Dec 30, 2022
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HillCrest Vineyard
| Owner(s) | Dyson DeMara |
| Web site | www.hillcrestvineyard.com |
| Link to this site |
Located in the Umpqua Valley, this vineyard, the site of the first plantings of Pinot Noir in Oregon in 1961, was founded by Richard Sommer. It is Oregon's oldest estate winery (bonded winery #44). Sommer released Oregon's first Pinot Noir in the 1967 vintage.
Dyson DeMara took over HillCrest Vineyard from Sommer in 2003. Today the winery produces 1,400 cases of wine available for tasting and purchasing in the winery's tasting room only.
Read the full history in the PinotFile, Volume 8, Issue 39.
Articles About HillCrest Vineyard
A Few Notable Wines Tasted Recently (11.21 3/31/2018)
Oregon Pinot Briefs (11.19 2/20/2018)
Pinot Briefs (9.25 6/2/2013)
Pinot Briefs (9.48 10/6/2014)
Pinot Briefs (7.25 9/5/2009)
Sips of Oregon Pinot Noir (9.18 1/19/2013)
The Cradle of Oregon Pinot Noir (9.11 9/11/2012)
Umpqua Valley, Oregon (8.39 6/10/2011)
Reviewed Wines
2014 HillCrest Vineyard Reserve Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir
12.4% alc., $36.
·
Dark garnet color
in the glass. Revealing aromas of blueberry-pomegranate, toast and pipe smoke. Tremendous
attack of voluptuous purple and black fruits including purple grape, boysenberry and blackberry
backed by an assertive, oak-driven infusion of vanilla and toast that some might find overbearing.
The imposing fruit load hits the palate with intention, saturates the mid palate, and lingers through
a very long, sweet-fruited finish. The fruit is ensconced by nicely integrated tannins. This is a
gloriously fruited wine that is worthy of a reserve designation.
Score: 91.
Reviewed April 1, 2018
ARTICLE »
2012 HillCrest Vineyard Old Vine Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir
12.4% alc., $36.
·
Amazing dark
garnet color in the glass. The aromatics are lacking but the wine is appealing in the mouth. Aromas
of muddy earth, dark chocolate, musty wine cellar and burned timber. Mid weight plus charge of
blackberry, boysenberry, black raspberry, cassis and spice flavors that saturate the palate. The
wine is unusually sappy and tannic for an Oregon Pinot Noir, but the succulent fruit persistence on
the finish is smile-worthy.
Score: 90.
Reviewed April 1, 2018
ARTICLE »
2009 HillCrest Vineyard Memorial Estate Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir
(unlabeled, inquire about availability). From old, non-irrigated, lowyielding
vines.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. A very
distinctive wine with appealing aromas of black cherries, spice,
sarsaparilla, chocolate mint, and smoke. Striking fruit core of ripe dark
cherries, black raspberries, cherry cola, dark chocolate, spearmint,
spice and sassafras with good tannin support and a generous fruit-filled
finish. Definitely speaks of place and is nothing like any Pinot Noir from the
Willamette Valley or anywhere else in Oregon for that matter. Drink or hold.
Reviewed January 19, 2013
ARTICLE »
2014 HillCrest Vineyard Reserve Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir
12.4% alc., $36. · Dark garnet color in the glass. Revealing aromas of blueberry-pomegranate, toast and pipe smoke. Tremendous attack of voluptuous purple and black fruits including purple grape, boysenberry and blackberry backed by an assertive, oak-driven infusion of vanilla and toast that some might find overbearing. The imposing fruit load hits the palate with intention, saturates the mid palate, and lingers through a very long, sweet-fruited finish. The fruit is ensconced by nicely integrated tannins. This is a gloriously fruited wine that is worthy of a reserve designation. Score: 91. Reviewed April 1, 2018 ARTICLE »
2012 HillCrest Vineyard Old Vine Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir
12.4% alc., $36. · Amazing dark garnet color in the glass. The aromatics are lacking but the wine is appealing in the mouth. Aromas of muddy earth, dark chocolate, musty wine cellar and burned timber. Mid weight plus charge of blackberry, boysenberry, black raspberry, cassis and spice flavors that saturate the palate. The wine is unusually sappy and tannic for an Oregon Pinot Noir, but the succulent fruit persistence on the finish is smile-worthy. Score: 90. Reviewed April 1, 2018 ARTICLE »
2009 HillCrest Vineyard Memorial Estate Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir
(unlabeled, inquire about availability). From old, non-irrigated, lowyielding vines. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. A very distinctive wine with appealing aromas of black cherries, spice, sarsaparilla, chocolate mint, and smoke. Striking fruit core of ripe dark cherries, black raspberries, cherry cola, dark chocolate, spearmint, spice and sassafras with good tannin support and a generous fruit-filled finish. Definitely speaks of place and is nothing like any Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley or anywhere else in Oregon for that matter. Drink or hold. Reviewed January 19, 2013 ARTICLE »