The winery I am referring to is HillCrest Vineyard located in the Melrose area of Roseburg. HillCrest is the oldest winery in the state of Oregon post prohibition and is where the very first Pinot Noir vine was ever planted in our beautiful state -now famous for the same varietal. Dyson and his wife Susan run the winery with the help of their children and Dyson's 25 plus years of wine experience and his passion for wine making shows up in everything he does. Since HillCrest wines are only available at the winery and Dyson does not worry about wine awards and pleasing judges who too often are looking for wines that fit into a particular, narrow frame work, he is free to experiment and try new things. He makes wines he likes and that please him and in doing so, he please many others as well. He refers to his passion for wine making as his “sickness” and has a huge, loyal following.
Take his new Rosé bottled just a few days ago. This 2009 “Tamas” was inspired by meeting a famous wine maker on his recent trip to Hungary. Duszi Tamas is known as the “King of Rosé” in that country where Rosé is hugely popular. Rosé is drunk as an aperitif, with meals and on into the night. They like their Rosé so much in Hungary they even make cocktails out of it which quenches thirsts while delivering a bit of a kick! True to the European style of Rosés, HillCrest's “Tamas” is dry with a bright beautiful acidity that appeals to red wine drinkers.
And if you thought the “Tamas” sounds exciting and believe me, it is, you will be overwhelmed by Dyson's new 2009 “Inside Out “ - Pinot Noir Blanc. This wine is the very first of its kind here and is like nothing you have ever tasted. It is made from Pinot Noir but made more like a Chardonnay, gently pressed and made into a very light colored full bodied white wine that has the color of Blanc de Noir Champagne. The wine is unoaked and driven by rich round fruit with an exquisite perfumed strawberry finish that goes on forever.
These are just two of HillCrest's newest wines but certainly not the only two unique or worth writing about. I have written previously about his amazing Chardonnay and his Syrahs are some of the best I have tasted. His Zinfandel a varietal almost impossible to find here, is so rich and full bodied and when paired with cheese enchiladas makes a marriage in your mouth that boarders ecstasy. He makes beautiful European style Rieslings that make you cry and a visit to the winery and a talk with Dyson is an experience you will not forget. This year HillCrest will be home to a European style artisan distillery specializing in Eau de Vie and fruit distillates. Ah, yes...just part of Dyson's self proclaimed “sickness” as he calls it. I just hope as do many of us, that he never gets “well”!
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