Cuveé du Vigneron means “The Winemaker’s Blend”, and the 2015 edition is a true expression of winemaker Russell Gladhart’s style of Pinot noir. Rich fruit aromas, with an elegant, balanced finish. Enjoy this wine now, or age it for a few more years to release more aroma and complexity.
Aromas of black cherry and pomegranate lead to spicy notes such as black licorice and a hint of vanilla from the barrels. On the palate, the wine has full, rich structure with balanced acidity and tannins with no astringency. The tannins from the oak are well integrated with the wine. Spices such as cinnamon and cardomaom appear on the finish. With excellent aging potential, enjoy this wine for the next 6-8 years.
“Sleek and polished, with vibrant cherry blossom and toasted vanilla flavors that persist toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2024.” 89 points, Wine Spectator Sept. 30, 2019.
Specifications
Vintage: 2015
Varietal Composition: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Dundee Hills
Residual Sugar: none
Alcohol: 13.50%
Included In The Box
3-bottles:
3x 2015 Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron, Dundee Hills, Oregon
Case:
12x 2015 Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron, Dundee Hills, Oregon
Winery:Winter’s Hill Vineyard
Owners: The Gladhart family
Founded: 1961
Location: Dundee Hills, OR
Winter’s Hill is an Estate winery located in the Dundee Hills of Oregon. The Gladhart family owns and operates Winter’s Hill, from managing the vineyard and the rest of our farm, to making our wines, to greeting you in the tasting room when you come to visit.
Thirty five acres of vineyards are nestled into a 150 acre farm including fir and oak forests. Farming this land is a privilege, and we have followed sustainable farming practices since Peter and Emily Gladhart planted our first vines in 1990. We are certified by LIVE and SalmonSafe in recognition of our efforts.
The first wines bearing our name were 298 cases of 1998 Pinot Noir. Our production has grown slowly and steadily as wine lovers in the Northwest and around the country have discovered our Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and dessert wines such as our Hans & Lena Pinot Gris. In 2004 Delphine and Russell joined the family partnership, with Delphine taking on the duties of Winemaker. In 2015 she passed the winemaking reins to Russell.
Our values of conservation and respect for our land guided us in 2008 when we designed and began construction of our winery. Completed for the 2009 vintage, it was dug into the hillside and built with 15 inch thick super-insulated walls to conserve energy and maintain cool, even temperatures throughout the year.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, ID, IL, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, NC, OR, TX, WA
Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron
3 bottles for $54.99 $18.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Ah, the holidays…. A time for family, friends, wine… and lab rattage! Advanced notification and delivery was extremely helpful this time around, as the office was closed on 12/26 and 12/27 when the shipment was expected to arrive. Actual delivery on 12/30 was clearly not an issue and allowed some time for the wine to rest.
We initially sampled this wine at a sushi restaurant. I immediately detected dark cherry cola aromas on PnP, with a very slight whiff of alcohol. Color was a darker ruby red, clear and free of sediment.
My first taste was a surprise. It was not the red fruits and slight earthiness that surprised me. Rather, it was the slight effervescence which totally caught me off guard. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but my spouse confirmed it. I found its presence a bit distracting as I attempted to discern more subtle flavors. It’s pairing with our meal was actually not bad. That being said, we also brought the last of some 2016 Virage rose which we felt was a better match.
I felt the wine needed some time, so decided to re-cork and save for another day. That turned out to be day 3 as the previous evening was cloaked in family chaos. Aromas were similar but the fizz had faded away, a welcome turn of events. I was now able to get a better sense of mouthfeel which was light bodied and slightly thin. Tannins were light, although I did detect some mild cassis on the palate.
Overall, I enjoyed the wine more on day 3 than day 1. My wife, however, actually enjoyed the fizz and felt it added some complexity. YMMV.
Thanks to WD, Ariana, and the winery for a chance to sample this wine.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2015 Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron - $50 = 22.72%
Dundee Hills Pinot is inside the Willamette Valley AVA; this AVA produces exceptional Pinot Noirs since the first Pinot Noir grapes were planted in the region in 1965. Today, the region is home to winemakers who successfully grow and make premium wine. Dundee Hills is known for its rich, red volcanic Jory soil, which was formed from ancient volcanic basalt and consists of silt, clay and loam soils. The soils generally reach a depth of 4 to 6 feet, providing excellent drainage for superior quality wine grapes.
Courtesy of industry.oregonwine.org
Popped and poured last night around 7PM here in Northern CA and intend to update this review through replies to this post throughout the weekend as the sale progresses and the wine develops.
7PM - Initially, I get bright-red fruit on entry, with silky tannins and a little bit of minerality as I finish. (or fizz, as @hscottk states). I also get hints of sweet spices, such as cinnamon. I feel that this wine in its current state will evolve as it opens over the next 48 hours.
7AM Saturday (best part of a weekend offer!) - More tart and downright juicy. Tastes of well blended fruit continue to be pronounced, such as cherry and pomegranate. Plenty of supporting acidity. Less pronounced minerality, more subtle. This wine is bright and in my opinion, it should be consumed now to 2022.
It’s off to the beach this morning and afternoon, as there is nothing quite like greeting a new year by smelling the salt and sand on a drive along Highway 1 in San Mateo County. My dog seems to agree based on this sentiment, based on his excitement. Thanks to Ari, @winedavid49, and the entire WCC team for the opportunity to rat this delicious Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir!
This is Russell, winemaker at Winter’s Hill. I’m happy to answer any questions about the wine. Our vineyards tend to preserve the brightness and structure in our Pinot noir, even in warm years like 2015. We keep the cellar quite cool, and we do not rack our wines during the aging process, which tends to preserve the CO2 in the wine. Normally we sparge with Nitrogen before bottling to blow off the CO2, but we seem to have left a little too much still dissolved in the wine on this occasion. It blows off quickly with decanting (or a little patience), letting the wine express itself more elegantly.
@RussellG Hi Russell, I love Willamette/Dundee Pinot Noir. Years back my son flew me to Portland. We spent the night in Astoria so we could fish the Columbia River for salmon and the Pacific for albacore tuna. Also visited canneries across the CR in Washington. I spent a day in the Willamette area and I kinda remember a billboard for Winter’s Hill Winery, but I couldn’t find the it. Does/did the billboard exist and was my memory correct? I did get to Anne Amie, Torri Mor, and another winery. Such a great wine area!! If OHIO was on today’s offer, I probably would have pulled the trigger! Maybe next time if the states expand.
@Boatman72 sounds like you had a great trip to the Willamette. Sorry we can’t ship to Ohio on this offer, we plan to add Ohio and several other states in 2020. Stay tuned
Tangentially Related Fact is oddly written: “As the narrator silently loses their mind with police searching the victim’s room, they swear they can hear the heart of the victim under the floorboards, still beating violently.”
I understand the desire to not offend by using gender-specific pronouns, but the story is clearly about a male protagonist who identifies as a male. What is the harm of referring to man in a 177-year-old story by using “his” and “he”?
@ejrunion Is it so clear that the protagonist is male? Give it another read - The closest you can get to assuming the narrator’s gender is the use of the word “madman” a couple times. I suppose you could say that’s an indication of how the narrator identifies, but it doesn’t seem all that clear to me!
@LambruscoKid I assumed ‘madman’ was just a common term of the day for anyone crazed. Kinda like using ‘guys’ to designate a group of anyone now.
I saw the only (and pretty weak) link to the narrator’s gender as the scream of the old man being reasonably uttered by the person who answered the door for the police. But i’m sure if i was offed in the middle of the night i’d have a high pitched shriek. Gender-neutral to me.
Nevertheless, it’s unstated in the book, and good for Meh/Casemates copywriters to keep it ungendered in the funny pages.
Tasting Notes
Cuveé du Vigneron means “The Winemaker’s Blend”, and the 2015 edition is a true expression of winemaker Russell Gladhart’s style of Pinot noir. Rich fruit aromas, with an elegant, balanced finish. Enjoy this wine now, or age it for a few more years to release more aroma and complexity.
Aromas of black cherry and pomegranate lead to spicy notes such as black licorice and a hint of vanilla from the barrels. On the palate, the wine has full, rich structure with balanced acidity and tannins with no astringency. The tannins from the oak are well integrated with the wine. Spices such as cinnamon and cardomaom appear on the finish. With excellent aging potential, enjoy this wine for the next 6-8 years.
“Sleek and polished, with vibrant cherry blossom and toasted vanilla flavors that persist toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2024.” 89 points, Wine Spectator Sept. 30, 2019.
Specifications
Included In The Box
Price Comparison
$624.75 at Winters Hill Vineyard
About The Winery
Winery:Winter’s Hill Vineyard
Owners: The Gladhart family
Founded: 1961
Location: Dundee Hills, OR
Winter’s Hill is an Estate winery located in the Dundee Hills of Oregon. The Gladhart family owns and operates Winter’s Hill, from managing the vineyard and the rest of our farm, to making our wines, to greeting you in the tasting room when you come to visit.
Thirty five acres of vineyards are nestled into a 150 acre farm including fir and oak forests. Farming this land is a privilege, and we have followed sustainable farming practices since Peter and Emily Gladhart planted our first vines in 1990. We are certified by LIVE and SalmonSafe in recognition of our efforts.
The first wines bearing our name were 298 cases of 1998 Pinot Noir. Our production has grown slowly and steadily as wine lovers in the Northwest and around the country have discovered our Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and dessert wines such as our Hans & Lena Pinot Gris. In 2004 Delphine and Russell joined the family partnership, with Delphine taking on the duties of Winemaker. In 2015 she passed the winemaking reins to Russell.
Our values of conservation and respect for our land guided us in 2008 when we designed and began construction of our winery. Completed for the 2009 vintage, it was dug into the hillside and built with 15 inch thick super-insulated walls to conserve energy and maintain cool, even temperatures throughout the year.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, ID, IL, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, NC, OR, TX, WA
Estimated Delivery
Friday, January 31st - Tuesday, February 4th
Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron
3 bottles for $54.99 $18.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2015 Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron
This is a ~very short~ list.
Screaming price!
Have had there wines before and have been to their tasting room. We really like them. This price is crazy good.
@danandlisa Thanks, glad you have enjoyed visiting Winter’s Hill. Yes, this is a crazy good price, take advantage while you can!
2015 Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir, Cuvee du Vigneron
Ah, the holidays…. A time for family, friends, wine… and lab rattage! Advanced notification and delivery was extremely helpful this time around, as the office was closed on 12/26 and 12/27 when the shipment was expected to arrive. Actual delivery on 12/30 was clearly not an issue and allowed some time for the wine to rest.
We initially sampled this wine at a sushi restaurant. I immediately detected dark cherry cola aromas on PnP, with a very slight whiff of alcohol. Color was a darker ruby red, clear and free of sediment.
My first taste was a surprise. It was not the red fruits and slight earthiness that surprised me. Rather, it was the slight effervescence which totally caught me off guard. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but my spouse confirmed it. I found its presence a bit distracting as I attempted to discern more subtle flavors. It’s pairing with our meal was actually not bad. That being said, we also brought the last of some 2016 Virage rose which we felt was a better match.
I felt the wine needed some time, so decided to re-cork and save for another day. That turned out to be day 3 as the previous evening was cloaked in family chaos. Aromas were similar but the fizz had faded away, a welcome turn of events. I was now able to get a better sense of mouthfeel which was light bodied and slightly thin. Tannins were light, although I did detect some mild cassis on the palate.
Overall, I enjoyed the wine more on day 3 than day 1. My wife, however, actually enjoyed the fizz and felt it added some complexity. YMMV.
Thanks to WD, Ariana, and the winery for a chance to sample this wine.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2015 Winter’s Hill Pinot Noir Cuvée du Vigneron - $50 = 22.72%
Another review, for reference:
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/winters-hill-2015-cuvee-du-vigneron-pinot-noir-dundee-hills/
@vandemusser Seems to confirm the spritz @hscottk mentions
Dundee Hills Pinot is inside the Willamette Valley AVA; this AVA produces exceptional Pinot Noirs since the first Pinot Noir grapes were planted in the region in 1965. Today, the region is home to winemakers who successfully grow and make premium wine. Dundee Hills is known for its rich, red volcanic Jory soil, which was formed from ancient volcanic basalt and consists of silt, clay and loam soils. The soils generally reach a depth of 4 to 6 feet, providing excellent drainage for superior quality wine grapes.
Courtesy of industry.oregonwine.org
Popped and poured last night around 7PM here in Northern CA and intend to update this review through replies to this post throughout the weekend as the sale progresses and the wine develops.
7PM - Initially, I get bright-red fruit on entry, with silky tannins and a little bit of minerality as I finish. (or fizz, as @hscottk states). I also get hints of sweet spices, such as cinnamon. I feel that this wine in its current state will evolve as it opens over the next 48 hours.
7AM Saturday (best part of a weekend offer!) - More tart and downright juicy. Tastes of well blended fruit continue to be pronounced, such as cherry and pomegranate. Plenty of supporting acidity. Less pronounced minerality, more subtle. This wine is bright and in my opinion, it should be consumed now to 2022.
It’s off to the beach this morning and afternoon, as there is nothing quite like greeting a new year by smelling the salt and sand on a drive along Highway 1 in San Mateo County. My dog seems to agree based on this sentiment, based on his excitement. Thanks to Ari, @winedavid49, and the entire WCC team for the opportunity to rat this delicious Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir!
This is Russell, winemaker at Winter’s Hill. I’m happy to answer any questions about the wine. Our vineyards tend to preserve the brightness and structure in our Pinot noir, even in warm years like 2015. We keep the cellar quite cool, and we do not rack our wines during the aging process, which tends to preserve the CO2 in the wine. Normally we sparge with Nitrogen before bottling to blow off the CO2, but we seem to have left a little too much still dissolved in the wine on this occasion. It blows off quickly with decanting (or a little patience), letting the wine express itself more elegantly.
@RussellG Hi Russell, I love Willamette/Dundee Pinot Noir. Years back my son flew me to Portland. We spent the night in Astoria so we could fish the Columbia River for salmon and the Pacific for albacore tuna. Also visited canneries across the CR in Washington. I spent a day in the Willamette area and I kinda remember a billboard for Winter’s Hill Winery, but I couldn’t find the it. Does/did the billboard exist and was my memory correct? I did get to Anne Amie, Torri Mor, and another winery. Such a great wine area!! If OHIO was on today’s offer, I probably would have pulled the trigger! Maybe next time if the states expand.
@Boatman72 sounds like you had a great trip to the Willamette. Sorry we can’t ship to Ohio on this offer, we plan to add Ohio and several other states in 2020. Stay tuned
@Boatman72 @RussellG
Great news! Hope you come back with some other offers for the 'mates here.
@RussellG Excellent!! You’ll have the NE OH Casemates waiting in the wings!!!
Tangentially Related Fact is oddly written: “As the narrator silently loses their mind with police searching the victim’s room, they swear they can hear the heart of the victim under the floorboards, still beating violently.”
I understand the desire to not offend by using gender-specific pronouns, but the story is clearly about a male protagonist who identifies as a male. What is the harm of referring to man in a 177-year-old story by using “his” and “he”?
@ejrunion Is it so clear that the protagonist is male? Give it another read - The closest you can get to assuming the narrator’s gender is the use of the word “madman” a couple times. I suppose you could say that’s an indication of how the narrator identifies, but it doesn’t seem all that clear to me!
@LambruscoKid I assumed ‘madman’ was just a common term of the day for anyone crazed. Kinda like using ‘guys’ to designate a group of anyone now.
I saw the only (and pretty weak) link to the narrator’s gender as the scream of the old man being reasonably uttered by the person who answered the door for the police. But i’m sure if i was offed in the middle of the night i’d have a high pitched shriek. Gender-neutral to me.
Nevertheless, it’s unstated in the book, and good for Meh/Casemates copywriters to keep it ungendered in the funny pages.
I’ve liked just about everything I’ve had from Winter’s Hill. Rat reports sound good, too!
@klezman Thanks, glad you have enjoyed our wines!
Winter’s Hill is fantastic. This looks like a great price. Maybe they can throw in some of those jalapeno hazelnuts to go with the order
@bhcompy Thank you! Maybe we can include the hazelnuts on a future offer. I’ll mention it to Ariana.
This sounds interesting, something we need to try.
/giphy dead-winning-top
Just gonna say, we ordered this, and it was not good. Tart throughout with not much else to say for it.