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Iris Vineyards 2018 GSM
Ride a rainbow to the coast range hills
Sure, Dionysus was the Greek god of wine and fertility. But Iris had the all-important job of traveling by rainbow between the mortal world and the heavens to bring wine to the gods. Not a bad name for the vineyard owned by Richard Boyles and Pamela Frye nestled in the hills of the coast range.
Richard’s passion for wine started as a child. His grandmother grew grapes and his father would press the grapes and make wine. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began to make wine as a teenager.
Richard was introduced to Pamela at the University of Oregon, and while their career paths took them around the world, the couple always knew they would end up back in Oregon. In 1995, they purchased the freshly-logged timberlands that would become Iris Vineyards, planted it in 1996 and released their first vintage in 2001.
In 2014, the tasting room opened and it’s a glorious spot, secluded in the hills with stunning views of the vineyard and the Douglas Fir forests that surround them. Another great spot to put on your post-pandemic travel itinerary!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Iris Vineyards, Eugene, Oregon
2018 GSM
Iris Vineyards has 43 acres of grapes planted on their estate vineyard and most of that is Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. But winemaker Aaron Lieberman knew from the beginning that they should have a wide variety of wines on offer. Their bigger red wines come from Southern Oregon vineyards and Aaron is very involved in the vineyard management of those sites. He firmly believes in allowing the grapes to lead the way to wines that are fruit-forward, with balanced acidity and low alcohol.
This GSM blend is no exception. The Iris edition of the classic French blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre leads with Grenache – making this wine fruit-forward and soft on the palate. The Syrah brings in layers of darker fruit and adds spicy notes. The Mourvèdre gives it that gorgeous color and lends some earthiness to the wine. A wonderfully well-balanced wine.
GSM pairs well with many foods and would be particularly great with rosemary and sage porkchops or just a simple dish of olives and feta!
A Cellar 503 selection in March 2021, Spotlight on South Willamette Valley Rogue Valley | Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah
