Brooks: impressive wines from Oregon with a particular focus on Riesling
Website: https://www.brookswine.com/
I’ve featured Oregon winery Brooks here quite a bit (see an article from a visit in 2014, and one from a visit in 2017). They are doing impressive work, and are Oregon’s strongest advocates for Riesling, which they do really well. Here are some notes on the Brooks range, with a big Riesling focus.
Brooks Sparkling Riesling 2017 Willamette Valley, Oregon
Intense, limey and pithy with nice pear and citrus fruit, as well a some apple. Lovely acidity: vivid and expressive. 92/100
Brooks Sparkling Riesling 2019 Willamette Valley, Oregon
12.5% alcohol. This has extended tirage of 54 months. Full yellow in colour. This is bold, rich, toasty and intense with powerful citrus fruit. There’s real depth here with some pithy notes, a bit of structure and a real depth of lemon and lime fruit, as well as some subtle toast. Very impressive, with Riesling’s character making itself felt. 93/100
Brooks Riesling 2021 Willamette Valley, Oregon
Juicy and direct with bright citrus fruit and a slightly pithy edge. Really alert and alive with some marmalade and grapefruit notes. 91/100
Brooks Riesling 2023 Willamette Valley, Oregon
12.5% alcohol. This dry Riesling combines vivid citrus fruit with some wet stone mineral character and good acidity. It’s focused and expressive, with a nice savoury, pithy, wet clay edge to the bright fruit. There’s some substance here. 92/100
Brooks Ara Riesling 2021 Willamette Valley, Oregon
Lively and mineral with fine crystalline citrus fruit, some fine spices and minerals. Juicy and intense with beautiful texture and nice precision. 94/100
Brooks Ara Riesling 2023 Willamette Valley, Oregon
This is from two sites: volcanic basalt and marine basalt, made in a dry style. Lovely intense lemon and lime fruit with some crystalline depth, showing a mineral core. It’s dry but not austere. Great mineral concentration. Lovely purity and depth with a beautiful mouthfeel, finishing taut and dry. 95/100
Brooks Orchard Fold Riesling 2021 Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
Three clones here. Off-dry and structured with lovely marmalade and spice notes as well as honey and melon richness. Sweet fruit countered by balancing acidity. 93/100
Brooks Bois Joli Riesling 2021 Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
1984 plantings, west facing. Nice intensity here: mineral and off-dry with grapefruit, pear and peach. Fine spices and some melony richness. Such impact, with concentration and good acidity. 94/100
Brooks Hyland Vineyard Riesling 2021 McMinnville, Oregon
1971 plantings, so ancient history for Oregon. Lovely mineral, crystalline pear, apple and apricot fruit. So lively and linear with fine spices. This is lovely. 95/100
Brooks Pinot Noir 2023 Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
13.5% alcohol. This is ripe, sweetly fruited and supple with sweet strawberries and raspberries and some silkiness. There’s a richness and sweetness to the fruit. Nice damson and sour cherry notes with some spiciness on the finish. Lots of impact here: a lovely bold Pinot Noir. 93/100
Brooks Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2023 Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
13.5% alcohol. From a site at 675 feet with volcanic basalt soils. Beautiful aromatics of pot pourri, pepper and raspberry fruit with some plummy depth. The palate has cherries, plums and a touch of clove and cinnamon, adding a spicy dimension. Textural with nice depth but also some fine spicy notes. This is really good. 94/100
