I’m often asked for recommendations on wineries to visit, both here in the Walla Walla Valley and in the Willamette Valley, where I am a frequent visitor. So here’s one – Day Wines. But only for the adventurous, those interested in off-the-beaten-path winemaking, rare varietal wines and even more unique blends.
True confession: my first exposure to Brianne Day’s wines did not go all that well. I knew that she was garnering pretty good buzz among fellow winemakers, but my first round of reviews was… confused? Confusing? Concerned? Whatever, I found these “natural” wines difficult to unravel.
Much to her credit, Brianne agreed to meet with me at the winery (this is five or six years ago) and taste together. That started my appreciation for what she is doing, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
As is my current practice, I taste very few wines at a time, I taste them over several days, and I give them every chance to open up. Young wines, recently bottled and shipped, are rarely accessible without aggressive aeration. I aerate naturally, by simply letting the open bottle rest on the counter (re-corked) over many hours. No gas, no needle, no refrigeration. Just time.
In the case of this current crop of Day wines, many if not most showed better on the second day. The reds especially fleshed out, showed more fruit, less constraint. Initially compressed to the point of being shuttered, some of these wines burst open after 24 hours.
I’ve divided the tasting into three groups, and I’ll post them up separately. Group one consists of five white, rosé and orange wines, all current releases. Here are my notes and scores. All are highly recommended.
Day 2022 Lemonade –This rosé of Pinot Noir (with 6% Grenache) reads "Let's all just make the best of this" on the back label, which invites the casual imbiber to contemplate what might (or might not) have happened during its production. I taste concrete, suggesting fermentation in either clay or concrete. It accents the dryness and somewhat attenuates the fruit. The color is pale copper, the flavors clean and fresh, the acids just light enough to add a touch of wet stone. It finishes with a juicy hint of blood orange. 12%; $21 (Oregon) 91/100
Day 2022 Zibbibo –This Mediterranean grape is more commonly known as Muscat of Alexandria. Sourced here from the Cole Family vineyards in southern Oregon, it's been done intentionally in a cloudy, unfiltered style and finished quite dry. Crisp, almost steely flavors show orange pith and rind more than sweet flesh, an interesting expression of a wine most often left sweet. Drink it chilled, perhaps with duck in a not-too-sweet orange sauce. 12.5%; $30 (Applegate Valley) 91/100
Day 2022 Vin de Days L'Orange – This coppery gold wine is a blend of Müller Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris. Pungent and spicy, it's got the penetrating flavors and floral complexity that Brianne Day excels at. Texture and length are the hallmarks; here with a drying austerity that lingers with a hint of sliced oranges. 12.5%; $25 (Willamette Valley) 92/100
Day 2022 Vin de Days Blanc – Brianne Day ranges far and wide to assemble her diverse portfolio of unique wines. The Alsatian-influenced blend here is Riesling, Müller Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Muscat. It's co-fermented with wild yeasts, put through full malolactic and finished dry at low alcohol. The texture stands out, accenting the dryness with appealing mineral and skin flavors. The mouthfeel, length and juicy (not sour) finish are hallmarks of the winery style. The length is impressive, and keeps delivering interesting nuances as long as you keep your attention on it. 12.5%; $21 (Willamette Valley) 94/100
Day 2021 Eola Springs Vineyard Chardonnay – Spicy aromas greet the taster, with floral and honeycomb notes. There's a suggestion of Asian spices, but the wine really opens up in the mouth. It's rich and broad, loaded with Meyer lemon, cantaloup, papaya and guava fruit. There's plenty of acid also, and a touch of caramel, and the complexity is dazzling. There's a reason that Chardonnays from the Eola-Amity Hills are right up with Oregon's very best, and this is a pure and lush example of the style. 13%; $54 (Eola-Amity Hills) 95/100
Back to visiting. Here are the details (from the website). “Our Dundee Tasting Room is open for tastings Thursday- Monday, 11am - 5pm. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays! We encourage reservations but walk ins are welcome. Reservations are required for groups of 8 or more. Please reach out to us with any questions:| (971) 832-8196 or tastingroom@daywines.com”