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Weingut Loimer
Carrying on his family's winemaking tradition, after studying oenology at Austria’s Klosterneuburg University and working in Germany and Napa, Fred Loimer took over the winery from his father in 1997. His 80 hectares of vineyards began conversion to biodynamics in 2006, and all are certified today. Unlike most of his peers, Fred vinifies his wine to dryness, like this concentrated, stony, older vine grüner from vineyard around Langenlois, growing on loess and gneiss soils at 200-400m. Predominantly fermented and aged in large stainless tanks (5% in large oak barrels), this rested 4 months on lees before blending and bottling.
Juicy pink grapefruit, lime zest, honeycrisp apple floods the palate, dusted with white pepper, and finishing with a grapefruit twist. A friendly, smart white and excellent introduction to Kamptal and Loimer. *New label this vintage.
“The grüner veltliner is both consistent performer and chameleon, yet either way it finds the path to delivering the widest range of white wine appeal. Also classic in delivery, with variations on that theme, and for this palate Loimer’s market-level sku is as classic as they come. From 2025 that means even more, from a poignant to profound GV that gives readily, and generously of itself. The waxing of fruit is properly juxtaposed against a waning of structure that will not get in the way of immediate gratification. With thanks to pitch perfect acidity at this regional price level there is nothing out of place, nor any thought to short term decline. Make it your upscale house white for all necessities, wants and needs. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"A lovely vintage for Loimer's classic regional grüner, balanced, fresh, lively but also concentrated above the mean, with excellent length and sustained interest on the palate. I love the zesty, saline acids that drive additional sips. Very tidy stuff here from Loimer, ever-reliable; drink or hold into the early '30s. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
“This is showing good ripeness and richness for such a young wine. The nose expresses ample peach-pineapple, florals, citrus marmalade notes with some youthful lees. It is medium weight, firm and dry with a sense of minerality on the finish. Very good to excellent length. Classic! Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
Read more about Weingut Loimer here.
Vintage: 2025
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $29
Style: Still
Appellation: Kamptal DAC
Country: Austria
Grape: Grüner Veltliner
Colour: White
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: Yes
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes
Weingut Loimer
Carrying on his family's winemaking tradition, after studying oenology at Austria’s Klosterneuburg University and working in Germany and Napa, Fred Loimer took over the winery from his father in 1997. His 80 hectares of vineyards began conversion to biodynamics in 2006, and all are certified today. Unlike most of his peers, Fred vinifies his wine to dryness, like this concentrated, stony, older vine grüner from vineyard around Langenlois, growing on loess and gneiss soils at 200-400m. Predominantly fermented and aged in large stainless tanks (5% in large oak barrels), this rested 4 months on lees before blending and bottling.
Juicy pink grapefruit, lime zest, honeycrisp apple floods the palate, dusted with white pepper, and finishing with a grapefruit twist. A friendly, smart white and excellent introduction to Kamptal and Loimer. *New label this vintage.
“The grüner veltliner is both consistent performer and chameleon, yet either way it finds the path to delivering the widest range of white wine appeal. Also classic in delivery, with variations on that theme, and for this palate Loimer’s market-level sku is as classic as they come. From 2025 that means even more, from a poignant to profound GV that gives readily, and generously of itself. The waxing of fruit is properly juxtaposed against a waning of structure that will not get in the way of immediate gratification. With thanks to pitch perfect acidity at this regional price level there is nothing out of place, nor any thought to short term decline. Make it your upscale house white for all necessities, wants and needs. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"A lovely vintage for Loimer's classic regional grüner, balanced, fresh, lively but also concentrated above the mean, with excellent length and sustained interest on the palate. I love the zesty, saline acids that drive additional sips. Very tidy stuff here from Loimer, ever-reliable; drink or hold into the early '30s. Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
“This is showing good ripeness and richness for such a young wine. The nose expresses ample peach-pineapple, florals, citrus marmalade notes with some youthful lees. It is medium weight, firm and dry with a sense of minerality on the finish. Very good to excellent length. Classic! Tasted October 2026.” - 91 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
Read more about Weingut Loimer here.
Vintage: 2025
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $29
Style: Still
Appellation: Kamptal DAC
Country: Austria
Grape: Grüner Veltliner
Colour: White
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: Yes
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes
Alexana Winery
Though named Terroir Series, this is a Willamette-wide blend of various soils and clones. The wine is a selection of barrels from the dry farmed younger blocks of the Revana vineyard in Dundee Hills, along with vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton, Eola-Amity, Chehalem Mountains, and McMinnville, and clones Pommard, 115, 777, Wadenswil, 667, La Tache, 943, 114, 828, Coury, and 113. Each lot is separately native fermented whole berry before aging 11 months in French oak (23% new). Forest, wild cherry, fresh moss, and pretty florals rule the silken palate, sided with fine, long tannins and finishing with a gently warming baking spice note. Quite polished and fresh, this medium bodied wine is drinking ideal now with any kind of mushroom / duck dishes.
“Vivacious and expressive, with sleek raspberry and cherry flavors laced with rose petal, orange peel and hints of forest floor as this sails on the long, supple finish. Drink now through 2030. 6,490 cases made.” - 93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
Read more about Alexana Winery here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $65
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Pinot Noir
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: No
Minimus
Minimus
Chardonnay Dijon Free
No Dijon clones were harmed in the making of this wine. Though Dijon clones are prevalent throughout the Willamette, they wanted to create a wine using only heirloom clones. This used Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden, Mendoza, and spent 16 months in 30% new French oak. Showing beautiful evolution, but still shining, with shimmery lemon and a buzzy undercurrent livening yellow and green apple, pear skin, subtle toast on a layered palate. Polished and impressive, reflective of the striking potential for Willamette Chardonnay.
"Beautiful chardonnay, as rich, sumptuous and unctuous as one could want from the Willamette, but also this stony and flinty subtlety running through the wine's interior like a hidden treasure of a message. So graceful and gracious, clearly exulting a sense of vineyard pace and place coaxed graciously by the people who work to make this fruit so real and proper. Excellence incarnate for a "Dijon-free" clonal iteration of the standard variety, opted for and exulted instead by that which is truly local. Drink 2023-2027. Tasted November 2023.” - 94 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"The first chardonnay I have seen promoted as Dijon-free, a reference to the invasion of French Dijon clones in recent years. It uses more 'native' clonal stock instead - Calera, Wente, Musque and others - and signals a reversion to American chardonnay of old. Indeed the very ripe banana, floral and buttery/custardy notes, complete with oodles of clove/nutmeg barrel spice - does recall the 80s. It is full bodied, off-dry warm and very rich. The texture is quite silky and the heat is on, yet the acidity holds. All kinds of complexity and power here, with excellent to outstanding length. The name of the wine is given a signal to the style but it is oblique. Tasted November 2023" - 93 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
"Work past the creepy front label, and the tongue-in-cheek "Dijon free" mention on the back label (a reference to the proliferation of the so-called Dijon clones of chardonnay, whose arrival and spread in the early 1990s signalled the beginning of serious quality chardonnay in Oregon), and get on to the serious wine contained within, one with marked barrel influence and rancid butter flavours in a classical style. The palate is fullish and intensely flavoured, with resinous oak notes and lemon curd, creme brulée flavours. One can't argue with the flavour intensity and concentration - off-the-charts high, and the superb length, bold, dense and powerful. Similar quality from Napa would command a far higher price. Drink or hold short term - I'd capture with the remaining fruit intact, even though it's anything but a fruity wine. Tasted November 2023.” - 93 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
"Cheekily labelled as a "Dijon Free Chardonnay", this assemblage is made from only heirloom clones such as Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden and Mendoza that have matured for 16 months in 30% new French oak. Despite the fact that the oak is quite prevalent on the palate, the wine is not heavy and exhibits a great deal of lift from acidity. Aging gracefully, there is very little oxidation noted and the fruit is still generous on the palate. A pleasant degree of nuttiness has surfaced adding to the overall complexity. Showing a notable stamp of place and a low-intervention cleanliness. The label is a bit dark and enigmatic in contrast with the wine. Best now to 2027. Tasted November 2023." - 93 points, Sarah d'Amato, WineAlign.com
Vintage: 2017
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $55
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Chardonnay
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes