Oregon PN for a PNW holiday meal: A Résonance (#Winophiles)

A bit of shorthand for understanding the title of this post:

PN = Pinot Noir
PNW = Pacific Northwest
Résonance = “Discovery”

Putting it all together, the PN that the spouse and I opened for our first Thanksgiving as PNW residents was a true Résonance (discovery). Maison Louis Jadot, an iconic name in Burgundy, France, draws on the unique terroir (climate, soil, slope, exposure, etc.) of their Dundee Hills (Willamette Valley, Oregon) vineyard to produce this French-styled Pinot Noir.

The French Winophiles blogging group is bridging the continents this month by focusing on Oregon and Bourgogne (Burgundy) Tied Houses. We’ll be chatting about these wines on Twitter Saturday 12/19, starting at 8 am PT/11 am ET. Résonance Wines winemaker Guillaume Large will be on hand to talk about the similarities and differences between making wines in Burgundy and Oregon. You’re invited to follow along by using the #Winophiles hashtag.

(Please note that while the wine for this post was provided, opinions are my own.)

The region – Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon

L.M. Archer, host of this month’s chat, covers a lot of ground about the Dundee Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area), “pearl of the Willamette Valley,” in a February 2020 article she wrote for Oregon Wine Press. I recommend checking it out.

A few details worth noting:

• Location – Dundee Hills lies south of the Chehalem Mountains and Ribbon Ridge, and east of Yamhill-Carlton and north of Eola-Amity Hills, about 25 miles southwest of Portland.

• Climate – Because it’s located slightly further inland than other Willamette Valley subregions, in the rain shadow of the Coast Range and protected to the north by the Chehalem Mountains, the Dundee Hills AVA escapes much of the rain and wind from the Pacific Ocean.

• Soil – Dundee Hills is known for its red volcanic, “Jory” soil. Deep, free-draining and rich in iron, the soil allows vines to grow deep root systems in search of water and forces them to focus on berry production rather than leafy vegetation growth. Wines have concentrated flavors and good structure with notable minerality.

The wine – 2017 Résonance Découverte Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills AVA

Maison Louis Jadot was founded in 1859 and established a longtime relationship with Rudy Kopf, an importer for Kobrand Wine & Spirits. In 1984, the estate was sold to the Kopf family.

In April 2013, soon after Jacques Lardière retired as lead winemaker at Maison Louis Jadot, he and Thibault Gagey, whose family has operated Maison Louis Jadot since 1962, were ready for a new project. They explored the Willamette Valley and decided on a vineyard in the Yamhill Carlton AVA that already bore the “Resonance” name. They simply added an accent mark.

Découverte is the second Résonance vineyard in the Willamette Valley. The 15-acre vineyard – 12.5 acres of Pinot Noir and 2.5 acres of Chardonnay – is located at an elevation of 600 to 690 feet and organically dry-farmed (no irrigation). Résonance encourages biodiversity on the vineyard floor and controls crop yields for optimal ripening.  

Hand-picked grapes are fermented separately, vineyard by vineyard, block by block. The producer’s gravity-flow winemaking allows juice to run naturally from the grapes, and fermentation takes place with naturally occurring yeasts. They allow wines to rest “quietly” for 17 months in French oak barrels – 30% new – perhaps racking (transferring the wine from one vessel to another) only once.

A cold and wet winter in 2017 was followed by a late-flowering spring. However, the summer was one of the warmest on record, allowing the grapes to ripen fully.

My tasting notes: Ruby-purplish in color. Fruity aromas of blackberry, cherry, and blueberry, with a hint of mushroom. On the palate, I get wet forest floor with high acidity and a touch of vanilla on a long peppery finish. Licorice and cherry notes emerge after the wine opens up. A 93-point Wine Enthusiast rating. Smooth tannins now, but worthy of aging for a few more years. Alcohol: 13.5%. Average Price: $69.

The pairing – Thanksgiving dinner featuring wild mushroom/Brussels sprouts casserole

With traditionalists in our Covid 19 bubble, we were assured of a Thanksgiving menu that included such staples as roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cornbread, and cranberry relish (and we need to take photos quickly because of the toddler in our group). This year, in honor of our new home, I also wanted to share a particularly PNW dish.

The Seattle Times to the rescue!

We subscribe to the newspaper’s Sunday print edition so the spouse has crossword puzzles to savor. I know, old school, right? In the paper’s Holiday Guide was this headline: “Add a Pacific Northwest touch to your Thanksgiving spread with this wild mushroom and Brussels sprouts casserole.”

Bingo!

Our nearby Whole Foods had Chanterelle mushrooms. Of course they did – this is western Washington! The casserole lent just the right local vibe and mushroom creaminess needed to round out the menu and to pair with this earthy Résonance Pinot Noir. The pairing was a discovery and definitely a keeper!

I highly recommend this casserole, but don’t worry – I won’t subject you to reading the recipe from a photo of my folded-over page. Here it is.

Lots of tasting notes and creative pairings to share this time around. Also, for an overview of Burgundy producers crafting wine in the Willamette Valley, I highly recommend this Forbes article by Michelle Williams. Enjoy!

• Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm tells of Countries United Through Food and Wine.
• Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla matches Galette au Chou + 2017 Résonance Pinot Noir.
• Terri at Our Good Life pairs Resonance Pinot Noir and Roasted Pork Loin.
• Lynn from Savor the Harvest posts Oregon Pinot Noir With a Burgundian Heart – Domaine Drouhin Laurène.
• Jennifer at Vino Travels cooks up BBQ Brisket with Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir.
• Linda at My Full Wine Glass shares Oregon PN for a PNW Holiday Meal: A Résonance.
• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles has a discovery: Découverte! Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Dundee Hills and Mediterranean Salmon.
• David from Cooking Chat posts Braised Moroccan Chicken Thighs with Oregon Pinot.
• Jane from Always Ravenous offers an Oregon Pinot Noir Paired with Braised Chicken Thighs, Blackberries, and Fennel Purée.
• Melanie from Wining With Mel writes New World meets Old World: Oregon’s Résonance Pinot Noir Paired with Beef Bourguignon.
• Liz from What’s In That Bottle gives us A Taste of the 45th Parallel.
• Jeff from Food Wine Click! tells us about Louis Jadot on Both Sides of the Pond.
• Payal from Keep the Peas offers Burgundy via Oregon.
• Nicole at Somm’s Table has a Burgundy vs. Oregon Showdown with Drouhin Wines.
• Jill at L’Occasion covers Bourgogne’s Western Vineyards: Crafting Pinot Noir in Oregon.
• Gwendolyn at Wine Predator goes From France’s Bourgogne and Oregon’s Willamette Valley: Domaine Drouhin Does Pinot Noir.
• Cindy from Grape Experiences offers Résonance Wines Express a Burgundian Vibe in the Willamette Valley.
• L.M. Archer shares life À Table with Domaine Drouhin Oregon and Résonance Wines.