Connoisseur of Oregon Wines Series, Class 1: Enso winery & Jan Marc Wine Cellars

Copied from PCC wine class description:
"Gargasites Jan-Marc Baker and Ryan Sharp:
What is involved in making wine on a small scale without the benefit of huge equipment? Learn about collaboration between smaller producers to cooperate in buying grapes or sharing equipment, as well as what it takes to get started."

• 2011 Enso Winery Riesling Wheatland Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Lemon zest, funk, grass, riverrock, clean on the nose. Palate is sharp yet plush with citrus, lemon verbena and slate. Finish is long and tart, layered and cleansing. Very nice riesling, my favorite of the Enso tastings this visit.

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• 2011 Enso Resonate Red #6 83 Points

  USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley

  Blend of 67% Grenache-steel tank / 33% Merlot-neutral oak.
  Nose of candied strawberries, white pepper, herbs, argula and tree bark. Mulberry, funk and herbal flavors. Disjointed and simple, off the mark for me.

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• 2011 Enso Winery Mourvèdre Bella Grace 85 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

  Pepper, gamey, spiced plums and black fruit on this interesting nose. The palate is slight, watery & hallow. Flavors of herbs, baking spices and spiced black fruit. This has not yet been released, will benefit from another year+ in the bottle to incorporate. Although I doubt it will fill in with such a lightweight mouth feel. QPR is lacking at $35.

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• 2009 Jan-Marc Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Hood River County

  Pepper & baking spice aromatics; cinnamon, nutmeg dusting juicy marionberry. Big and bold on the red fruit filled palate with plenty of bright acids and depth. Restrained and well balanced, no heat detected what so ever. 14.3% abv. Notes of bacon fat, sage, chewy tannins and savory greens on the back end along with loam and slate flavors from this high elevation vineyard on the Columbia Valley-Oregon side. A very refined, well made wine by a talented winemaker who soon, will no longer be under the radar. 76 cases produced, 25% French oak. Vino-seal/Vino-loc glass enclosure
  Drink 2013++

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• 2010 Jan-Marc Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Sunnyside Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Sunnyside Vineyard-planted in 1970. 66% Wadenswil, 17% 777, and 17% Gamay Pinot Noir clones, aged in 25% new French oak.
  Smoked berries, chalk, wild mushrooms and scents of forest floor linger effortlessly. Nice bright acidity, cherry, specks of bitter oak, OR-pinot lovely funk and sage. Intricately layered, modest on the mid-palate, drying on the hind palate. This needs time to fully come together and fill in. Excellent example of the 2010 WV pinot noir with only room to blossom. Another stunning wine made by Jan-Marc, put this winemaker on your 'seek out' radar! 69 cases
  Drink 2014+

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• 2010 Jan-Marc Wine Cellars Chardonnay 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley

  McDuffee Vineyard, The Dalles, OR.
  Pears, saline, grass and wet cement aromas. Grass, carbon, lemon verbena, pears and apple flavors. This chardonnay is crisp and offers a mineral-laden creamy body and mouth feel. Offers complexity well beyond it's price point.

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-Enso, a great urban winery. They were in the middle of crush, much of the fruit for the 2012 vintage were in the fermenters. Ryan has created a great neighborhood eno-pub feel. He makes wines for his neighborhood offering glass pours or by the bottle with the wine-making process at every stage going on in the back room. A true Portland Urban winery, worth a visit. Case production 1500 for 2012.

-Jan-Marc was our second presenter. His winery is operated out of his home, annual case production is 350 cases. Trained as a chef, his wines are exceptional with grace, style and complexity, just like the winemaker.