2023 Rhapsody
Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc
47 cases produced. $38 | SOLD OUT
Named for George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” we sourced 100% of the fruit for this jazzy white wine from micro-site Weinberg Vineyards in the Lower Long Tom AVA. Lithe and lively, Rhapsody fermented and aged for six months sur lie to produce a fuller-bodied wine. No malolactic fermentation allows crisp acidity, subtle minerality, and spicy characteristics to take center stage.
TECHNICAL NOTESNOSE: Comice pear, Gravenstein apple, fresh dew, pear blossom, wet slate.
PALATE: Gravenstein apple, citrus, pear, herbaceous notes, minerality.
Michael Apstein, Apstein on Wine: Who knew, great Pinot Blanc from Oregon? By now, everyone knows that Oregon makes gorgeous Pinot Noir. But Pinot Blanc? This one, from Bells Up winery in the Willamette leads with aromatics of white flowers and follows with surprisingly good weight for Pinot Blanc, without being overdone. Bells Up has managed to make a finesse-filled wine that has sufficient heft but only 12.7 percent stated alcohol. It is certainly a good choice for simply sauteed fish or steamed clams. But it has enough oomph to stand up to a heartier dish, like mussels in a tomato sauce. Drink this crisp and refreshing white all summer. 94
Jeff and Melissa Lawson, Drink the Bottles: This wine actually renews our hope in white wines. We tend to view many (most?) white wines as esophageal demons that produce heartburn and a bad aftertaste. In fact, most of the wines that our tasting crew gravitate to are medium to full bodied reds. Everyone (E V E R Y O N E) of us were very pleased how this wine tasted from start to finish. The lack of oak was surprising, but the 6 months of lees stirring helped create a full bodied white wine with citrus fruits, spring rain, wet rock minerality and spice. It was surprisingly mouth coating and left a very crisp but not overbearing finish. 93/100
Nathan and Courtney Marton, Winery Reflections: Terrifically tart and thirst-quenching blasts of freshly-squeezed lime, peach skin, yellow plum, and grapefruit juice lead a radiantly bright and zesty attack beautifully underlaid with subtle herbal character of parsley and pine. Wafts of elderflower, citrus blossom, and daisy softly add dainty floral elements enhanced by a hint of ginger-led spice. Notes of morning dew and sea salt gently make their presence felt adding a thread of clean coastal earthiness to the fresh and spunky display. Attractively crisp and refreshing on the palate with nice depth present alongside beaming electricity; exhibiting a thoroughly energetic yet well balanced presentation that is unique and interesting yet still terrifically refreshing. Light bodied and brimming with gorgeous acidity. Yum.
