Dec 30, 2022
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Johan Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Nils Dag Sundby, Dag Johan Sundby |
| Web site | www.johanvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Johan Vineyards is owned by Dag Johan Sundby, a Norwegian immigrant who came to the Williamette Valley in 2004 to establish the 85-acre Johan estate vineyard located in the heart of the Willamette Valley in Rickreall.
Winemaker Dan Rinke obtained a bachelor's degree in viticulture from California State University Fresno. He began his career as assistant winemaker at Domaine Alfred in California's Central Coast. He then spent a year at Rhys Vineyards. In 2007, he became the vineyard manager and winemaker at Johan Vineyards. Dan Cooper handles the sales and assists in the winemaking.
The winery produces Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Vin Gris and Pinot Noir.
Articles About Johan Vineyards
Johan Vineyards (7.15 3/26/2009)
Noiregon: First Look at 09s and Late Release 08s (8.35 4/11/2011)
Report from 2009 IPNC (7.22 8/5/2009)
Sips of Oregon Pinot Noir (9.18 1/19/2013)
Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Pinot Noir (11.3 5/6/2017)
Reviewed Wines
2015 Farmlands Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., $22. Grown, produced and bottled by
Johan Vineyards in Rickreall, Oregon.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas pick up
intensity over time in the glass, revealing notes of dark cherry, underbrush and toast. Light in weight and
featuring a core of juicy black cherry fruit, this pleasant wine has silky tannins, a compliment of herbal oak, and
a modest finish. A good value play available in supermarkets.
Score: 87.
Reviewed May 7, 2017
ARTICLE »
2009 Johan Vineyards Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., pH 3.86, TA 0.55, 1,083 cases, $28.
Native yeast fermentations, 42% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in 32% new French oak barrels.
·
Medium
reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of wild berries, bramble, lilac with a subtle green (stem) and
medicinal note. Earthy dark red cherries and blueberries are featured in a middleweight style with a green,
vegetal underpinning. Whole cluster just didn’t work in this savory wine. Decent.
Reviewed January 19, 2013
ARTICLE »
2009 Johan Vineyards Estate Reserve Willamette Valley Chardonnay
12.5% alc., pH
3.36, TA 0.59, 142 cases, $33. Released November 2011. A winemaker selection of a blend
of Dijon clones 76 and 95. Fermented with native yeasts in 50% new French oak with lees
stirring, and aged 18 months where it underwent 100% MLF. The wine was bottle aged an
additional 7 months before release. Minimal sulfite additions. Unfiltered.
·
Pale straw color in
the glass with slight cloudiness (bottled with lees). Attractive scent of lemon custard and
buttered brioche. Fresh and frisky, with delicious flavors of lemon, pear, apple, pineapple
and yeasty goodness, silky textured, finishing with a good cut of acidity. One of the more
impressive Oregon Chardonnays I have sampled.
Reviewed January 19, 2013
ARTICLE »
2008 Johan Vineyards Nils Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.8% alc..
·
Moderate reddish purple
color with very slight rim bricking. Aromas of dried rose petal, spice, barnyard and sweaty saddle (probable
Brett). Delicious mid weight core of ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruits framed by dry, balanced
tannins. A real mouthful of fruit that offers an impressive attack and finish. Best now or can be cellared short
term. Your enjoyment will depend on your tolerance for Brett.
Score: NR.
Reviewed February 21, 2015
ARTICLE »
2008 Johan Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 396 cases, $28. Aged 18 months in French
oak barrels.
·
Subdued aromas of cherries and berries with oak and spice in the background. Very tasty pop on
the mid palate of red plum and red and black berry fruits wrapped in firm tannins. The flavors trump the
aromas at this stage. The wine should shed its tannic muscle over time and I suspect this will improve with
another year or two in the cellar. Good (+).
Reviewed April 11, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Johan Vineyards Estate Nils Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.8% alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.56, 330 cases, $45. A barrel selection of clones 114,
115, 667 and 777. Native yeast fermentations, 50% whole cluster, aged 18
months in 40% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in
the glass. Very shy initially, opening nicely over time in the glass to revealing
uplifting aromas of very ripe dark plum and berry with notes of brown spice and
exotic woods. Impressive mid-palate presence of dark plum and berries with a
hint of spice, balanced nicely by firm tannins and citrus-driven acidity. Well composed
and still young, I would hold for a few more years. Very good.
Reviewed January 19, 2013
ARTICLE »
2006 Johan Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 670 cases,
$35. Clones 115, 667 and 777.33% whole cluster fermentation, indigenous
yeasts. Aged 16 months in 60% new French oak and bottle aged another 7
months before release in August 2008.
·
Moderately light garnet color. Very
alluring aromas of freshly crushed berries, oak and allspice. Full compliment
of sweet berries on the palate with impressive richness and length. Appealing
riffs of oak and savory spices. The wine reflects the 2006 vintage with its plush
fruit profile but overripe fruit is not an issue. Very friendly in the mouth and easy to
recommend.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2015 Farmlands Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., $22. Grown, produced and bottled by Johan Vineyards in Rickreall, Oregon. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas pick up intensity over time in the glass, revealing notes of dark cherry, underbrush and toast. Light in weight and featuring a core of juicy black cherry fruit, this pleasant wine has silky tannins, a compliment of herbal oak, and a modest finish. A good value play available in supermarkets. Score: 87. Reviewed May 7, 2017 ARTICLE »
2009 Johan Vineyards Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., pH 3.86, TA 0.55, 1,083 cases, $28. Native yeast fermentations, 42% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in 32% new French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of wild berries, bramble, lilac with a subtle green (stem) and medicinal note. Earthy dark red cherries and blueberries are featured in a middleweight style with a green, vegetal underpinning. Whole cluster just didn’t work in this savory wine. Decent. Reviewed January 19, 2013 ARTICLE »
2009 Johan Vineyards Estate Reserve Willamette Valley Chardonnay
12.5% alc., pH 3.36, TA 0.59, 142 cases, $33. Released November 2011. A winemaker selection of a blend of Dijon clones 76 and 95. Fermented with native yeasts in 50% new French oak with lees stirring, and aged 18 months where it underwent 100% MLF. The wine was bottle aged an additional 7 months before release. Minimal sulfite additions. Unfiltered. · Pale straw color in the glass with slight cloudiness (bottled with lees). Attractive scent of lemon custard and buttered brioche. Fresh and frisky, with delicious flavors of lemon, pear, apple, pineapple and yeasty goodness, silky textured, finishing with a good cut of acidity. One of the more impressive Oregon Chardonnays I have sampled. Reviewed January 19, 2013 ARTICLE »
2008 Johan Vineyards Nils Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.8% alc.. · Moderate reddish purple color with very slight rim bricking. Aromas of dried rose petal, spice, barnyard and sweaty saddle (probable Brett). Delicious mid weight core of ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruits framed by dry, balanced tannins. A real mouthful of fruit that offers an impressive attack and finish. Best now or can be cellared short term. Your enjoyment will depend on your tolerance for Brett. Score: NR. Reviewed February 21, 2015 ARTICLE »
2008 Johan Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 396 cases, $28. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. · Subdued aromas of cherries and berries with oak and spice in the background. Very tasty pop on the mid palate of red plum and red and black berry fruits wrapped in firm tannins. The flavors trump the aromas at this stage. The wine should shed its tannic muscle over time and I suspect this will improve with another year or two in the cellar. Good (+). Reviewed April 11, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Johan Vineyards Estate Nils Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.8% alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.56, 330 cases, $45. A barrel selection of clones 114, 115, 667 and 777. Native yeast fermentations, 50% whole cluster, aged 18 months in 40% new French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very shy initially, opening nicely over time in the glass to revealing uplifting aromas of very ripe dark plum and berry with notes of brown spice and exotic woods. Impressive mid-palate presence of dark plum and berries with a hint of spice, balanced nicely by firm tannins and citrus-driven acidity. Well composed and still young, I would hold for a few more years. Very good. Reviewed January 19, 2013 ARTICLE »
2006 Johan Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 670 cases, $35. Clones 115, 667 and 777.33% whole cluster fermentation, indigenous yeasts. Aged 16 months in 60% new French oak and bottle aged another 7 months before release in August 2008. · Moderately light garnet color. Very alluring aromas of freshly crushed berries, oak and allspice. Full compliment of sweet berries on the palate with impressive richness and length. Appealing riffs of oak and savory spices. The wine reflects the 2006 vintage with its plush fruit profile but overripe fruit is not an issue. Very friendly in the mouth and easy to recommend. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »