Wine

Notes and Condition

Best Years to Drink

O'Connor

Made 1990-1998. The 1991 is quite interesting for a mature white wine.

(should be long gone)

Seven Springs

Made 1988-2000, then the vineyard was re-named Anden. Our last vintage is 2006. Made from all Dijon-Clone fruit beginning in 1998. Acids soften with age and textures increase until 6-8 years of age.

'88-'97 should be gone. All of the Dijon clone wines are lovely

Freedom Hill

Made 1992 through current vintage. The early wines (through 1998) from the 108 clone did not age well. Current style of no new wood began in 2003. More complex textures, fruit increases for 4-6 years of bottle age.

'92-'97 should be gone. All Dijon clone wines are lovely.

Dijon clone

Picked earlier at greater ripeness, beautiful fruit w/great texture

Any and All

Wine

Notes and Condition

Years until Peak

1988, W.V.

Had sweet Pinot fruit with nice depth. I have no more.

Past its prime

1989, O'Connor

Smoky bouquet with great evolved fruit. Very balanced

Was a "WOW"

1989, Reserve

Complex black fruit and spice, white pepper, getting old

Past, but good!

1990, O'Connor

Lovely sweet fruit is fading, velvety texture

Past its prime

1990, 7 Springs

Complex black fruit, pepper, spice, and earth. Has softened significantly

Now, getting old

1991, O'Connor

Big red fruit , smoke, spice, rich flavors

NOW

1991, 7 Springs

Very rich with big fruit, very complex, the best until '93

NOW

1992, Alison's

Some cherry fruit, getting old

Past its prime

1992, O'Connor

Nice red fruit, smoke, but showing signs of age

Getting old

1992, 7 Springs

Wild berry fruit with pepper, spice, mushroomy

NOW

1993, W.V.

Tastes old with brawny tannins

Past its prime

1993, O'Connor

Smoke and black cherries with great depth

NOW

1993, 7 Springs

Still INCREDIBLE! Very concentrated, lovely fruit showing

NOW !!

1994, Temperance

Black cherry, medium tannins, great length

Now, getting old

1994, O'Connor

Huge black cherry and smoke, biggest tannins ever for O'Connor

Now to +2

1994, 7 Springs

Big and tannic with wild berries, pepper and spice, very dense

Now to +3

1994, Freedom Hill

Deep black cherry and rich earthiness, fruit opening w/air

Now to +3

1995, O'Connor

Fading black cherry fruit, medium weight

Now, getting old

1995, 7 Springs

Needs a bit of air, then shows spice, dark fruit with lovely balance

Now

1995, Freedom Hill

Layered black cherry, very smooth, some leather

Now

1995, Brickhouse

Very beautiful with rich fruit, Burgundian layers, and lovely finesse. A truly great '95

Now

1996, Temperance

Sweet fruit, accessible, very nice balance

Now

1996, O'Connor

Big structure with typical flavors-an ager vintage

Now to +1

1996, 7 Springs

Well structured, lots of wild berries, pepper and spice, needs air

+1-3

1996, Freedom Hill

Layered black cherry, earthiness with big structure

+1-3

1996, Brickhouse

Spice, white pepper, raspberries, complex, quite rich

Now to +2

1997, Temperance

Some sweet fruit, fading

Past its prime

1997, O'Connor

Still has coarse tannins of vintage, soft fruit and smoke

Past its prime

1997, 7 Springs

Wild berries, pepper and spice, Hold to see if it gets better

Now to +1

1997, Freedom Hill

Edgy tannins, not my best vintage

Past its prime

1997, Brickhouse

Nice berries w/typical spice, white pepper, and mushrooms

Now to +3

1998, Temperance

Loads sweet fruit, spices, layered complexity

Now

1998, O'Connor

The last and best O'Connor ever, a bit closed

Now to +3

1998, Shea

Amazing, complex, sweet dark fruit and flowers, very deep

Now to +10

1998, 7 Springs

Best wine I ever made. Very young and vibrant

Now to +4

1998, Freedom Hill

Rich black cherry, spice, earthiness with sweeter tannin structure

Now to +3

1998, Brickhouse

Silky texture w/ black raspberries, cinnamon, and pepper

Now to +4

1999, Temperance

Nice black cherry, hints of floral

Now to +3

1999, Shea

Sweet red and black raspberries and dark flowers, getting tight

HOLD 2-10

1999, 7 Springs

Second only to the great '98, now very tight, hold

HOLD 2-5

1999, Freedom Hill

Rich black cherry, big structure with lots of tannin

HOLD 2-5

1999, Brickhouse

Very Burgundian, layered raspberry, spice, with many layers

Now to +4

2000, Temperance

Black cherry, purple flowers, first vintage grown by Dai Crisp

Now

2000, Shea

Sweet red and black fruit and dark flowers, getting tight

Now to +3

2000, 7 Springs

Very typical terrior and well balanced, the last from both blocks

Now to +4

2000, Freedom Hill

Rich black cherry, big structure with more nuances

Now to +3

2000, Brickhouse

Lovely barnyard, cloves with many layers

Now to +4

2001, Temperance

Nice black cherry, a bit rustic

Now

2001, Shea

Wild and gamey aromas, somewhat coarse tannins. Some Brettanomycetes character. Was filtered so this will not evolve.

Now to +4

2001, 7 Springs

Very typical terrior, less forward fruit

Hold 1-4

2001, Anden

Wild berries, spice with rustic tannins that are softening. Not my best effort.

Hold 1-4

2001, Freedom Hill

Black cherry, earth, one of the best wines from the vintage

Now to +6

2001, Brickhouse

Lovely barnyard, cloves with many layers, the best Brickhouse ever!!

Now to +4

2002, Temperance

Black cherry, purple flowers, first vintage grown by Dai Crisp

Now to +2

2002, Shea

Rich, sweet red and black fruit and dark flowers, great depth

Hold 2-10

2002, 7 Springs

One the best wines I have ever made.

Hold 2-8

2002, Freedom Hill

Rich black cherry, big structure with more nuances. Spectacular!!

Hold 2-6

2002, Anden

More earthy, wild fruit, pie spice, and white pepper. One of the best wines. Late release. Not reviewed by WA.

Hold 5-10

Wine

Notes and Condition

Brut

Drinkable at release, better vintages improve with bottle age for 5 years
Best Vintages: '89, '90, '98 through '00. The 1998 Reserve Demi-Sec is quite nice (8 years on the yeast).