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theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America. |
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Witness Tree Vineyard
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Like many wineries in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Witness Tree Vineyard is a small producer of premium-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But several things make us special. First, we are 100% estate bottled. Every grape that goes into a Witness Tree wine has been grown on our property. This gives us complete control (at least as much as Mother Nature allows) over the quality of the fruit that comes into the winery to be made into wine. Not many Oregon wineries have this ability. Second, our site is exceptional and lies within a tremendously beneficial microclimate. Located nine miles northwest of Salem, in the area known as Eola Hills, we benefit from a southeasterly exposure which allows the site to warm earlier in the day. Add to that a protective ridgeline to our west and you have a combination of climate elements that facilitates earlier ripening of our fruit than is found in many other vineyards. This is a major factor in the quality of our wines. Third, enjoy the historical element of our winery and vineyards. The vineyard takes its name from an ancient oak tree used as a surveyor's landmark in 1854, during the Oregon Trail era. The tree was used to mark the Northwest corner of the original Donation Land Claim No. 51 and still stands today in our vineyard. And finally, Steven Westby is our Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. Having worked hand-in-hand with our Winemaker Emeritus, Bryce Bagnall, for ten years at Witness Tree Vineyard, Steven has acquired an intimate knowledge and appreciation for the varied microclimates in our vineyard. His familiarity with the nuances of each separate lot of fruit grown here on the estate qualifies him as one of Oregon’s most capable Winemakers.
First, we are 100% estate bottled. Every grape that goes into a Witness Tree wine has been grown on our property. This gives us complete control (at least as much as Mother Nature allows) over the quality of the fruit that comes into the winery to be made into wine. Not many Oregon wineries have this ability.
Second, our site is exceptional and lies within a tremendously beneficial microclimate. Located nine miles northwest of Salem, in the area known as Eola Hills, we benefit from a southeasterly exposure which allows the site to warm earlier in the day. Add to that a protective ridgeline to our west and you have a combination of climate elements that facilitates earlier ripening of our fruit than is found in many other vineyards. This is a major factor in the quality of our wines.
Third, enjoy the historical element of our winery and vineyards. The vineyard takes its name from an ancient oak tree used as a surveyor's landmark in 1854, during the Oregon Trail era. The tree was used to mark the Northwest corner of the original Donation Land Claim No. 51 and still stands today in our vineyard.
And finally, Steven Westby is our Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. Having worked hand-in-hand with our Winemaker Emeritus, Bryce Bagnall, for ten years at Witness Tr
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“Vintage Select” Chardonnay
“The 2004 “Vintage Select” may very well be the finest Chardonnay we have produced here at Witness Tree Vineyard. Honey and spice fill the nose with just a hint of vanilla. The mouth is full and intense, brimming with tropical fruit flavors and almost a hint of butterscotch. The wine possesses great suppleness of texture, and good balancing acidity. The finish is exceptionally long. This is a powerful Chardonnay, yet it offers intensity without ever seeming overblown or out of balance. Only 136 cases were made.”
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Witness Tree “Benchmark” Pinot Noir
The 2003 “Benchmark” is the Yin to the “Claim No. 51” Yang. It is elegant and refined without ever losing intensity. The nose is packed with aromas of chocolate, black cherry and exotic spices. On the palate, it is ripe and opulent, filled with flavors reminiscent of raspberry, blackberry and a hint of vanilla. Balancing all is a supple tannic structure which suggests a long life ahead. Four barrels were blended to create this incredible wine yielding a mere 92 cases. Don’t miss it! (You may split cases between the two wines and receive the case price)
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Witness Tree “Claim No. 51” Pinot Noir
The 2003 “Claim No. 51” is a masculine style of Pinot Noir. Incredibly dark ruby in color, it almost stains the glass. The aroma profile is loaded with dark fruit character—black cherry, plum, and black raspberry come to mind, with spice and coffee hiding in the background. In the mouth it offers bold and dramatic fruit flavors, accented by earth and spice. The finish lingers on. The wine is perfectly balanced—it has power, but does not overpower. It also has great structure, and as a result we feel it will age beautifully for many years to come. Be aware, however, that only 84 cases were produced.
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Witness Tree “Estate” Pinot Blanc
The Pinot Blanc grape variety is grown in very small quantities in the Willamette Valley. Here at Witness Tree we now have one acre in production (we added an additional 1.5 acres last spring and will harvest that fruit for the first time this fall). This limited bottling offers delightful fruit flavors reminiscent of apple and pear, beautifully balanced by a crisp refreshing acidity. Serve it with lighter table fare, crab or other shellfish, or simply on its own.
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Witness Tree “Estate” Pinot Noir
We are thrilled to release to you our 2003 “Estate” Pinot Noir! The wine has a very attractive garnet color in the glass. The nose is full of black fruits, chocolate and a hint of spice. In the mouth, it is supple on entry, with just a hint of tannin. The fruit flavors are full and sweet, reminiscent of black raspberry with a dollop of vanilla in the background. The wine has great structure and a very long finish. A very youthful wine, this 2003 “Estate” really deserves several years in the cellar to show its best, but will delight the impatient with its forward fruit and lush character.
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Witness Tree “Estate” Viognier
The fruit for this bottling was also grown in a one-acre block of vines which was grafted into our vineyard in 2001. Wines made from Viognier have long been prized for their effusively floral nose and spicy, exotic fruit character. This wine offers a nose full of apricot and orange blossom aromas, and an explosion of flavors suggestive of peaches and spice fill the mouth. Serve it with spicy Thai or other Asian dishes.
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Witness Tree “Sweet Signe“
Just in time for the holidays, we are delighted to announce the release of our 2004 “Sweet Signe” dessert wine. Named for our granddaughter, this incredible confection was created by freezing the grapes and then pressing the frozen fruit. The resulting juice is thus super-concentrated, and is then cold-fermented over the winter months--yielding an elixir that can only be appreciated by tasting it! In the nose, you will find heady aromas of white peaches, apricots and hints of spice. On the palate, explosive tropical fruit flavors are carried in the unctuous mouth feel. Although decidedly sweet, the wine possesses a brilliant acidity which keeps it dancing on your palate. Previous releases of “Sweet Signe” have sold out very quickly so don’t delay. A grand total of 130 cases were made.
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Witness Tree “Vintage Select” Pinot Noir
Here it is, our flagship wine, our piece de resistance, the 2003“Vintage Select” Pinot Noir. We are very excited to be able to present to you this incredible wine. Intense aromas of cherry, blackberry, spice and vanilla surge from the glass. One sip reveals incredible richness--ripe fruit, rich and expansive--which fills the mouth yet the texture is smooth as silk. Balancing all, is a firm tannic structure suggesting a long life ahead. As wonderful as this wine is now, it will only be more glorious in the future. Only 537 cases were produced.
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