Reviews

Check our individual Wine notes pages for reviews and quotes on each of our wines.

The Wine Spectator, November 15, 2006, "Cooler is Better for Oregon Pinot," Harvey Steiman

"On the white side, although vintners profess a preference for light, fruity Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Blanc, only a few actually achieve distinction. Chehalem gets a blanched almond note, adding depth to the delicate pear and honeydew flavors in its Pinot Gris Willamette Valley Reserve 2005 (90, $21), and its Riesling Willamette Valley Corral Creek Vineyards 2005 (90, $24) has a crisp texture, with peach and grapefruit flavors."

The Wine Spectator, November 15, 2006, Harvey Steiman

92 2004 Reserve Pinot Noir Lithe and spicy, with distinctive cinnamon and floral overtones to the vibrant raspberry and red cherry flavors that echo on the persistent finish. A graceful wine with miles to go. (Projected release date: January 2007)

92 2004 Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir Firm in texture, with effusive raspberry, plum and currant fruit that pushes through a layer of chewy tannins to make this especially expressive. Hits notes of cinnamon and licorice as the finish goes on and on. (wine note)

90 2004 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noir Dense and chewy. Layers of mineral and spice are more prominent than the meaty cherry and plum flavors. The second sip brings out more fruit, and it echoes on the intense finish. (wine note)

90 2004 Corral Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir Distinctive and complex in a fragile style. Appealing for the cinnamon-scented strawberry and rhubarb flavors, with a hint of cream enriching the lively finish. (wine note)

89 2004 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir Lithe and open-textured, with lovely cinnamon and nutmeg accents to the plum and cherry flavors, remaining fresh and refined as the finish goes on.
(wine note)

The Wine Spectator, December 15, 2006, Harvey Steiman

90 2005 Corral Creek Vineyards Riesling Off-dry but crsip in texture, with lime and grapefruit flavors at the core and a hint of peach as the finish lingers impressively.

89 2005 Reserve Dry Riesling Dry, delicate and appealing for its green apple, lime and vaguely floral aromas and flavors, the lime and apple lingering on the finish.
(wine note)

The Wine Advocate, June 2006, Pierre Rovani

92 2003 Reserve Pinot Noir This terrific wine's aromas display spicy black fruits and candied red berries. Suave, satin-textured, and broad, it is pwerful, exceptionally well-balanced...and intense. (wine note)

92 2003 Corral Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir I flipped for Chehalem's 2003 Pinot Noir Corral Creek, the finest they've produced from this vineyard to date. Its enticing spiced dark fruit aromas lead to a medium to full-bodied personality awash in fruit. Loads of black cherries, candied red berries, and spices are found in this broad, lush wine. A seamless, decadent effort.... (wine note)

90 2003 Ian's Reserve Chardonnay Consistently one of Oregon's finest Chardonnays, Chehalem's 2003 Chardonnay Ian's Reserve follows a long line of successes. Its sensual, creamed vanilla aromas are followed by a super-rich core of spices, vanilla beans, and ripe pears. (wine note)

89 2004 Reserve Dry Riesling ...Reveals delightful aromas of linden and flowers. Pretty, silky-textured, and persistent, this concentrated wine is generously fruity. Its linden, herbal tea, yellow plum, mineral, and spice flavors linger in its elongated finish. (wine note)

89 2004 Corral Creek Vineyards Riesling Dried honey-coated minerals make up the aromatic profile... A wine of gorgeous intensity, balance, focus, and depth, it offers a liquefied mineral and flower-dominated core of fruit.

89 2004 Pinot Blanc ...Bursts from the glass with spiced mineral, herbal tea, and floral aromas. This rich, powerful, and deep effort is a terrific value. Jam-packed with pears, apples, yellow plums, and white peaches, this highly expressive wine sports a long, angle-free finish. (wine note)

Wine & Spirits, December 2006

93 2005 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris This pinot gris shows the heights gris can reach in Oregon. Rich without being the least bit fat, its honeyed pear and marzipan flavors have an Alsatian heft, but a fine, minerally cushion of acid holds all that rich fruit aloft. Serve with choucroute. (wine note)

92 2004 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noir This wine is soft, clean and fresh with an almost sanguine red berry scent, its juicy strawberry flavors grounded by a gentle minerality. After a day of being open, it comes together with calssic Dundee Hills flavors of dark strawberry and red earth, expressed with a beautiful clarity. (wine note)

90 2005 INOX™ Chardonnay This unoaked chardonnay has a bright and leesy scent, yet it's fresh and brisk, with ripe apple and roasted pear flavors. It's considerably lighter than most domestic chardonnays, and all the more charming for it. Drink it young, with anything from grilled chicken to trout. (wine note)

International Wine Cellar, May/June 2006, Josh Raynolds

91 2004 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noir Spicy, vibrant nose offers an explosive bouquet of raspberry and strawberry fruit accented by fresh rose, rhubarb and cinnamon... Finishes crisp, elegant and long, with persistent red berry flavor. (wine note)

90 2004 Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir Vibrant and fresh on the nose, offering an array of red fruit, chocolate, fresh herb and exotic spice tones. A tangy midweight with great energy to its wild strawberry, rhubarb and black tea flavors. Finishes with excellent concentration and impressive length... I'd have guessed this to be a top example of Morey-Saint-Denis.
(wine note)

90 2004 Corral Creek Vineyards Vibrant, spicy aromas of raspberry, fresh rose and mint. An elegant, silky pinot with impressive inner-mouth perfume and a tangy, mineral-driven tone... Finishes with a juicy, succulent note of strawberry preserves. (wine note)