Back in 1997, when Deb and Tom Mortimer first discovered the uncultivated land that would become the Le Cadeau Black Hole Vineyard, they knew instantly that it was an excellent site to grow Pinot Noir. The property, a 28-acre parcel on the south slope of Parrett Mountain in Oregon, was overgrown with poison oak, wild berries, and scrub oak.
As they cleared the land they realized that its unique, rocky and broken volcanic basalt soils were ideal for growing consistently excellent Pinot Noir. Today, their mature Black Hole Vineyard is planted with an astounding variety of Pinot Noir clones, including Dijon, Heritage (Heirloom), Pommard, and Mariafield.
“I like to say we’re a vineyard-centric winery,” Tom says. “Each clone has its own unique characteristics and flavors which are uniquely influenced by our terroir.” The resulting wines offer fresh and intense aromatics, pure and deep fruit flavors, and hints of Asian spices mingled with an earthiness not often found in domestic Pinot Noir wines. From the first vintage, the wines have consistently earned high acclaim, many with scores of 93 points and above from top critics.
Le Cadeau wines are handcrafted in very small lots for the discerning palate. The portfolio primarily focuses on Pinot Noir, but also includes a lovely Pinot Gris and Riesling. Last year, Tom and Deb opened a spacious tasting room along Highway 99 in Dundee. Here, those looking for something really special will have the opportunity: besides a tasting bar, there’s a conference room for private tastings. Tom says that they like to be flexible with tasting options and suggests that guests call ahead to discuss their their tastes and options.
“In French, the word cadeau means gift, so you might think we named our winery Le Cadeau because the wines are like a gift,” Tom says. “But to us, the true gift is the beautiful land and the great friendships we make through the wine.”
What to Buy
’10 Rocheux Pinot Noir – $48
Sweet cranberry, dried red cherries, anise, sassafras
’11 Merci Reserve Pinot Noir – $75
Red berry, nutmeg, ginger, fennel pollen
’12 Diversité – $48
Black raspberry, mint, clove, white pepper
Contact
1326 N Hwy 99W
Dundee , OR 97115
Phone: 503-625-2777
E-mail: info@lecadeauvineyard.com
Website: lecadeauvineyard.com
Tasting Room: Open Monday – Saturday
Touring & Tasting
Touring & Tasting is a media company that produces a wine and travel magazine.
