Six Wines, Scored from 91 to 97
This summer, the Drink The Bottles team—led by Jeff and Melissa Lawson—tasted six of our estate wines with Winemaker Dave virtually. They subsequently published their scores and notes in, “Bells up Winery: A Conversation with Dave Specter.”
Every wine scored 91 or higher, and Joy, our sparkling Seyval Blanc, earned a 97!
Their overall verdict was one we’ll treasure. Bells Up, they wrote, offers “something that has become increasingly difficult to find: authenticity.”
The lineup tasted by the Drink the Bottles team. All photos courtesy of Drink the Bottles.
The Reviews
2024 Joy Estate Seyval Blanc Brut: 97 points
[Note: This vintage is now sold out, but 2025 Joy is available and in stock!]
“There wasn’t much debate among our panel after tasting Joy. Within moments, several people around the table made nearly the same comment:
“This may be one of the best sparkling wines I’ve ever had.”
That’s not something our group says very often. In fact, you don’t hear that from most wine reviewers.
Sparkling wine can sometimes lean too heavily toward crisp acidity or become overly rich with extended aging. Joy managed to strike a beautiful balance between elegance, freshness, creaminess, and pure drinkability. Every sip invited another, making it incredibly easy to understand how this wine earned its name. This is 100% Seyval Blanc constructed from 9-year-old vines.
What made Joy especially memorable wasn’t simply its quality—it was the way it changed the mood of the evening. We think that’s exactly what Dave hopes people remember and what he intended. Conversations became a little more animated. Glasses emptied surprisingly quickly. Everyone smiled.
It’s not whether the wine showed a particular citrus note or delicate brioche character, but how it brought everyone together around the table. Long after we finished the tasting, Joy remained one of the most talked-about wines of the night, and for several members of our panel, it now ranks among the finest sparkling wines they’ve ever experienced. You read that right—one of the best ever tasted!”
2024 Rhapsody Estate Pinot Blanc: 91 points
“Fresh and expressive, Rhapsody showcased beautiful purity of fruit with lively acidity and wonderful balance. It demonstrated Dave’s philosophy of allowing the vineyard to shine while maintaining elegance throughout the palate. Made from 4-year-old vines of Pinot Blanc. This wine proves there is more than Pinot Noir in Oregon!”
2022 Titan Estate Pinot Noir: 93 points
“Titan offered excellent depth and concentration while remaining refined and approachable. Rich layers of savory red fruit, subtle earthiness, and polished tannins made this one of the evening’s standout Pinot Noirs.”
2022 Jupiter Estate Pinot Noir: 94 points
“Dave affectionately refers to Jupiter as a “chameleon,” and after spending time with the wine, we couldn’t agree more. It’s adaptable and it changes greatly throughout the tasting experience.
With each swirl and every passing minute, new aromas and flavors continued to emerge. The wine seemed to evolve throughout the tasting, rewarding patience with additional complexity and making every return to the glass a new experience. Baking spices showed their hand against a lingering and slightly pepeery finish. Lovely!”
2022 Candide Estate Reserve Pinot Noir: 93 points
“Candide combined finesse with remarkable balance. Elegant fruit, thoughtful structure, and a lingering finish made this another memorable wine from an already impressive lineup. Sweet spices, lightly tanned leather, ripe red raspberry and just a hint of floral bouquet on the palate. We mentioned to Dave that we noticed (and appreciated) his Pinot Noir expressions were not overly floral like so many tend to be. It was quite refreshing!”
2022 Maestro Estate Reserve Pinot Noir: 95 points
“Maestro served as a fitting conclusion to the evening. Richly layered yet graceful, it reflected the precision, patience, and attention to detail that define every aspect of Bells Up Winery. It starts off very light on the palate like many Pinot Noir. Layers of flavors—blueberry, red raspberry, baking spices, hints of citrus and cedar slowly evolve like a John Williams masterpiece, resulting in a journey that truly moves you throughout the tasting experience. The finish lingers long and puts a satisfying smile on your face. Bravo!”
Taste What They Tasted
These are small lots and most are under 100 cases, so they won’t last long. To order, email info@bellsupwinery.com or call 503-537-1328. To taste them with Dave in person, book a private tasting the same way.
