Golden Cluster ‘The First Row’ Old Vine Field Blend
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This wine is made in special vintages and is sourced from the David Hill Vineyard.
- The label is an image taken of Charles Coury and his dog Gypsy as they walked up the “First Row”. This row is also known as the Scion Block as these vines were used to take cuttings to establish the Charles Coury Nursery planted in 1966.
- Found in this row are some of Charles Coury’s most prized grapes, Sylvaner, Gouges Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, Flora, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
- The average age of the vines is 56 years.
Varietal: 100% Sémillon
Elaboration: The grapes were harvested together then whole cluster pressed on the same day. The resulting juice was co-fermented using only native yeasts and aged for 11 months in neutral French oak barrels. This was bottled unfined (vegan) and unfiltered. This wine was aged in bottle for a full year before release.
Tasting Notes: Phenomenal texture, natural acidity, fruit, and classic honey and lemon notes for which Sémillon is known.
PRESS
2021 – 92 James Suckling | 91 Wine Enthusiast
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Golden Cluster, of Willamette Valley, Oregon is the vision of owner/winemaker Jeff Vejr. Established in 2013, all of Vejr’s wines are produced under the Golden Cluster umbrella, but Golden Cluster also represents some individual wineries throughout the area.
Today, Veijr produces his wines at the David Hill Winery, which was originally the Charles Coury Vineyard & Winery, one of the first vineyards planted in Willamette Valley after Prohibition. David Hill provides him with the “uncommon grapes” he sources and most of these were planted between 1966-72. The Golden Cluster name is a nod to the memory of Charles Coury and the Semillon grape variety.