WTN: I've Haden Enough of This

[Jenise]

Opened this to celebrate a perfect you-can-see-forever evening on our back patio. Mt. Baker looming due West, the Canadian Gulf Islands due East, the American San Juans due south, 73 perfect warm degrees, and barely any breeze or waves at slack tide.

2014 Haden Fig 'Juliette' chardonnay, Oregon
Knowing my taste a local retailer recommended this highly, he's consumed several himself he said. Originally priced near $40, he picked it up on close-out and is selling it for $21.95. Well, I could taste the reason it was being closed out; there's hardly any fruit left! Just a hollow minerality. I blended it with a fleshy little Gavi and got a better result than either alone, so it wasn't all lost, but add this to the other bottle of Haden Fig I had a few years ago that was all swampy cooked cabbage-y, and I still don't know what Haden Fig does.

[David M. Bueker]

Go Figure.

I'm a very big fan of Evesham Wood, especially their pinots. Hagen Fig wines are only different in being made with ambient yeasts, I believe. And some different vineyards are used too. But it's the same winemaker. I tried the 2016 Juliette last week at the winery, and was impressed, so am surprised to hear the 2014 went downhill so soon. But, I do also tend to focus on Evesham Wood, especially the Le Puit Sec and Cuvee J pinots, some of the best QRR pinots in Oregon (and some of the best pinots period). They have a great aging potential. It's surprising to hear your impressions of the Juliette.

[Jenise]

HF bought EW? Or did Russ Rainey own both? I've lost track. (Also a fan of EW.)

They have been twinned wineries for quite a while now, but not at the beginning when Russ was just starting. The Haden Fig label is a more non-interventionist approach (though EW is fairly light in terms of interventions and is organic).

[Jenise]

And aren't they next door to each other? In my mind's eye I can see them practically or actually sharing a driveway when driving north on 99. This encounter was immediately following the big eclipse and traffic was insane, or we'd have stopped.