Wine writer Cori Solomon with Bells Up winemaker Dave Specter in the estate vineyard.
The Written Palette’s Cori Solomon — a Los Angeles-based wine writer who visited us a few years ago — revisited our wines and story recently. We sent her a selection of our latest releases for review, and she published “Bells Up Winery: A Pairing Of Wine and Music.”
She wrote:
Often, we compare winemaking to a chef utilizing the ingredients on their spice rack or an artist who has a palette of colors to use to create a painting. The winemaker has a spectrum of tools to create wine. For Dave Specter, wine and music go hand in hand. In this case, I think of the composer scoring music by bringing notes together to form a symphony. Dave is scoring the wine. The notes are the various clones and barrels that come together to create Bells Up Winery’s symphonic wine. You might call it a Pinot orchestra. Each wine represents a symphony inspired by French Horns and the likes of classical composers, including Mozart, Stravinsky, Nielsen, Dvorak, and John Williams.
Partnership Brings Wines to Life
Cori also wrote the sweetest thing about our work to bring this little winery dream to life…
At the heart of Bells Up is a partnership. Dave’s wine compositions are brought to life by Sara, his wife, who is the backbone of everything created at the winery. Their shared passion and love for their winery come through as you sip the wine or during a visit to the winery.
Estate Vineyard’s Non-Pinot Diversity Highlighted
Our Pinot Noir plantings were also detailed by Cori, as were our unusual varietals. She noted:
Like a different instrument in an orchestra, each Pinot Noir clone contributes to the symphony of their wines.
They also introduced Seyval Blanc, a hybrid and a delightful surprise for the area. Dave’s choice of Seyval Blanc is a nod to his days of honing his wine acumen in wineries in Cincinnati. While Dave sources grapes from the Milton Freewater region in Eastern Washington, including Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, his first harvest from the vineyard, featuring both Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc, was in 2017.
In 2020, they planted another unusual grape, Schioppettino, a red Italian grape grown primarily in northeast Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Schioppettino wines are typically dry, medium-bodied, deep-colored, aromatic, and spicy on the palate.
The Written Palette’s Reviews
Cori added that she had visited us in 2019, and sampled our wines a few other times in the past few years as well. “I am impressed watching the growth of this Willamette Valley winery. The wine continues to improve in balance, refinement, and elegance,” she said.
Here are the highlights of her reviews…
“Prelude” Rosé of Pinot Noir
“The wine blends several clones of Pinot Noir to produce a luscious Rosé. I found a very balanced wine with notes of cherry and strawberry on the palate.”
“One of my all-time favorite Cabernet Sauvignons due to the technique of making a silky Cab for Pinot lovers.” – Cori Solomon, The Written Palette (Photo courtesy of Cori Solomon)
“New World” Summit View Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
“One of my all-time favorite Cabernet Sauvignons due to the technique of making a silky Cab for Pinot lovers. The Specters follow a similar approach as they do with Pinot Noir. The wine is lighter on the palate, with bright fruit and soft tannins.”
“Firebird” Summit View Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Syrah
“Like the Cabernet, Dave utilizes a technique that gives the wine a lighter quality with bright blueberry fruit, soft tannins, and a silky texture.”
“Helios” Estate Seyval Blanc Chehalem Mountains AVA
“Seyval Blanc is a variety you do not expect to find in the Willamette Valley (and the Specters have the only planting of it). It is a hybrid popular in the Midwest. Specter made wine from this varietal in Cincinnati. Visiting many Missouri wineries over the years, I am very familiar with Seyval Blanc. The Jory soils of the Willamette Valley add texture and complexity. Helios is named for Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Opus 18. Like this mythical Greek God of the sun, this wine shines brilliantly in Willamette Valley. The wine offers a creamy texture with hints of citrus and tropical fruit. The wine has a viscous, bready, yeasty quality.”
“I discovered wonderful florals on the nose and tart cherry on the palate. The wine is soft yet elegant.”- Cori Solomon, The Written Palette (Photo courtesy of Cori Solomon)
“Maestro” Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains AVA
“The wine is composed of small berries and small clusters of Dijon clones 113, 667, and 943. I found a balanced wine with flavors of tart cherry and other berries.”
“Jupiter” Estate Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains AVA
“The wine is composed of Pommard and Dijon clones, 667 and 113. I discovered wonderful florals on the nose and tart cherry on the palate. The wine is soft yet elegant.”
Want to Try These Latest Releases?
Join us for a private wine tasting hosted by Winemaker Dave, exclusively for one group at a time. To sample and/or add to your wine collection, contact us by phone at 503.537.1328 or email info@bellsupwinery.com today and we’ll set some bottles aside for you.
