Jenise wrote:Needed a bubbly to celebrate a friend's birthday, and the David Hill Sparkling Wine from Dundee, Oregon, was the most reasonable item on a local restaurant wine list. I have to say, it's just about the oddest sparkling wine I've ever tasted. I've never heard of the winery. There was neither a vintage date on the bottle nor a back label description that gave a clue about the grape(s) used. What it didn't taste like was either pinot noir or chardonnay. It tasted like kettle corn and pecans. Lightly sweet, corny and nutty, all of which might have been evidence that some oxidation was taking place. A second bottle was slightly fresher tasting, but not to my tastes much of an improvement.
Anyone know anything about David Hill wines?
Jenise: Not familiar with it. But the web site indicates the only sparkler they make is Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. And sounds like, from their description and yours, there's an abundance of Pinot Noir, but in the sweet and simple mode.
I looked over their list and descriptions of wines....and I have to say, based on what I saw, I wouldn't rush to the winery to corner the market. There's more than a whiff of "we're trying to be all things to all people" there. No real focus or theme emerging---other than, maybe, "what the heck, let's try it."
I'll admit, this might be a tad unfair, in the way of overgeneralized snap judgements, but as I said, what I've seen doesn't inspire me...and what you reported reinforces that.
Small operation, apparently...and they're making Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, Semillon, Muscat, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and probably some I've missed. And they are making still, sparkling, fortified, varietally-focused and whimsical blends. They do dry or sweet or very sweet.
So, one wonders, do they do
all of that well?
