Current Red Varietals

92 points - Owen Bargreen

A complex red blend of the finest varietals from the Walla Walla Valley, this bottling celebrates the Métis heritage of Founder Jim Bernau's fourth great grandmother Catherine "Kitty" Umfreville Pambrun who worked with her husband Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun to lead Fort Nez Percés in Walla Walla, ushering in a time of peace to the trading post and Columbia Basin.

Translated into "Father Friend," this wine is sourced from the Umpqua Valley as a dedication to Founder Jim Bernau’s father. As a small-town lawyer, Jim’s father helped re-establish Oregon's wine industry in the early 1960s when he assisted Richard Sommer of HillCrest Vineyard in getting the first wine-grape winery license post-prohibition.

This special wine was developed years ago by our late winemaker, Forrest Klaffke. Founder Jim Bernau loved to end his winery tours with a tasting of this wine from the barrel, but Forrest complained that he was giving away too much of this precious, limited-production wine. In an attempt to deter Jim, Forrest locked the Pinot Noir Port barrels away and wore the key around his neck. The day before his passing, he gave the key to Jim. Since then, we have continued to make this wine according to Forrest's methods and bottle it with the vintage label design.

Pioneers of the Oregon wine industry, Don and Traute Moore have been cultivating vines at their Quail Run Vineyards in the Rogue Valley since 1989, growing varietals from all over the world.

For more than two decades we have been working with growers the Moore family, crafting the highest-quality wines from their Rogue Valley vineyards since 1989. With temperatures similar to France's Bordeaux or Rhône regions, this area is an emerging Oregon region.

For more than two decades we have been working with the Moore family, dedicated stewards growing the highest-quality wines from their Rogue Valley vineyards since 1989. The Rogue Valley is an emerging Oregon region with temperatures similar to France's Bordeaux or Rhône regions.

For more than two decades we have been working with growers Don and Traute Moore, crafting the highest-quality wines from their Rogue Valley vineyards since 1996. With temperatures similar to France's Bordeaux or Rhône regions, this area is an emerging Oregon region.

The wine is ruby red in color with powerful barrel notes of leather, cassis and sweet baking spice giving way to subtle fruit aromas of blueberry and cherry tart. Vibrant flavors of cherry, black pepper and shiitake mushroom are discovered as you sip the wine. The barrel characteristics and sweet red fruit move across the palate outlining a warm vintage and mature Merlot grapes.

Deep ruby in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of mocha, baked blackberries, dark chocolate, baking spices, cedar and ripe plums. The full-bodied palate is packed with lush dark fruits, cranberry preserves and dried figs. Firm tannins and balancing acidity contribute to a long, lingering finish.