What's better than one new tasting room in the heart of Dundee, Oregon? Two of course! Take a peek inside the new Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine wine-tasting experience.
Sparkling wine continues to shine in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Recently, we wrote about Corollary Wines' new sparkling-only winery and tasting in Amity.
Now another local sparkling label of exceptional quality, Lytle-Barnett, is making a splash.
And they're teaming up with sister winery Aubaine to offer wine enthusiasts a new tasting room in the bustling center of Dundee, in the heart of Oregon wine country.
About Lytle-Barnett
Lytle-Barnett has been making sparkling wines in Oregon for more than 10 years.
Co-founders Andy Lytle and Antony Beck joined forces with winemaker Andrew Davis back in 2012. Their mission: to become one of the state's best producers of traditional-method sparkling wine.
Now Lytle-Barnett crafts a range of wines including Brut, Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noirs, and Brut Rosé.
About Aubaine Wine
Founder Andy Lytle's latest wine venture, Aubaine (pronounced ō-bane), began in 2019.
Aubaine is his high-end boutique project of single vineyard, estate-only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These wines are special expressions of the region. coming from their first Eola-Amity Hills vineyard, Anahata, and made by esteemed winemaker Isabelle Meunier.
Beginning this year, Aubaine will also start making wines from a second estate vineyard, Windfall vineyard (Aubaine is the French term for windfall). This vineyard is a 117-acre plot in the path of the winds of the Van Duzer corridor.
The tasting room
Even though both esteemed wine brands have been around for several years, it wasn't always easy to try them. That's why they opened their inaugural tasting room in Dundee with a grand opening this past May.
Located on SW 7th Avenue in downtown Dundee, it's an ideal location for this collaborative venture. Not only does the tasting room showcase wines from both labels, it also offers a small bites menu from the neighboring local mainstay Dundee Bistro.
The upscale atmosphere features a spacious interior with amenities like comfy seating by a gas fireplace situated at one end. And when the weather is nice, you can take advantage of several outdoor tables.
As for the wine menu, you can choose from three tasting experiences. When Marlynn and I visited, we opted for the Melange tasting ($45), a combination of tastings of two wines from both brands.
Lytle-Barnett Sparkling Wines
The Lytle-Barnett wines we tried included the 2017 Brut and 2017 Brut Rosé.
The Brut featured the warm, yeasty aromas characteristic of traditional method sparkling wine, along with zesty lemon and floral notes and bright acidity.
The clean and refreshing Brut Rosé had primary red fruit and floral aromas, particularly strawberry, along with pleasant acidity. Perfect for a warm summer day!
Each 750ml bottle retails for $75.
Aubaine Wines
The two Aubaine wines included in the Melange tasting are the 2021 estate Chardonnay and the 2021 estate Pinot Noir.
Aged on 15% new oak, the Chardonnay ($45) features vanilla and spice notes you'd expect from barrel aging, but it's not overpowering. Primary aromas of citrus, pears, and honey give this wine a refreshing quality. And the malolactic fermentation imparts a pleasant creaminess to the finish.
The deep red Pinot Noir ($50) features black cherry and raspberry notes familiar to Oregon Pinots, along with aromas of warm spice and earthiness. While the tannins and texture are both soft and pleasant, this wine will be even more enjoyable with 2-3 years of additional aging.
Visit the Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine Tasting Room
Address
110A SW 7th Ave., Dundee OR, 97115
Hours
Thursday, Sunday, Monday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Friday and Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Tasting experiences
Aubaine: $40 / Melange: $45 / Lytle-Barnett: $50
Guests wanting more of the hospitality experience these exceptional wine brands have to offer can stay at the company's luxury vacation rental, called AtTheJoy.
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