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Kriselle Cellars 2013 Di'tani
The richness of the Rogue Valley
On a cold, clear December day we met with Scott Steingraber, owner and winemaker at Kriselle Cellars in their gorgeous tasting room in White City, Oregon; just outside of Medford. The view of the valley - rolling hills, herds of cattle, and row upon row of wine grapes - was stunning.
An Oregonian, his career as a civil engineer for very large construction projects took Scott and his family to San Francisco and Seattle - where he explored wine country and started experimenting with winemaking. In 2003, Scott moved home to Oregon and started a winery on the land owned by his wife, Krisell, and her family.
The vineyard, part of the working Buxton Ranch, is tucked between the Rogue River and the famous Upper Table Rock. The soil of the vineyard is loaded with river rock, which makes the vines struggle and brings lots of heat to the grapes - producing strong fruit and intense flavors.
When you taste this wine, you're tasting the warmth of Southern Oregon, the richness of the Rogue, and Scott's journey through the great wine countries of the West Coast.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Kriselle Cellars, White City, Oregon
2013 Di'tani
We're celebrating blends this month, and the Di'tani is a Bordeaux-style red blend that celebrates everything that is warm and intense about Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley.
The name, Di'tani, is borrowed from the local Takelma tribe for whom it translates to "The Rock Above" - an homage to the Upper Table Rock mesa near the winery. More than just scenery, the ancient soils in which the grapes are grown impart powerful flavors and bring a strong sense of place to the wine.
Cabernet Franc makes up 48% of the Di'tani, giving it a strong earthiness as a base. On that platform, the Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) builds structure - the perfect place for the softness of Merlot (8%), the spice of Tempranillo (8%), and the sweet plum character of the Malbec (19%).
Enjoy strong cheeses as an appetizer, pull a big steak or burger off the grill, and finish your meal with dark chocolate - and the Di'tani will pair nicely all the way.
A Cellar 503 selection in October 2016, Amazing Oregon Blends Rogue Valley | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo
