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Kriselle Cellars 2017 Belle TouVelle
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
2017 Belle TouVelle
This wine was inspired by the famous wines of the Bordeaux region, in a classic “right bank” blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.
You might expect this to be a big, powerful, over the top wine. But it isn’t! Perhaps due to its time in bottle, this is a lovely, medium-bodied wine with silky tannins and a long finish. You’ll get black currant and boysenberries with hints of violet and lavender and a sneaking hint of coffee.
Pair this wine with savory duck or pork. When it comes to cheese, think gouda, aged cheddar, or make a French onion soup with a nice layer of melted gruyere, Perfection!
The name, TouVelle, is an homage to the state park at the base of the stunning Table Rock just down the Rogue River from the winery. This is the first release of this wine and only 300 cases made. I’m betting this will be a long-term addition to their line up!
A Cellar 503 selection in July 2020, Old World Wines, New World Style Rogue Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot
