{"id":27,"date":"2011-09-05T02:52:04","date_gmt":"2011-09-05T02:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donandtheopowers.com\/Don\/?p=27"},"modified":"2011-09-05T03:03:52","modified_gmt":"2011-09-05T03:03:52","slug":"natalies-estate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donandtheopowers.com\/Don\/natalies-estate\/","title":{"rendered":"An Afternoon at Natalie’s Estate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Natalie's Estate Winery<\/p><\/div>\n

Natalie’s Estate<\/a>, located at the foot of Chehalem Mt. just outside of Newberg, OR was open yesterday so Theo and I, and our friends Kathy and Fred, decided to pay them a visit. \u00a0We always look forward to going to Natalie’s because they are not open often and it is a treat to taste their exceptional wines. \u00a0Yesterday’s tasting lineup was especially good. \u00a0It included the Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountain), Zinfandel (Columbia Valley), Pines Vineyard Merlot (Columbia Valley), Elephant Mountain Syrah (Columbia Valley), and the Elephant Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. \u00a0Each and every offering was absolutely delicious! \u00a0I am always amazed at how winemaker\/owner Boyd Teegarden is able to get quality flavor from what most would consider young wines. \u00a0For example the Elephant Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a 2009. \u00a0If you tasted it blind you would never guess it was that young because it it incredibly full flavored and is not characterized by over-the-top tannins characteristic of young cabernet sauvignons that I have tasted in California. \u00a0Particularly noteworthy yesterday was the Elephant Mountain Syrah. \u00a0I am a syrah lover through and through and this was a WOW wine for me. \u00a0I’ve had Natalie’s syrahs before but this in my view was the best ever. \u00a0If you like light-style syrahs perhaps this won’t be for you but if you like what I enjoy calling “chewy” syrahs this will knock your\u00a0socks off.<\/p>\n

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Theo with friends Joe and Terri at Natalie's Estate<\/p><\/div>\n

When you drink Boyd’s wines you discover quickly that he does not like to hide the fruit in his wine. \u00a0This syrah blasts you with great fruit yet treats the back pallet to a balanced finish that allows the wine to glide from beginning to end. \u00a0 By now you get that I truly enjoy Natalie’s Estate wines. \u00a0But there is more! \u00a0Imagine getting many of these great wines from under $30! \u00a0This is amazing to me because these wines are superior to many wines that are far more expensive. \u00a0When I asked Boyd about this he will basically tell you that his winery is successful and he wants to give his customers a great wine at a great price.<\/p>\n

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Winemaker\/owner Boyd Teegarden (with the hat in the background) talking to visitors<\/p><\/div>\n

I belong to Natalie’s Estate’s wine club. \u00a0Perhaps that doesn’t sound like a big deal but my wine budget has limits and I have to make choices about what clubs I join. \u00a0One of my requirements has always been that any wine club I join must have a tasting room with regular hours (i.e. I want to be able to visit on a whim). \u00a0This is not the case with Natalie’s. \u00a0I bought wine from Natalie’s for several years before I finally joined their club strictly adhering to my requirement. \u00a0However over time I found myself simply enjoying being there. \u00a0You will never visit Natalie’s and feel separated from the winemaker. \u00a0In fact by the you conclude your first visit, assuming you are not one who actively avoids contact with people, you will feel as if Boyd is your good old friend. \u00a0Boyd wants to pour you his wine. \u00a0He wants to talk to you about his wine. \u00a0He wants to make you feel at home. \u00a0It is truly a unique winery environment. \u00a0It is comfortable. \u00a0I love taking family and friends to Natalie’s and I cannot recall a single instance where Boyd has not made it happen even when they were not scheduled to be open. \u00a0I remember one instance when my nephew was visiting from California and Boyd opened up the tasting room so he could try the wines. \u00a0There was another club member there who had brought a bottle of pinot noir he had made as part of a class at the late Bishop Creek Winery. \u00a0Not only did we taste Boyd’s wines but Boyd also poured this club member’s wine, showed how the wine improved by decanting, pulled a couple other pinots from his cellar that were of the same vintage (one I recall was a Laura Volkman) to educate this club member about that particular year’s pinot noirs (2007). \u00a0My nephew and I got to come along for the ride. \u00a0It was absolutely wonderful. \u00a0Boyd was clearly in his element. \u00a0I would be remiss to not mention Boyd’s wife Cassandra who perhaps has less up-front exposure but plays an important role in making the Natalie’s experience so good. \u00a0We always have wonderful food pairings whenever the winery is open and she works tirelessly to make sure visitors are taken care of. \u00a0Cassandra and Boyd are a great team who make Natalie’s Estate an enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n

Cheers<\/p>\n

P.S. \u00a0Natalie’s has a Tempranillo in the barrel that is absolutely wonderful. \u00a0If you love this Spanish wine as I do this is one you will not want to miss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Natalie’s Estate, located at the foot of Chehalem Mt. just outside of Newberg, OR was open yesterday so Theo and …<\/p>\n

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