Oppenlander Vineyard is well off the beaten path in Mendocino County outside of the town of Comptche. It’s about eight and a half miles from the Pacific Ocean as the crow flies at an elevation of 250 feet. Oppenlander is owned by the Shandel family, 5th generation owners of the property, and was originally homesteaded in the 1860s by their ancestors from Denmark (via the Gold Rush in Australia). The vineyard sees consistently cool temperatures across the growing season and is harvested later than other regions. This cooler temperature range and coastal proximity can deliver a certain “oceanic acidity,” lending structure and complexity to the wine.
Oppenlander Vineyard gives off a coastal vibe of Pinot Noir: fresh and lush dark red fruit, with a salinity and minerality that recalls the Mendocino coast sea breeze. Overall, the 2021 vintage was a warm, but not hot vintage and draught conditions results in lower yielding crops. All of this results in concentrated flavors, color and acidity, along with great structure.
Winemaker and Vintners’ Tasting Notes: Showing a beautiful medium ruby hue with a tinge of violet on the edges, the 2021 Oppenlander opens up with aromas of black cherry, raspberry candy, and hints of lilacs and black tea. Rich dark fruit envelops the palate, complemented by notes of clove, rhubarb, sandalwood and a subtle interplay of vanilla and cocoa. The aromatics on this wine also smell like harvest – that complex mix of earthy, flowery and sweet fragrance that can evoke nostalgia as we enter a cooler time of year. How appropriate as we release this ninth vintage of our Pinot Noir made from this coastal-influenced site.
The structure and subtle fine grain tannins of this wine result in a long, fruit-driven finish and ensure years of complexity unfolding as the wine ages gracefully. As you think about autumn dishes like roasted pork with butternut squash or herb-crusted lamb chops, this wine will provide inspiration for some great food pairings.
Reviews:
93 Points, Decanter (September, 2024): "From Openlander Vineyard, eight and a half miles from the Pacific Ocean, as the crow flies, perched at just 76.2m. Waits-Mast has produced wine from this site since 2009. There's so much to love about this wine, from its expressive aromatics of deep forest pine, underbrush, green tobacco, black tea, and truffles to its medium-bodied and palate expression with satiny fruit, grippy, cedar-tinged tannins and its exceptionally long finish of white pepper, clove, and wet river stones."
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast (June/July, 2024): This wine is rich, concentrated with aromas of black cherry, strawberry, pomegranate and dried rose petal on the nose. The midpalate has flavors of cranberry-raspberry, cassis and chicory intertwined with maple, black tea and a dry, silky finish. Pair with sautéed sand dabs. — Tonya Pitts
89 Points, Wine Spectator (April, 2024): A bright, high-pitched style, offering cherry and damson plum notes lined with flashes of bergamot and strawberry core. Shows good tension on the finish. Drink now through 2027.
