You've all had this experience. You go somewhere, visit a lot of wineries many of which are impressive and then there's this one winery that excites on that next level and just hits everything out of the park. That, for me, was tasting with winemaker/owner Bree Stock at Limited Addition in Gaston, Oregon. I had not heard of this winery before, but though I walked in with a mental commitment to not buy more than 1 or 2 bottles (anywhere/I'm a widow/I don't need more wine) I bought a case and a half and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to buy more.
Limited Addition means: minimal intervention (including spraying so as not to discourage botrytis and powdery mildew) and maximum attention. Alcohols in all the wines tasted ranged from 12.5-13.3%. We tasted about half of the 22 wines currently available.
Bree is not just a brilliant winemaker and exciting person to talk to, she's a Master of Wine. Annointed in 2016, she is Oregon's first MW and the only female MW in the Pacific Northwest. An Aussie by origin, she has made wine all over the planet and is now committed to encouraging diversity and sustainability in Oregon's wine scene and works closely with growers to encourage alternative grape varieties. Her American husband Chad is one of the top consultants in the state for viticulture and production theory, especially for rare grapes and wine styles.
My notes are kinda sketchy, but you know how that is. We were a group of 7--lotsa noise.
2022 Constant Crush Wine Limited Addition Old Vine Cabernet Franc Eola - Amity Hills
Neutral oak and a deft hand by winemaker Bree produced en-pointe Loire-ish body and texture in this superb cab franc. $65.
2023 Constant Crush Wine Trousseau Limited Addition Eola Springs Vineyard Eola - Amity Hills
Strangely I took no notes on this wine, other than exclamation points and an immediate decision to buy, but I recall mentioning loving a superb Trousseau from fellow OR winery Division and finding similarities. Loved this. $58
2023 Constant Crush Wine Chenin Blanc Limited Addition Noble Dry Eola Springs Vineyard Eola - Amity Hills
Pale color, nicely dry, somewhat reticent peach notes with a hint of dish soap. Needs time. $65
2024 Constant Crush Wine Limited Addition Orange Crush Co-fermentation Willamette Valley White Blend
Pinot Gris, Muscat and Riesling cuddle up in this delightful, pretty, dry co-ferment. In a world that doesn't yet fully appreciate orange wines, this is Limited Addition's best seller. $27
2023 Constant Crush Wine Limited Addition Arneis Aurora Vineyard Chehalem Mountains
Earlier in the day but elsewhere we tasted a bland Arneis from the same vintage and vineyard as this, and I commented that it just didn't have the verve of Italian Arneis that I love. So I passed. Well, maybe it's the native yeast or the longer fermentation or the 1 yr Chestnut barrels Bree acquires from Bordeaux (and most likely all 3), but this Arneis absolutely kills the category. Finally, FINALLY, someone in this country is showing what this grape can do. Quince and meyer lemon fruit, nutty finish--it's to die for. $34, A++ and I bought a lot of it.
2024 Constant Crush Wine Limited Addition Rose Crush Willamette Valley Rosé Blend
A lovely blend of dolcetto, gamay and pinot noir. $27
2022 Constant Crush Wine Limited Addition White Lights Vitae Springs Vineyard Willamette Valley White Blend
A blend of GV, Muller Thurgau and Riesling deliberately enhanced by both Botrytis and Powdery Mildew (a picture of the bins showed the grapes half black from the latter). Enchanting complexity with white pepper and cinnamon notes. I graded it an A+, and I'm not an easy grader. $42
2023 Constant Crush Wine Gamay Noir Limited Addition Chehalem Mountains
Beautifully balanced, good body. We tasted quite a few gamays on this trip and this easily beat them all. $58
2021 Constant Crush Wine Cabernet Dorsa Limited Addition Eola Springs Vineyard Eola - Amity Hills
Only one barrel made from 100 vines in one row of grapes. Cabernet Dorsa is an experimental grape and was originally thought to be a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Dornfelder. It's strong blue hue now suggests blaufrankisch as the more likely other grape. It ripens early, on about the same schedule as pinot noir. Only 12.7% abv, it's richly layered with sturdy tannins and the darkest, most intense Oregon red I've ever tasted. I couldn't resist buying a few for future blind tastings, though expensive at $78.
2023 Constant Crush Wine Limited Addition Gamay Trousseau Pinot Noir Eola Springs Vineyard Eola - Amity Hills Pinot Blend
Delicately spiced, pale red color, long/lingering finish. $27.
I also tasted a Mencia, but took no notes.