The Tale of Two Wineries
Funny how life brings us to where we are. Just 4 and 1/2 years ago, I sat in an office perched above the Dundee Hills of the Willamette Valley. My life, belonging to one of the most coveted Oregon wineries, was quite…as I look back at it…a pretty kick ass life. Director to one of the world’s most prestigious Pinot Noir houses in the New World, Archery Summit Winery.
Today my life, hard to imagine, even better. Living in the Midwest brings me back to my roots, my heart and soul. With a life more fulfilling than well, life itself. And as it turns out, is outstanding. Who knew life would bring me thus far. A dually certified Sommelier, working on my own coveted existance, a long road hopefully ending with a certification as a Master Sommelier. All topped off with a successful business of my own, Amusée…life is pretty outstanding.
YET…this is not the purpose of my post today. Tonite, I sit in a bit of fog, comparing two outstanding Willamette Valley Oregon wineries. Archery Summit, my once home and also my then, competition, Sokol Blosser Winery. The best part THEN, my office sat just above Susan Sokol’s main estate and property – Sokol Blosser Winery. The window to my office, just a peak over the Archery Summit Estate of Archery Summit Winery into Susan and her Family’s Winery. Not. A. Bad. Gig. Not to mention- a visual into some of my life’s most rewarding ‘wine’ memories.
Now, my husband and I are a part of the Archery Summit ‘A-List’ Wine Club – a club I helped produce – and buy locally, the gorgeous wines of Sokol Blosser Winery. While I am – yes, yes, yes – a HUGE fan of both of their Pinot Noirs, tonite our enjoyment comes from each of their Pinot Gris wines.
Wine #1 ~ Archery Summit ‘Ab Ovo’ ~ A wine only offered through the A-List wine club of Archery Summit Winery. A latin named derived ‘from the egg’ – concrete egg that is. Aging, only ‘from the concrete egg’ it sat in. Lean, unified and somehow so gorgeously integrated – all of its balanced fruit & acid tone extending from a concrete egg.
A bottle, I so graciously paid over $40 for and so GRACIOUSLY, sat on a waiting list for. And as it came to be, after sitting on a ‘wish list’ of sorts, and finally having the allowance of buying a total of 4 t bottles as a household.
Tasting Notes ~ L-O-V-E. Maybe I’m biased, but dude, I know the work that goes into tending these vineyards. Leah Bartholomew, ASW’s Vineyard Mgr, one of the best in the U.S. & Anna M, a ridiculously talented Winemaker with more words to describe wine than the Oxford Dictionary – awesome. And with Corey Buyer, Cellarmaster, at the helm – the trio is a triple threat to wine.
Creamy, yet loaded with fresh papaya and round honeydew – the $’s definitely add up. Delicious and a wine that I pulled out tonite because I wanted to celebrate my nite off with my hotty husband. Floral with a lush, white flower peel, supple and yet, very crisp at the finish. Are the dollars, however, adding up to the whopping 40 some dollars we paid for it? That’s the question.
Wine #2 ~ Sokol Blosser Pinot Gris ~ a wine so fabulously offered through the channels of distribution here in Minnesota. A wine, at the same time, offered at almost HALF the price as Archery Summit’s coveted Ab Ovo. And, a wine…again, that can be purchased just down the street at one of my favorite wine shops, France 44.
Tasting Notes ~ F-A-B. However, a completely different wine with a completely set of tasting notes. Baked apple, pear and really fresh, cooked fruit. Yeasty in quality, giving the mouth-feel a full sensation. Fat with complexity, and interesting in the same moment. A baked chicken, perhaps, the right dish here. Or, just a piece of American Apple Pie. Again, nice – elegant and really quite beautiful and complex for the $20 price point.
While I’m sensitive to price point and really look out for what is WORTH THA DOLLA – I think you have to look at both for their price points and quality.
Conclusion ~ Archery Summit Ab Ovo for $40+ and as a Winery Exclusive = pretty kick A$$. I have to give it to Anna. Y-U-M.
But wait! What if you’re not part of the supposed ‘A-List’ of ASW’s Wine Club? That’s the bummer and sometimes exclusive parts to the wine world I both love and don’t always love…
So with equal manner, Sokol Blosser’s Pinot Gris, is a fabulous choice. I feel, not as crispy clean, fresh and floral as the ASW’s Ab Ovo – BUT is a full, earthy, round gorgeous Pac NW Pinot Gris for the dollar. Well well worth the BUCK!
So there you have it…
Want more from Archery Summit and Sokol Blosser, both from the Dundee Hills of the Willamette (yes, like Dammit!) Valley?
~ Check them both out at Archery Summit Winery & Sokol Blosser Winery.
Salut! Best of all, to TWO fabulous wines paired to S-U-M-M-E-R!