Tasting Notes
Margo, named after Colene’s great granddaughter, is comprised of selected vineyard blocks and barrels from our Estate. Lifted and high toned with great vitality and focus, fresh red and dark red fruit mingle on the nose. Supple, refined, and structured, dark cherry and savory notes are the highlight of this transparent, concentrated Pinot noir. Consume this gem now or over the next six to eight years.
About Colene Clemens Vineyards
Located where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge, our 122-acre property was acquired in 2005 and first planted in 2006. With an elevation of 350 to 650 feet, this rocky, south-facing hillside is composed of marine sedimentary and volcanic basalt soils. Completely dry-farmed, our 62-acre vineyard consists of five different clones: Wädenswil, Pommard, Dijon 115, Dijon 114, Dijon 667, and Dijon 777.
Our farming practices can best be described as sustainable, and we utilize organic farming whenever possible. We are firm believers in taking care of our soil, practicing crop reduction for low yields, and hand harvesting our fruit at its optimal physiological ripeness.
My name is Joe Stark. My wife Vicki and I own Colene Clemens Vineyards and Winery which we named in honor of Vicki’s mother. I grew up in Gaston and met Vicki, a Portland native, when she took the position of librarian at Gaston High School. A chance meeting led to a relationship that has lasted more than forty years now. We have a wonderful son, Aaron, a beautiful daughter, Adriane Jetton, two perfect grandchildren, Max and Margo, and their father, Eric, the best son-in-law in the world.
While growing up, I had worked in my father’s small cabinet shop but had always wanted to have my own business. In 1980 Vicki and I were finally able to make that happen and with time, hard work and good fortune that business grew and prospered. Over the ensuing years we were privileged to be able to develop an appreciation for fine wines, especially Pinot Noir. Of course no one could have imagined when we first met that Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley would prove to be some of the world’s premier property for growing first-class Pinot Noir – right in our own back yard. As we acquired the means, it seemed a natural progression that we would someday develop our own vineyard and winery with the hopes of creating something of natural lasting beauty and value that we could leave to our family.
It took many years of searching for the perfect place to pursue this dream. A very old abandoned farmstead and orchard that had lain fallow for many years would be that place. Possessing ideal aspect (south facing), elevations (350ft to 650 ft) and an array of high quality, proven Pinot Noir soils, not to mention fantastic views, no place could have been better. Even more implausible to us, our vineyard is not two miles from the little rental home where we lived when our first child, Aaron, was born.
From the beginning it has been our goal to do everything possible to make the very best Pinot Noir that we can. No compromise has been made in vineyard preparation, farming practices and wine making. Steve Goff, our gifted and dedicated winemaker and vineyard manager, has utilized the most diligent, time-tested and non-invasive protocols in both the vineyard and winery to further this goal.
Vicki and I, along with Steve and all the others involved with Colene Clemens Vineyards and Winery, look forward to many years in pursuit of the “perfect” Pinot Noir – that illusory, if unattainable, holy grail of winemaking. Salud!
