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SAVORY SIPS: DOMINIO IV

Kassandra Briggs Headshot

Kassandra Briggs

Jul 16 2023
Dominio IV

Date of Visit:
Jul 17 2022

Address:
11570 NE Intervale Rd, Carlton, OR 97111

AVA:
Yamhill-Carlton

Website:

www.dominiowines.com

THE PLACE

One of the most charming wineries in all of Willamette Valley is Dominio IV, tucked away just off of NE Hendricks Road. As you pull up, the first thing you will see is the big, century-old red barn, which has been transformed into a beautiful venue space for weddings, club wine dinners, and even a hang-out spot for tastings. It can simply be described as a cozy and casual experience. This property offers a lot and is also called “the farm.” You can choose to enjoy your tasting on the front porch, back porch, lawn, or the barn. As you walk along the property of Dominio IV, you will see the incredible vine rows planted in a labyrinth — not something you see every day! There is also an abundance of fruit trees, such as apple, pear, and cherry, that you are welcome to pick when they are in season. This spot showcases the beauty of what Oregon wine country really can be.  

Dominio IV
Dominio IV
Dominio IV
Dominio IV

THE BRAND

Dominio IV began in 2002 with winemaker Patrick Reuter and Leigh Bartholomeu and, since then has blossomed and flourished. Patrick is the head winemaker, artist, and poet. Leigh manages the vineyards along with over 4,000 acres of Oregon wine vines. This winery focuses on small batches, sustainability, and a blend of biodynamic and organic farming practices.    

THE EXPERIENCE

Dominio IV has several different tasting options depending on what type of experience you are looking for. I typically don’t plan too far ahead, so I opted for the basic tasting when I went. The Dominio IV tasting flight is $25 dollars and comes with five wines as well as a chance at the end to revisit anything you really loved. The flight charge can be waived with the purchase of any three bottles of wine. One of my favorite things about Dominio IV is that they offer more than just pinot noir and chardonnay. They also grow tempranillo, grenache, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay, and viognier.  

THE WINE

  • 2021 “Riddle Me This” Sparkling Pinot Noir ($42): This beautiful crémant is from Bella Vida Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. It is 100% pinot noir that is pressed off the skins and aged in stainless steel. Tasting notes include vibrant strawberry, blood orange, and kiwi. This is a beautiful sparkling that you should snag immediately. It is perfect for easy drinking in the summer and exactly what I plan on starting my Thanksgiving dinner with as well.  
  • 2020 “Imagination Series no. 33” Chardonnay ($36): Winemaker Patrick Reuter has a true gift for expression. The imagination series introduces “shape tasting” as a method of visually presenting the character of an individual wine. The image on the label, painted by Patrick, illustrates the wine in the bottle. Each picture is full of color and depth that shows you what you will taste on your palate. Tasting notes include beautiful yellow flowers, succulent citrus, and stone fruits, which are followed by a textural and briny finish. 
  • 2015 “Mulberry Street” Pinot Noir ($53): This wine is elegant and includes tasting notes of soft cherry, raspberry, and wildflowers. There are no other words to describe this other than absolutely lovely and the ideal Oregon pinot noir. As you go through the wine flight, you will experience the visual beauty of the wine as well as some poetry, as Patrick occasionally uses only poetry to describe his wines. For this wine, the poem states: “In the lost days of the 1950’s there was always a tree on Mulberry Street. It was likeable and giving. People could stop and eat fresh fruit in abundance. They would talk with one another, and ignore things to come, but revel in the charm of forgetting.” 
  • 2018 “Tapis” Reserve Pinot Noir ($42): This pinot noir is a great, easy-drinking red that is wonderful on its own but would pair nicely with food. It tastes like all of the red fruit, along with a hint of light spice, warmth, and a balanced acidity. It is also accompanied by some poetry from Patrick: “A carpet ride loves a warm evening. The breeze cools the skin and makes floating seem like it was the way it was meant to be. Some things are like this on the palate. They don’t touch like sand to the foot; they glide like being in a bath of pure sweet water.” 
  • 2020 “Red Pearl” Grenache ($48): Everyone loves a wine that is ready to drink immediately. This is a fantastic wine that can be enjoyed now or laid down for a while if you wish. With a long finish, this wine tastes of ripe red cherry and wood spices. 

THE HIGHLIGHT

It’s hard to find just one thing to love about my visit to Dominio IV. The atmosphere was truly magnificent, especially as I had the opportunity to enjoy a glass of Inverse (you need this in your life) wine while strolling through the vines. Your experience will be what you make of it. If you feel like wandering around the property, you are free to do so, or you can just grab a spot on the lawn. The team at Dominio IV is also incredible; you will certainly fall in love with Stephen and Heather as they speak with such passion about the wines they are pouring you.    

THE TAKEAWAY

It’s really nice to have other options other than just pinot noir and chardonnay here in the Willamette Valley. These wines focus on the beauty of the terroir in uniquely small batches. You can tell there was clearly a connection between the soils and the winemakers. A visit to Dominio IV will take you through hand-painted art, poetry, the beauty of the world around you, and some truly delightful wines. I highly recommend picking a bottle or two while you’re here. Though I can’t promise that you won’t take it home and drink it right away, so maybe pick up four bottles. 

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