Battle Creek Vineyard is owned by Precept Wine in Seattle and was its first estate vineyard in Oregon. It was planted in 2000 and is home to 110 acres of vines, not far from Willamette Valley Vineyards south of Salem. This is a superb example of a mid-Willamette Valley wine, with aromas of rose petals, blueberry, red currant, moist eary, spice and lime zest. On the palate, it offers flavors of high-toned red fruit, not unlike what we might enjoy from the Dundee Hills, including cranberry, cherry and pomegranate. There’s a certain amount of richness on the midpalate, along with right-on acidity and fine-grained – dare we say, silky – tannins that lead to a gentle, memorable finish.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 224 cases
Alcohol: 13%
I’m confused. Erath is owned by Chateau Ste Michele. They are buying grapes from Precept?
Robert,
Good question. Ste. Michelle doesn’t own any vineyards in Oregon, just Erath Winery. Thus, it buys all the grapes it uses from various growers. Precept happens to be a significant grape grower in Oregon.