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Abbey Road Farm 2022 Estate Pinot Meunier
Hospitality From Grape to Glass
LOCAL FAMILY OWNED
A new winery for the club, Daniel and Sandi Wilkens acquired Abbey Road Farm in 2017 with the goal of establishing a distinctive destination in Oregon Wine Country. They had developed a special brand of hospitality at Hanko’s Sports Bar & Grill in Lake Oswego and their vision was to showcase that fervent commitment to hospitality and a dedication to organic practices, utilizing the soil and land to craft exquisite wines and beyond. Since that time, they have cultivated more than 45 acres of vineyards, featuring a diverse range of 16 different grape varieties. Farmed with regenerative organic practices where biodiversity is fostered and encouraged.
After purchasing the property they immediately began improvements to the 82-acre farm to turn it into an all-encompassing agritourism destination. Today, Abbey Road Farm boasts one of the most unique lodging opportunities in the area, offering five silo guest suites, and a three-bedroom guest ranch house. The property’s vegetable garden and chicken coop provide fresh ingredients for gourmet breakfasts. Sweeping lawns provide breathtaking views and a gathering space for up to 200 people. Abbey Road Farm’s permanent residents are available to greet guests: mini donkeys, chickens, mini goats, ducks, llamas and alpacas. The facility offers a variety of lawn games including horse shoes, cornhole, croquet and giant Jenga. With close proximity to some of Willamette Valley’s premier wineries, hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey, and Agrivino Fine Dining Event Center, there is no shortage of activities, wining and dining in the neighborhood.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Abbey Road Farm, Carlton, Oregon
2022 Estate Pinot Meunier
Pinot Meunier, also known as Meunier or Schwarzriesling, is a variety of red wine grape most noted for being one of the three main varieties used in the production of Champagne (the other two are the red variety Pinot noir and the white variety Chardonnay). Until recently, producers in Champagne generally did not acknowledge Pinot Meunier, preferring to emphasize the use of the other noble varieties, but now Pinot Meunier is gaining recognition for the body and richness it contributes to Champagne. Pinot Meunier is approximately one-third of all the grapes planted in Champagne and is a chimeric mutation of Pinot: its inner cell layers are composed of a Pinot genotype which is close to Pinot noir or Pinot gris; the outer, epidermal, layer is, however, made up of a mutant, distinctive, genotype. Pinot Meunier was first mentioned in the 16th century. It gets its name and synonyms (French Meunier and German Müller—both meaning miller) from flour-like dusty white down on the underside of its leaves. More and more, Oregon producers are chosing to make still red wines from this grape variety to highlight the unique rich, flavors profiles that we have all enjoyed as just one component in our sparkling wines.
Tasting notes
Fruit forward red wine with some Earthy under tones. Aromatics are dark fruited with Black Cherry and Blackberry, and some Rhubarb and Forest Floor to round out the nose. The palate is red fruited with Cranberry, Rainier Cherry with a subtle White Pepper finish.
Production notes
Grapes were hand-picked and destemmed into 1.5T Macro bins. Pumped over once per day. 17 days on skins. 10 months elevage. Neutral French oak.
Vineyard Notes
The site is north east facing sitting on well drained Willakenzie marine sedimentary soils. The amphitheater slope of the vineyard ensures the vines are cooled in the afternoon by the winds, promoting even ripening and flavor development.
A Cellar 503 selection in November 2024, Gratitude Yamhill-Carlton | Pinot Meunier
