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Wine from Holocene Wines
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By now, everyone knows that the Willamette Valley is an amazing place to grow Pinot Noir. When Todd Alexander relocated from Napa Valley to partner up with Force Majeure Vineyards, he knew he also wanted to start a project where he could focus attention on a varietal and growing region that he loved. Part of the excitement of being in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to have access to so many amazing vineyards and so much diversity, along with the opportunity to push boundaries and try new things – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in other growing regions.
He partners up with a few very small, diverse and amazing vineyards in the Willamette Valley, sourcing fruit from these dry-farmed sites that emphasize low yields, sustainable practices and produce outstanding fruit.
The wines are crafted in the same way Todd has been making wine since he was carrying it out at Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley — utilizing very low-impact, non-industrial techniques, native yeasts, little extraction and little new oak, and never filtering or fining. This allows a real sense of place to show through in the wines that is often dimmed when too much manipulation is undertaken.
The first vintage was 2015, and was released in early 2017.
Review:
"I continue to love these Pinot Noirs under Todd Alexander’s Holocene label. While they’re not from Washington State, I was able to taste these during my visit with Force Majeure (which are also made by Todd) and I’m thrilled to be able to include them here." - Jeb Dunnuck (April 2020)
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Holocene Apocrypha Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Apocrypha Pinot Noir tends to showcase the blue and black end of the fruit spectrum, along with a brambly, floral, dried sage and thyme profile, higher acid than the Memorialis and more power.
We tend to enjoy this wine with lamb merguez sausage and saffron rice.
Review:
The outstanding 2021 Holocene ‘Apocrypha’ comes from the Antiquam Farm Vineyard as the wine underwent 100% whole cluster fermentation. The wine shows rich dark fruits on the nose with spicebox and salty soils. The palate is dense and shows a seamless texture on the mouth, with lovely bright acidity holding things up. The weight here is seriously good, as the combination of freshness and stuffing suggests this will age gracefully for fifteen plus years.
-Owen Bargreen 95 Points
The 2021 Pinot Noir Apocrypha is beautifully perfumed and darkly floral, showing crushed raspberries, dusty rose and sweet sage. Soothing and pleasantly round, this quickly gains tension through the onset of saline minerals, as tart wild berries add a crunchy sensation toward the close. The 2021 finishes spicy and long with a tug of tannic tension and bitter cherry nuances. The Apocrypha went through 100% whole clusters, native fermentation and spent fourteen months in 10% new French oak.
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 94 Points
Ripe mulberries, cranberries, black tea, and orange zest all emerge from the 2021 Pinot Noir Apocrypha, a beautifully perfumed, floral, exotic Pinot Noir that's medium-bodied, has a solid spine of acidity, and ripe tannins that carry through the finish. It's not a blockbuster yet shines for its pretty, pure, complex style, and it will evolve for 8-10 years in cold cellars.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Holocene Apocrypha Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Apocrypha Pinot Noir tends to showcase the blue and black end of the fruit spectrum, along with a brambly, floral, dried sage and thyme profile, higher acid than the Memorialis and more power.
We tend to enjoy this wine with lamb merguez sausage and saffron rice.
Review:
The outstanding 2023 ‘Apocrypha’ was aged for 9 months in 25% new French oak and saw100% whole cluster fermentation. This is lush, round and rich on the mouth with serious texture, tannin and mouthfeel. Dense red and dark fruits collide with salty minerals and volcanic stony accents on the palate. A stunning wine that is already drinking well, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come.
-Owen Bargreen 97 Points
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Owen Bargreen 94 Points
Holocene Aureolin Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
100% Chardonnay | Eola -Amity Hills AVA
Single Vineyard
Native yeast, no SO2 added at crush
Fermentation in stainless and neutral oak, including feuillettes
Elevage – 9 months in 50% new oak
Native yeast, no SO2 added at crush
Fermentation in stainless and neutral oak, including feuillettes
Elevage – 9 months in 50% new oak
164 cases produced
Review:
The Chardonnays from Todd Alexander’s Holocene are demonstrably compelling; the Aureolin shows great reduction and rich umami character. It spends nine months in a mixture of steel, new and neutral oak barrels, including the small format, feuillettes. It was allowed to oxidise at crush and made with a reductive approach. Rich, smoky grilled lemon wedges, oyster brine, and verbena complement Moroccan preserved lemons, candied ginger, and smoked cardamom. Delicious.
-Clive Pursehouse 96 Points
Holocene Memorialis Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Holocene Pinot Noir Memorialis is a blend of 777, Pommard and 115 clones from MonksGate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and it saw about 20% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. It is always the lighter and more feminine of the two Holocene wines, with red fruits, white flowers, dried herbs, mushroom and forest floor aromatics, bright acidity and a lithe texture, long finish.
By now, everyone knows that the Willamette Valley is an amazing place to grow Pinot Noir. When I relocated from Napa Valley to partner up with Force Majeure Vineyards, I knew I also wanted to start a project where I could focus attention on a varietal and growing region that I loved. Part of the excitement of being in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to have access to so many amazing vineyards and so much diversity, along with the opportunity to push boundaries and try new things – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in other growing regions.
We partner up with a few very small, diverse and amazing vineyards in the Willamette Valley, sourcing fruit from these dry-farmed sites that emphasize low yields, sustainable practices and produce outstanding fruit.
The wines are crafted in the same way I have been making wine since I was carrying it out at Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley — utilizing very low-impact, non-industrial techniques, native yeasts, little extraction and little new oak, and never filtering or fining. This allows a real sense of place to show through in the wines that is often dimmed when too much manipulation is undertaken.
Our first vintage was 2015, and was released in early 2017. As production is currently extremely small, the best way to get the wines into your hands is to join our mailing list at the “Mailing List” link above to receive an allocation when we have a release. We release wines once per year, and they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, shipped straight to your door.
Review:
The 2021 Pinot Noir Memorialis is more complete and layered, with beautiful ripe cherry and redcurrant fruit as well as spice box, dried, smoky herbs, and savory flower-like aromas and flavors. Textured, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it has the fruit and texture to shine even today yet the density and structure to evolve for 10-12 years as well.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
Holocene Memorialis Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Holocene Pinot Noir Memorialis is a blend of 777, Pommard and 115 clones from MonksGate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and it saw about 20% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. It is always the lighter and more feminine of the two Holocene wines, with red fruits, white flowers, dried herbs, mushroom and forest floor aromatics, bright acidity and a lithe texture, long finish.
By now, everyone knows that the Willamette Valley is an amazing place to grow Pinot Noir. When I relocated from Napa Valley to partner up with Force Majeure Vineyards, I knew I also wanted to start a project where I could focus attention on a varietal and growing region that I loved. Part of the excitement of being in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to have access to so many amazing vineyards and so much diversity, along with the opportunity to push boundaries and try new things – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in other growing regions.
We partner up with a few very small, diverse and amazing vineyards in the Willamette Valley, sourcing fruit from these dry-farmed sites that emphasize low yields, sustainable practices and produce outstanding fruit.
The wines are crafted in the same way I have been making wine since I was carrying it out at Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley — utilizing very low-impact, non-industrial techniques, native yeasts, little extraction and little new oak, and never filtering or fining. This allows a real sense of place to show through in the wines that is often dimmed when too much manipulation is undertaken.
Our first vintage was 2015, and was released in early 2017. As production is currently extremely small, the best way to get the wines into your hands is to join our mailing list at the “Mailing List” link above to receive an allocation when we have a release. We release wines once per year, and they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, shipped straight to your door.
Review:
Gorgeous dark violets and forest floor, with bright hints of pine sap and lilacs. The Memorialis Pinot Noir comes from a west-facing site planted in the mid-1990s in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation, where the marine sedimentary soils build spice and savoury complexity. On the palate, umami character rises with mushrooms, earth and smoky soy. Deep and intense and built to go the distance.
-Decanter World Wine Awards 96 Points
The 2023 Pinot Noir Memorialis is perfumed and strikingly pretty. A cascade of exotic florals and spices mingle with stone dust, lavender and blackberries on the nose. This washes across the palate with silken waves of ripe red and blue fruit, while a subtle citrus inflection adds tension. The 2023 finishes long and structured with a pleasantly chewy sensation. There's excellent potential here, but give it a few years of cellaring to come together.
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 95 Points
Holocene Sidereal Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Ribbon Ridge AVA
Single Vineyard dry-farmed, Organic practices
100% whole cluster
Fermented with native yeast
Extended maceration, with gentle extraction techniques
14 months in 20% new French oak
Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal SO2
Single Vineyard dry-farmed, Organic practices
100% whole cluster
Fermented with native yeast
Extended maceration, with gentle extraction techniques
14 months in 20% new French oak
Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal SO2
192 cases produced
Review:
The word sidereal means relating to the stars, particularly when measuring time or astronomical events. Which is weird for an earthly delight of a wine that makes time stand still while you attempt to decipher a vast array of aromas ranging from blackcap raspberries and cherry blossoms to wet slate and moon dust. Blackberries rule on the palate, with Assam tea, bay leaf and black pepper flavors easing along a lithe and nimble mouthfeel. Sidereal is also balance personified
- Wine Enthusiast 96 points
Review:
The 2023 Pinot Noir Sidereal is understated in the glass. Nuances of chalk dust and dried sage meet spiced blood orange on the nose. The palate is silken with savory red berry fruits riding a wave of cooling acidity as tactile mineral tones inform the close. The 2023 leaves a trace of sour citrus, and edgy tannins resonate through the long and youthfully tense finale.
-Vinous 94 Points
From a small parcel in Ribbon Ridge, this Pinot Noir sees 100% whole-cluster fermentation, yielding upright aromatics of amaro herbs, smoky rose petals, rosehip oil, and rich, ripe strawberry flesh. The palate is incredibly textured, and built to age, ripe red brambles, spiced chicory root and black tea give this wine a structured finish that will age wonderfully.
-Decanter 94 Points
Holocene The Black Square Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
There is something ethereal about Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the cobblestone soils of the Walla Walla Valley. This region offers aromatic exuberance, elegance, finesse, a polished texture, layered complexity, and remarkable length. It is a place where one can craft a singular, stand-alone example of this varietal—unique not only in the United States but worldwide—while still echoing some of our favorite wines from Bordeaux.
In 2022, Winemaker Todd Alexander embarked on a new (yet familiar) journey that he had been patiently awaiting the perfect moment to explore. The Black Square is in its inaugural vintage, and this 2022 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, which is part of the Walla Walla Valley.
The Black Square embodies elegance and grace framed by great structure, supple texture, and acidity to ensure longevity. It shows ample fruit with complex savory notes. This is not a heavy wine that is monolithic and dull—there are already plenty of those available. This wine offers a unique expression of Cabernet; it may be the most delicious wine Todd Alexander has ever crafted, venturing into new territory for Rocks District Cabernet Sauvignon.
Review:
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the River Rock and Stone Valley vineyards (it's mostly River Rock), and it's 100% varietal that's resting in 70% new French oak. It has a Pauillac (or is it St.-Estèphe?) like style in its smoky black fruits, iron, leafy tobacco, and black olive-driven aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant Cabernet that has flawless overall balance, fine, polished tannins, and beautiful length. This is a riveting Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Todd Alexander that's up with the crème de la crème of the variety.
-Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
As black as squid ink, The Black Square is balance personified. A concentrated blackberry aroma seems as dark as the wine's name, with equally dark espresso, olive and charred steak notes joining it in the abyss. A dark plum and ripe boysenberry flavor combo is accompanied by traces of salty Mission olives, wet slate and silky smooth tannins. The one bright feature illuminating the way is the wine's amped-up acidity. None so black
-Wine Enthusiast 98 Points
Number 5 in the Top 100 "An undeniably elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rocks District, crafted by Todd Alexander of Holocene in the Willamette Valley. This is a wine of umami, savoury depth, medium-bodied, with crushed dried violets, black olive, smoke and hot stone aromas. The palate shows refinement, and a delicate darkness ripples across the palate with a beautiful feral disposition. Notes of struck iron, dark forest tones, and crushed-stone minerality all frame a lingering note of wild fruits, chopped mint, and wild herbs. A wine that challenges your expectations of American Cabernet Sauvignon. - Clive PURSEHOUSE
-Decanter 97 Points
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-Decanter World Wine Awards 97 Points
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Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas is made from 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah, 1% Cinsaut.
The wine shows intense blackberry and fig fruit with licorice, violets, and charcoal on the finish. It is remarkably fresh and finessed given the sun and warmth of the southern Rhône. The unique micro-climate combined with 60-year-old vines and traditional winemaking make Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas the benchmark wine of the appellation.
Review:
Vivid ruby-red. Vibrant red fruit, floral and exotic spice qualities on the finely detailed and expressive nose. Shows impressive depth as well as energy to its juicy cherry, black raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors. Closes very long and silky, with slowly emerging tannins and a strong whiplash of sappy red fruit.
-Josh Raynolds (Vinous) 94 Points
Moving to the Gigondas, the base 2020 Gigondas is a brilliant wine that will evolve for 15 years if well stored. It has lots of red and black fruits, some peppery, violet, and mineral nuances, medium to full-bodied richness, and terrific balance. It's a worthy addition to any cellar.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Made from a blend of 60-year-old vines of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, this is a graceful expression of what cooler microclimates in Gigondas can deliver. The wine is enjoyable in its youth, with notes of blackberries, plums, wild rosemary, violets, green peppercorn, and sandalwood. However, cellaring this elegant wine another year or two will be rewarding.
-Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
Merryvale Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022 is made from Pinot Noir.
From the cool, fog-swept vineyards of the Sonoma Coast — including fruit from the celebrated Durell and Sunchase sites — this is Merryvale's elegant, Burgundian-minded take on California Pinot Noir. A mix of Dijon and heritage clones (667, Pommard, 777 and 828) was largely destemmed, fermented with native yeasts, and aged about ten months in roughly 40% new French oak — restraint that lets the fruit lead. Expect a perfumed, silky glass: black cherry, raspberry and dark berry lifted by forest floor, cola spice and a whisper of graham cracker, with bright acidity and fine, polished tannins carrying a long finish. Lovely now and over the next decade.
Winery Info: Merryvale Vineyards was founded in 1983 and makes its home in the historic Sunny St. Helena winery on Main Street — a stone landmark built in 1933 as the first winery raised in the Napa Valley after Prohibition, and the cellar where Robert and Peter Mondavi first made wine with their father, Cesare. The Schlatter family has owned and run Merryvale since the 1990s, today led by René Schlatter. At its heart lies the Historic Cask Room, where two stories of century-old 2,000-gallon oak casks line the walls. Four decades on, Merryvale remains a quintessential St. Helena house.
Review:
A wonderful interplay of brightness and savoriness captures the elegance of wines from the Sonoma Coast. Aromas of crushed red raspberries, sauteed mushrooms and wild blackberries. On the palate there’s red fruit and black pepper, with bright, crunchy acidity and taut tannins. The finish is long, with umami flavors. Medium-bodied. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 94 Points
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