Brandborg Vineyard and Winery
2009 - Umpqua Valley, Oregon riesling
- * Style: Med-Dry
- * Type: Table
- * Region: Oregon
2009 Umpqua Valley riesling Our source for riesling, the Bradley Vineyard in Elkton, always comes in very late in the vintage, October 28 in 2009. The fermentation did not finish up until December leaving 1.2% residual sugar at a low pH3.15. The color is a pale straw. The aromas are highlighted by green apples and bosc pears with subtler shadings of candied orange and orange blossoms with blackberry honey. The flavors carry on with tart green apple tempered by lemon curd with a honey coated finish. The mouthfeel is fairly full bodied with a lingering finish, an intriguing play between the sweetness and acidity leaving a lasting impression that calls out for more.
555 cases bottled July 2010 13.3%ABV 3.15pH 12g/L residual sugar – med dry
2008 - Umpqua Valley, Oregon riesling
- * Style: Med-Dry
- * Type: Table
- * Region: Oregon
2008 Umpqua Valley, Oregon riesling – We sourced our riesling in 2008 entirely from the Bradley Vineyard in Elkton. The vintage was ideal for this late ripening variety. We were able to let the fruit hang until October 30, without danger from frost and with a minimal amount of botrytis formation. For us, a little botrytis gives more complexity in the mixture of fruit flavors. The fruit came in in perfect condition, 21.5 Brix, 8.7g/L acid and pH3.07. We cold settle the juice and ferment cool in stainless with a variety of yeasts friendly to producing expressions of pure riesling fruit. The wine was bottled off dry with 1.86 residual sugar, 8.55g/L acid and a pH 3.02. The wine is pale straw. The aromas are an enticing mix of peach, quava, nectarine and green apples with a subtle hint of fresh pine boughs. The flavors are dominated by the peaches and green apples with some lime and a cleansing minerality. The acidity is firm and the finish is long, lingering, pleasing and quite dry.
646 cases bottled cork free September 2009 12.5% Alcohol by Vol. 1.86% RS
Terry Brandborg’s first commercial vintage in 1986 included riesling from Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. Terry met his wife Sue at a winetasting in 1998 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A year later Sue joined Terry in San Francisco and they commenced a search for the ideal location to produce and grow aromatic cool climate whites. That search led them to discover Elkton Oregon in the northwest corner of the Umpqua Valley AVA. Research indicated the area to be a perfect bulls eye for riesling, gewurztraminer and pinot noir. They feel very fortunate to have found a wonderful property for these varietals. They packed up lock, stock and barrel and moved north in January of 2002. A winery was built in Elkton that year and opened in time for the 2002 harvest. The Brandborg’s currently source riesling from two distinctive dry farmed vineyards in the northern reach of the Umpqua Valley. The Bradley Vineyard in Elkton was planted in 1983 on a west facing bench and has a very cool maritime climate. The Red Hill Vineyard at 1300″, 25 miles east of Elkton, has a more continental climate and is cooled by it’s high altitude.
