Thank you for your continued interest and support of our Big Table Farm wines. Thanks to you, our first-release wines have done very well with great reviews and consumer support.

Big Table Farm Syrah
White Hawk Vineyard
2007
195 Cases Produced
unfined and unfiltered
15.2% Alcohol


 

The fruit for this wine comes from a very special vineyard in Santa Barbara Co. The White Hawk Vineyard is planted on ancient sand dunes on the south facing slopes the Los Alamos Valley in Santa Barbara County. It's 21 miles west of the Pacific and 2 miles north of Los Alamos and planted at 900 feet elevation. This region is recognized as a top producing wine region. Our dear friend Maggie Harrison carefully tends the syrah block of White Hawk Vineyard and starting in 2006 she offered us the opportunity to purchase some of this premium fruit.

The fruit was picked in late October to FYBs (little yellow bins that protect the fruit, but are loathed by all who have to deal with them - hence the ‘f’ in FYB) and brought to Oregon in a refrigerated truck. The grapes were hand sorted and cold soaked for five days to pick up flavor from the skins before fermenting. The grapes were then fermented in three lots – two completely destemmed, and the other whole cluster. The resulting wine aged in 50% new French oak and was bottled after 22 months in barrel.

The 2007 vintage in California has already garnered huge accolades and this vineyard has proven to be no different. When the grapes came into the winery they had a notably beautiful aroma even as just fruit. This wine enjoyed a little longer élevage to really give the tannins a chance to soften and the structure of the wine to fill out. We expect this wine to age gracefully for years to come.

           
The labels on the Syrah, like our pinots, were made by hand using a letterpress and thick printmaking paper, hand cut and glued on each bottle. While very labor-intensive, this makes for an elegant package that not only befits its contents but also produces less waste than traditional label printing. This year’s Syrah features one of our pigs in another form as one of Brian’s farm cured hams. As many of you know our label designs are inspired by the animals we are raising and obviously the food they provide. With baby cows this spring who knows what the fall labels will hold.

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Pinot Noir Rose
Cattrall Vineyard
2009
100 Cases Produced
unfined and unfiltered
14.1% Alcohol

We (Clare) have wanted to make a Rosé called "Laughing Pig" after meeting some pigs on a farm in Ireland in 2004. Clare did a quick sketch of those extremely personable and exuberant pigs, and hence all the "Laughing Pig" label needed was a wine. Oregon 2007 Pinot Noir fit the bill for the initial Laughing Pig Rosé and the label stuck.  

The ‘09 Rosé fruit was sourced from the Cattrall Vineyard, farmed by good friends and very respected organic growers in our region. This is the oldest certified organic vineyard in Oregon, we are excited about the red wine we made from this site as well. Like the ’07 Rosé, the ‘09 Rosé is barrel fermented to dryness, completed malolatic and aged sur lie until the day before it was bottled. If you liked the last Laughing pig we think you’ll love this one even more!
 

The barrel fermentation and sur lie aging give underlying complexity to the rich fruit on the nose. The "old world" style used to produce this wine will allow it continue to evolve like a well-made white wine. We made just 100 cases of this wine and are excited to share it.

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Big Table Farm Pinot noir
Willamette Valley
2008
77 Cases Produced
13.2% Alcohol
(very limited supply left - please contact us for avilability) 



The Willamette Valley blend primarily sourced from the Johan Vineyard, farmed by our good friend Dan Rinke. Dan has studied biodynamics and organics and is using environmentally responsible farming practices and working toward Biodynamic certification. Dan gathers the manure from our cows here at Big Table Farm and is using it in the preparations for the vineyard rows he's farming for us.

Press-
Moderate garnet color in the glass. The aromas of cherry/berry jam, roses and red jujubes are enticing. Discreet structural power with vivid berry fruit that is subtly spiced and smoked. A middle weight wine displaying a soft and smooth mouthfeel, fine-grain tannins and impeccable balance. A very impressive Willamette Valley bottling. Very good (+). The Pinot File - William "Rusty" Gaffney, M.D. www.princeofpinot.com

The 2008 “Pig” Pinot Noir was our favorite at Cork’s recent tasting - Last Friday at Cork Wineshop, we tasted seven Pinot Noir varietals from Germany, Oregon, and Burgundy. Our clear favorite, the 2008 Big Table Farm from Willamette Valley, had finesse of an old world Burgundy with the punch of a new world syrah. A great Pinot Noir debut.

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Big Table Farm Pinot noir
Resonance Vineyard
2008
94 Cases Produced
13.1% Alcohol
(very limited supply left - please contact us for avilability) 

 

This vineyard, located just west of Carlton in Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, is farmed by friends and very talented growers Kevin and Carla Chambers. The Resonance Vineyard is certified as Biodynamic^®.  Kevin and Carla’s nearly 20 years of growing for Oregon’s premier wineries shows in this ultra premium fruit.
 
Both of these wines were made with all natural fermentations and aged sur lie. As usual, Brian uses a very hands off winemaking style and really let’s the vineyard speak in each wine. 2008 was a wonderful growing season and beautiful slow rolling harvest which made for a great pace in the winery and we believe helped make the wines all the better.

Press -
Rich, deep, brooding dark red fruits with a savory underpinning of chanterelle mushrooms, loamy earth and cardamon spice. This wine has impressive intensity on the mid palate, a pillowy texture, and a finish like a three hour movie you don’t want to end. Still a little closed, seemingly possessing more hidden charm waiting to get out. Cellar this wine for one to two years for ultimate gratification. Love the low alcohol. A very heavenly and sensual pleasure.truly exceptional - Pinot Geek Icon - The Pinot File - William "Rusty" Gaffney, M.D. www.princeofpinot.com