SCHÖNETAL CELLARS
PROST!
Our —
Story
SchöneTal Cellars is a family-owned pico-producing winery focused on crafting premium pinot noir with minimal intervention. Playing tribute to our family's German heritage, our name is derived from the "Schöne", meaning beautiful, and "Tal", meaning valley, and when combined, it expresses our view of the Willamette Valley for its bio-diversity, agricultural richness, stunning landscapes and history.
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Our wine journey truly began when we moved back to the Willamette Valley (McMinnville) in the early 1990's. The wine country was still fairly young and I began volunteering my time during harvest. Asking a lot of questions of the early pioneering winemakers and studying along the way, I looked forwarded to the cold brisk mornings during harvest and the purple stains on my hands. I never imagined being a winemaker until 2014. Through developed friendships, we managed to source some of the best Pinot Noir grapes grown from a mature vineyard in the Willamette Valley and SchöneTal Cellars came to life.
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The winemaking style is simple but complex in structure. The foundation is sourcing quality fruit from vineyards that prescribe to sustainability, and sound viticultural practices. Followed by a diligently managed artisan vinfied process of producing small lots of unfiltered and unfined quality wines that showcase the natural elegance and sensuality of an Oregon pinot noir. We focus on harvesting the fruit at a time when the flavors have naturally developed in the vineyard, allow fermentation to occur spontaneously from indigenous yeast, manual punchdowns (no pumpovers), and neutral oak barrels for elevage.
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We are always happy to share our story, the journey and we hope you enjoy our wines. Cheers!
— David Ulbricht —
2015 Single Vineyard Meredith Mitchell
SOLD OUT
The Meredith Mitchell Vineyard is a bio-dynamic site located in the McMinnville AVA planted on Marine Sedimentary and Basalt soil. We sourced from block 3 which is 100% Pommard Clone Pinot Noir rooted on it's original root stock. We fermented with 25% whole cluster and aged this wine for 14 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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2016 Single Vineyard Meredith Mitchell
$75.00/bottle (7 Cases Remaining)
The Meredith Mitchell Vineyard is a bio-dynamic site located in the McMinnville AVA planted on Marine Sedimentary and Basalt soil. For this vintage we sourced from blocks 2 and 3 which are both 100% Pommard Clone Pinot Noir that's rooted on it's original root stock. We fermented 40% whole cluster and aged this wine for 16 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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2016 Single Vineyard Hirschy
$50.00/bottle (Our 1st Vintage from this site)
The Hirschy Vineyard is located in the Yamhill Carlton AVA planted on Willakenzie soil. For the '16 vintage we sourced our grapes from block K which is 100% Pommard Clone Pinot Noir planted on the highest side of the vineyard. We fermented 40% whole cluster inclusion and aged for 16 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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2016 Tochter Cuvee
$75.00/bottle (Only 5 Cases left)
Our first barrel select wine series produced from the Meredith Mitchell Vineyard. Only 24 cases produced from a selection of wine from two barrels. Brilliant red and displays fresh red/blue fruits, savory herbs and potpourri scents. Spicy lift and clairty on a long, focused finished supported by smooth and harmonious tannins. 40% Whole Cluster.
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2017 zu Ehren von Arlo
$75.00/bottle (11 Cases Remaining)
A continuation of our barrel selection series, this wine came from one particular barrel that was 100% Whole Cluster from the Hirschy Vineyard (Yamhill-Carlton AVA). Selected and named in honor of our grandson Arlo Bernard it is 100% Pommard and aged 17-months in neural French Oak. Dark scarlet in color and is assertively perfumed red berry preserve, boysenberry and cherry aromas, along with Asian spice and smoky mineral accents. Finish is long and pure with tannins that provide shape and gentle grip.
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2017 Single Vineyard - Hirschy
$50.00/bottle
Our 2nd vintage from the Hirschy Vineyard, located in the Yamhill Carlton AVA, is a deep, shimmering red with vibrant, mineral- and spice-tinged red and blue fruit aromas. Raspberry, boysenberry and floral pastille flavors combined with fine-grained tannins. 100% Pommard from Block K planted on the highest side of the vineyard. 80% whole cluster inclusion during fermentation and aged for 17 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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2019 Hill Road Vineyard
Rosé of Pinot Noir
$30.00/bottle
Our inaugural Rosé from the Hill Vineyard, northwest of McMinnville. Pressed whole cluster on the day of harvest, this 777 Clone represents grapefruit and apricot notes with a smooth dry finish. Unfiltered and unfined. Only 30 cases were produced and has not been rated.
2016 Willamette Valley Blend
SOLD OUT
Our Willamette Valley Blend is where we have taken the time to select some of our favorite barrels of the '16 Meredith Mitchell and the '16 Hirschy and made a beautifully classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The ratio of the two is about half and half since both sites are 100% Pommard. We did a 40% whole cluster inclusion and aged this wine for 16 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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2017 Willamette Valley Blend
$45/bottle
The 2017 Willamette Valley is 100% Pommard and a blend consisting of fruit from the Hirschy Vineyard (67%) and the Meredith Mitchell Vineyard (33%). This combination of fruit from two different AVAs created a deep red color with highly perfumed aromatics of red fruit liqueur and baking spices. We did a 80% whole cluster inclusion during fermentation and aged this wine for 17 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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2017 zu Ehren der Familie
$75.00/bottle (5 Cases Remaining)
This barrel selection wine comes from the Meredith Mitchell Vineyard (McMinnville AVA). In honor of family, this wine displays a limpid rudy-red color. Aromatically high with a complex bouquet of exotic spice, potpourri and red fruit liquer. Smooth and gentle tannins and offers cherry cola, rose pastille and spicecake flavors. 100% Pommard, 100% Whole Cluster and aged 17-months in neural French Oak.
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2017 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard
$65.00/bottle
The 2017 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard exhibits a glistening magenta color accented with mineral- and spice- red and blue fruit aromas and musky earth scents. Clarity and vibrant lift with raspberry and cherry flavors. This is a bio-dynamic site located in the McMinnville AVA planted on Marine Sedimentary and Basalt soil. 100% Pommard Clone that's rooted on it's original root stock. 80% whole cluster and aged 17 months in neutral French Oak barrels.
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Soon to be Released (Not Yet Rated)
Check back later for Release Date and Event
2018 Ihre treuen Söhne - $75/bottle
Our one barrel selection series continues with Her Loyal Sons. 100% Whole Cluster from the Hirschy Vineyard. Aged 20-months in neutral French Oak.
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2018 Single Vineyard - Hirschy - $50/bottle
Yamhill Carlton AVA. 100% Pinot Noir (Pommard clone). 60% Whole Cluster.
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2018 Single Vineyard - Meredith Mitchell - $65/bottle
McMinnville AVA. 100% Pinot Noir (Pommard clone). 60% Whole Cluster.
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2018 Willamette Valley - $45/bottle
100% Pommard Clone. 60% Whole Cluster. This a a 50/50 blend from the Hirschy Vineyard (Yamhill-Carlton AVA) and the Meredith Mitchell Vineyard (McMinnville AVA). Aged 20-months in neutral French Oak.
CONTACT
Office: 328 NE Davis St Suite 3, McMinnville OR 97128
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Winery: 3635 Bethel Heights Rd., NW, Salem, OR 97304
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