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The Pines 1852 2014 Satin
The father of Columbia Gorge wines
It was 1982, and Lonnie Wright had just returned from a year spent setting up irrigation systems in Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya.
He heard a rumor that a local orchardist had discovered a century-old vineyard that had been forgotten for two decades. He showed up uninvited at 7 a.m. and got to work – putting his expertise as a vineyard manager to work.
Fast forward three decades, and Lonnie is considered the father of Columbia Gorge wines, demanding respect from the Willamette-centric industry. Just one of a handful of Oregonians awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Wine Board, Lonnie has been a mentor and a champion for winemakers and vineyard managers throughout the Columbia Gorge AVA.
First planted sometime in the 1890s by an Italian stonemason named Louis Comini, those Old Vine Zinfandel vines are now the oldest surviving vines in Oregon and are the heart of Wright’s winery, The Pines 1852. Even his 25-year-old “Young Vine” Zinfandel vines – grown from transplanted cuttings off the old vines – are now more mature than many vines in Oregon.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
The Pines 1852, Hood River, Oregon
2014 Satin
A blend of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Viognier, the 2013 Satin blend wakes you up with tropical aromas of pineapple and banana right out of the bottle. As you take first sip, you’ll spot more fruit-forward flavors – apple, apricot, and maybe even a bit of crisp and juicy pear.
It’s a great summertime wine – fantastic with grilled chicken. Or maybe as a complement to spicy Thai food.
While Lonnie manages the vines, winemaking is led by Peter Rosback (the owner/winemaker at the famed Sineann Winery – a longtime purchaser of Wright’s grapes.) Together, they produce small-batch, limited-production Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Noir; and Viognier, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris. And those famous, ancient Zinfandels.
A Cellar 503 selection in August 2016, Wines from the Columbia Gorge Columbia Gorge | Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Viognier
