2000: Year One

In 2000 we were dirt poor, literally. We had 17.32 acres in the Dundee Hills which was ready for planting but we had no money for grapevines. We did scrape together enough money for one fermenters worth of pinot noir grapes though. Our friend from Sineann winery, the inimitable Peter Rosback, put us in touch with Bob Morus at Phelps Creek Vineyard and we bought just enough grapes to make 97 cases of wine at Medici winery just outside of Newberg. My husband at the time, and the winemaker, Aron Hess, was working as an assistant winemaker at Rex Hill Vineyards and I was working in advertising. When the must was ready to press, we had to press late at night because we couldn't start until after Aron had finished his shift at his regular job. That night, up on the hill at Medici Winery, I remember seeing the moon rise and then seeing it start to set as we were cleaning up the press. I went home and showered and then went off to my day job. Oh the things you can do in your twenties!

The 2000 Daedalus Cellars Oregon Pinot Noir is definitely very mellow now, slightly orange around the edges and somewhat showing it's age, but it's still such a lovely wine to drink.