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Stedt Wines 2017 Pinot Gris
The right vineyard for the right grape
I started Cellar 503 because I wanted to help our members discover the hidden gems of Oregon wine; those wines and winemakers that would otherwise go undiscovered. Well, Chris Lubberstedt is just that kind of winemaker.
Despite over two decades in the business, Chris still flies under the radar. His day job? He’s a technical advisor to winemakers seeking help from a winery supply business – essentially the in-house winemaker. So when it comes to his own personal label, Stedt Wines, you know they’re going to be technically right on.
But more than just a master of technique, Chris is passionate about creating intentional wines that represent the absolute best of Oregon. Each of Stedt’s wines is a single varietal from a single vineyard – often select rows of vines within that vineyard – that Chris believes represents the best expression of that fruit and that vineyard. Pinot Gris from here, Gamay Noir from over there.
He sees varietals and vineyards as the ultimate pairing, and does extensive research to discover the best vineyards for each grape – and then commits to working with them year after year. And with only around 200 cases of each wine made, this is passionate winemaking at its best.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Stedt Wines, Portland, Oregon
2017 Pinot Gris
Urban winemaking is often about sharing space and sharing equipment. When Chris Lubberstedt decided to launch his own label after nearly 20 years making wine at Methven, he reached out to that young, bright guy he had mentored years before – Tom Monroe at Southeast Wine Collective. Tom’s vision of a collaborative winemaking space in the heart of Portland was exactly what Chris needed to do the technically challenging but low-production wines that he wanted.
Unlike a typical Pinot Gris, this edition from Stedt was fermented 60% in stainless steel barrels and 40% in 500-liter French oak puncheons. The grapes come from the 30-year-old vines at the Risdall Ranch vineyard.
Like an Old World French wine, it has an integrated complexity of flavors that arise from the quality of the grapes and the production method. You’ll enjoy a rounded mouthfeel, a refined minerality, and just enough acid to make it sing gently. This is a fantastic Pinot Gris that reflects the very best of Oregon wine.
A Cellar 503 selection in October 2018, Urban Wineries Willamette Valley | Pinot Gris
