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Walnut City Wineworks 2014 Jubilee Vineyard Dolcetto
All the way from Walnut City
In the late 1800s, shortly after statehood, the farmers around McMinnville developed a reputation for producing impressive hard-shelled walnuts. So prized were the nuts, that McMinnville earned a nickname – Walnut City.
Today, the regional commitment to high-quality agriculture lives on, most prominently in wine. And one of the big players is St. Joseph Orchard Vineyard Management – a company that manages hundreds of acres, has planted millions of vines, and dedicates itself to farming with low-impact sustainable methods.
Of course, if you’re going to grow grapes, you’re going to want to make wine. And in 1999, Walnut City Wineworks was born. The focus? Single vineyard wines from vineyards that were either planted or managed by St. Joseph.
Located in the former walnut processing plant in McMinnville, the winery is an homage to the sustainable methods of old.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Walnut City Wineworks, McMinnville, Oregon
2014 Jubilee Vineyard Dolcetto
Dolcetto is a passion project for the folks at Walnut City Wineworks. They dream of it being center stage at summer BBQs around the country so it was the perfect choice for our summer party theme!
Rarely seen as a single varietal, Dolcetto is a grape that originates in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Loosely translated as “the little sweet one”, but don’t let that lead you astray – it’s a reference to the hills of Piedmont rather than the flavors of the wine.
This 2014 edition was created in a gentle, unhurried way. 23 days on the skins, 6 weeks to finish fermentation, 10 months in neutral oak barrels, and then three years in bottle before you get your hands on it.
You’ll immediately notice the smell of violets when you open the bottle. Give it a moment to breathe and you’ll find the deep red fruit flavors shining through. Bright floral notes mix with flavors of blackberry and cassis with an underlying note of smoke and spice. That earthiness and smoke make it the ideal wine for a casual summer BBQ.
A Cellar 503 selection in July 2019, Summer Party Wines Willamette Valley | Dolcetto
