2017 Ovum ‘Big Salt’ White Blend

Region: Elkton < Oregon

Grapes: 90% Gewurztraminer & Riesling, 8% Early Muscat, 2% Melon, Savignin Rose + Pinot Noir

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic, 40+ year-old-vines on Windygap soils (deep, well-drained residuum and colluvium from sandstone and siltstone); Gewurztraminer & Riesling co-fermented in stainless steel, the rest fermented in old barrel; bottled, unfined, after 6 months on lees; no additions except a small amount of SO2; 12% ABV

Winemaker: John House

NEW VINTAGE ALERT: Last year’s crowd favorite is back! A refresher: a couple falls in love working at a winery, decides to go off on their own and make natural, terroir-driven wines out of the best raw material they can find. Ovum is a project from John House and his wife in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, who make ‘Big Salt’ from a mixed bag of aromatic varietals. There is grit and saltiness in the wine, along with floral, honeysuckle and tropical fruit notes balanced by chalky texture and pebbly minerality. Like a Hawaiian garden planted in the middle of Germany’s Pfalz region. Aromatic but not sweet. A supremely satisfying sipper, and excellent food wine – at an everyday pricepoint -- to boot.