and an underlying earthiness and stemminess.
The most striking feature of this wine is its rich and velvety texture.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc.. · Moderately light dark cherry color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of cherry, wilted rose, spice and timber. Delicious attack of cherry and cranberry fruits infused with suave tannins. Somewhat ephemeral, with a lip-smacking cherry-infused finish. Ideal now, but could hold short term. Score: 92. Reviewed February 8, 2015 ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.4% alc.. · Moderately light red cherry color in the glass. Terrific aromatic presence with vivid aromas of cherry and rose petal. Juicy and light on its feet, feminine in character, with a charge of cherry and red berry fruit on the attack and an amazingly long finish that seems to return in waves. Ideal now, but could hold short to mid term. Score: 94. Reviewed February 8, 2015 ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 1,180 cases, $25. Released May 2011. Sourced from five vineyards in three AVAs. Long cold-soak (21-36 days) with a cuvaison of 32 to 56 days. Native yeast fermentation. 15% whole cluster. Aged 21 months in 18% new French oak. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of black cherries, violets, dark chocolate and a hint of oak. A lighter-weighted wine that still offers plenty of pleasure including flavors of red fruits, savory herbs and a hint of coffee. Supple tannins make for easy drinking now. Very Good. Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 71 cases, $45. Released May 2011. A winemaker’s cuvée of the best wine in the cellar. 70% Maresh Vineyard, 20% Durant Vineyard and small amounts of Thistle and Murto vineyards. 53% Pommard, 38% Wädenswil and 9% mixed Dijon clones. Native fermentation. Cold soak 21-36 days with total cuvaison of 32-56 days. 15% whole cluster. Aged 21 months in 18% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Enticing aromas of cherry tart, brioche, seasoned oak and dried rose petals. Delicious red raspberry flavor with complimentary spice and oak. Soft and juicy in the mouth with notable persistence on the fruit-filled finish. A lighter-weighted, but fulfilling wine. Very Good. Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Daedalus Cellars Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
12.4% alc., 24 cases, $60. Released May 2011. From the oldest vineyard on Worden Hill Road in the Dundee Hills. 60% Wädenswil and 40% Pommard clones. Since 2007, the southern half of the vineyard has been farmed by Daedalus organically. Yields 1.0-1.6 tons per acre. 32-day cold soak. Native fermentation. Unfined and unfiltered. · Lighter redder-toned color in the glass. Intense aromas of dark red cherries and berries with oak in the background. Impressive mid palate flavors of dark red cherries, raspberries and cranberries with complimentary oak spice and toast. Seamless, sophisticated and classy with a capital C. Very light on its feet and elegant in structure. Will be better over time as the oak integrates but hard to resist now. Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Daedalus Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Gris
13.6% alc., screw cap. Tall Alsatian bottle. From four vineyards (Carabella, Croft, Mahona and Murto) cropped to 2 tons per acre. Fermented with five different yeasts in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak. · Rather intense aromas of pear, baking spices and almonds. Light and delicate flavors of pears and honey with a creamy mouth feel and some length to the finish. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Jezebel Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 4,674 cases, $20, screw cap. This second label of Daedalus is named after a biblical whore. This wine is a blend of several vineyards and is crafted by winemaker Aron Hess. Fermented in 60% stainless steel, 5% new and 35% neutral French oak. · Lightly colored with very demure Pinot fruit flavors. Oak char and herbs are to the front. Light and silky. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Jezebel Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc.,4,674 cases, $20, screw cap. Second label of Daedalus named after a biblical whore. This wine is a blend of several vineyards ranging from the Columbia Valley to the Umpqua Valley to the Willamette Valley. Fermented in 60% stainless steel, 5% new and 35% neutral French oak. · Lightly colored with very demure Pinot fruit flavors. Oak char and herbs are to the front. Light and silky and ready to go now. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 620 cases, $45. This wine is a cuvée of some of the best barrels in the cellar in any given vintage. Primarily Pommard clone with some Dijon 114 and Wädenswil clones from old-vine fruit sourced from Seven Springs, Maresh and Murto vineyards and younger fruit from Carabella Vineyard. Cold soaked for 7 to 32 days, 15% whole cluster fermentation, processed entirely by gravity, total skin contact 17 to 42 days, aged 14 months in 28% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered. · Aromas of toasty oak, hay, earth and barnyard dominate the demure dark fruits. The wine has a tasty core of black cherries and black raspberries with an underlying woodiness and a touch of citric peel on the persistent finish. The tannins are reigned in nicely. This wine should improve in the bottle over the next several years. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Daedalus Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 1,330 cases, $30. A blend of seven Willamette Valley vineyards. 20% whole cluster. Aged 14 months in 17% new, 8% second fill and 75% neutral French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Aromas of oak dominate the dark red fruit with secondary notes of hay and herbs. There is a tasty black cherry and berry attack with a hint of spice. Velvety in texture with supple tannins, ending with a lively tang on the finish that leaves an oak hangover. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Daedalus Cellars Labyrinth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
620 cases, $45. 32% Dundee Hills fruit (Maresh Vineyard, Murto Vineyard), 24% Chehalem Mountains fruit (Carabella Vineyard), and 44% Eola-Amity Hills fruit (Seven Springs Vineyard). Pommard (mostly), Wädenswil, and 114 clones. 7-32 day cold soak, 15% whole cluster fermentation, total skin contact 17 to 42 days, aged 14 months in French oak 28% new, 32% second fill and 40% neutral. Unfined and unfiltered. · A darker fruit driven wine with layered flavors and appealing floral aromas. Nicely balanced with perfect integration of oak. Reviewed December 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Daedalus Cellars Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 140 cases, $60. Aron has worked with fruit from the Maresh Vineyard since his time at Rex Hill Vineyards starting in 1998 and is his favorite vineyard. Maresh Vineyard is the oldest planting on Worden Hill Road in the Dundee Hills. Yields are naturally low (1 to 1.6 tons per acre). · Very fruity scents of dark red berry compote with oak playing a pleasing supportive role. Luscious and vibrant core of raspberry fruit with a hint of brioche. Harmonious in every way with an unbelievable persistence on the aromatic finish lasting at least 30 seconds. The pedigree of the fruit really shines through. In my experience, it is extremely rare to find a Pinot Noir with such remarkable persistence. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Daedalus Cellars Nyarady Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 220 cases, $60. A blend of the best wine in the cellar from three vineyards: Carabella (Chehalem Mountains) 42%, Maresh (Dundee Hills) 38% and Seven Springs (Eola Hills) 20%. Dijon 114, Pommard and Wädenswil clones. 10 to 17 day cold soak, partial whole cluster fermentation, aged 15 months in 20% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. The name of this wine was auctioned to benefit the Jimmy Mancbach Memorial Scholarship Fund. Pablo and Lynanne Nyarady won the bid and named the wine in honor of Pablo’s 85 year-old father. Hess likens this wine to Labyrinth ‘squared,” meaning a little broader shouldered than the Labyrinth bottling. · The floral nose is highly perfumed with violets initially, evolving and becoming more expressive over time to reveal demure dark fruits, spice, oak and fir. Very plush in the mouth with plumy dark fruits, notable oak accents and an underlying earthiness and stemminess. The most striking feature of this wine is its rich and velvety texture. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »