WINERY Bergström Wines, a first-generation American family business, is one of the most unique and lauded domaines in the Willamette Valley. Dr. John Bergström’s Swedish heritage and the love he developed for the Pacific Northwest are the roots of this estate. In 1999, John and his son, Josh, established Bergström Wines and today, Josh and Caroline, his wife and business partner, are celebrating more than 25 years as biodynamic growers of estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards on the finest appellations within Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

WINE The first Ribbon Ridge AVA estate that we were honored to add to our portfolio.

This magnificent 16-acre marine sedimentary shallow sandy soil terroir is owned by the Hill family and farmed by Bergstrom Wines in partnership since its inception.

With scarcely a drop of rain from spring through harvest, the 2017 vintage is a tale of a warm (but not hot) and dry summer giving way to cooler nighttime temperatures during an extended harvest that began in September and lasted more than a month into early October. This combination delivered a beautiful balance between ripe fruit and irresistible acidity. These are bright, energetic wines with floral and candied notes, complemented by a distinct saline minerality. These wines are enjoyable now and have significant aging potential over the next decade.

Whole-cluster fermentation in small, open-top vessels. 100% malolactic and alcoholic fermentation (no residual sugars or malic acids). Aged on natural lees in 10-15% new 228L French oak barrels. Unfined.

The 2017 Le Pre du Col is ruby red with dried fruits and a forest floor scent similar to Matsutake mushroom, Herbs de Provence, cinnamon, and vanilla bean. It’s integrated and shows elegant, age-worthy qualities. Aromas that were once bramble are now dried cranberries, black tea, and vintage leather. Flavors of baking spice, sweet fruit, and forest floor come alive with earth-driven salinity and lasting acidity. The structure of this Ribbon Ridge site is still present and changes as it sits in the glass. We recommend allowing this wine to breathe for one hour to enjoy its peak expression.