Paschal Winery
Paschal Winery & Vineyard |
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Dobbes Takes Over ‘ Diamond-in-the-Rough’ to Make Polished Gems”
Pascal Winery and Vineyard is not exactly a household name and doesn’t have much name familiarity outside of Southern Oregon. All that is about to change, if winemaker Joe Dobbes has his way. Dobbes is affectionately known as the James Brown (“hardest working man in showbiz”) equivalent in the wine industry. After 17 years of working for large (Willamette Valley Vineyards) and small wineries (Torii Mor), Dobbes created his own label, Dobbes Family Estate, and took over the helm of Pascal Winery and Vineyard in Southern Oregon near Ashland. When he first came upon Pascal Winery, Dobbes said it was “one of the most beautifully designed and situated wineries in the state,” with unparalleled views of the Rogue Valley and majestic Siskiyou Mountains. He was named winemaker in September of 2002, inheriting some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a Bordeaux blend called “Quartet.” The winery also produces small quantities of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Syrah and Pinot Noir.
“Southern Oregon is really an exciting, emerging wine region,” said Dobbes. “The wines at Pascal are high quality and well priced. They show the potential of this region.” Dobbes inherited the 2000 wines, which include a Bordeaux-style blend called Quartet (44 percent Cabernet Franc, 34 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 13 percent Merlot and 9 percent Malbec). The wine has layers and layers of fruit with well-integrated oak spices and a splash of pepper. They also offer a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and small amounts of Syrah and Pinot Noir. The 2001 Syrah and Pinot Noir are already released. With other 2001 (reds) and 2002 releases this year, the wine is a bargain and certain to sell out before the next vintage is released. When Dobbes arrived at Pascal, he also inherited the 2001 wine in barrels. After tasting, Dobbes said he fattened up what was in the barrels and gave it more of his signature style, promising that the 2001 wines, released this summer and fall, would be “more supple and richer in the mouth.” “The genetics were already there,” Dobbes said. “I put on the finishing touches and brought it closer to the style I prefer. I think they will be better than ever.” In fact, Dobbes said the 2002 Pinot Gris is the best he has ever made. He expects to release the wine in mid-summer. Pascal Switches Roles Working with Southern Oregon vineyards, Dobbes will switch Pascal to Italian varietals such as Sangiovese and Dolchetto beginning with his 2003 wines (available in 2004). He hopes to include a Super Tuscan blend. Pascal will continue to make Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but the other wines will be discontinued. It its place, Dobbes introduces Dobbes Family Estate Wines. To do this, Dobbes brought up his sister Renee Dobbes and her fiancé Luis Larcina to help run Pascal and Dobbes Family Estate. Renee is the new estate manager. Renee Dobbes said she and Larcina are in beginning discussions with Pascal owners to purchase the 13-acre estate. “We’re talking with the owners and having the site appraised,” said Renee. “We want to include a bed and breakfast with the winery, but still need to work with the county on that one. Right now, we’re concentrating on the new winery building and the wines. The rest will come. “It is a dream to come back to Oregon and work with my brother.” Dobbes Family Estate will offer four Pinot Noir releases in the coming year: a cuvee, Skipper’s Cuvee (named after Joe’s daughter), Griffin Cuvee (named after his son) and a Grand Assemblage (a blend of all the Pinot Noir). He expects his first Pinot Noir to be released September 15. In addition, Dobbes will offer four single-vineyard bottlings of Syrah, sourcing all the fruit from Southern Oregon. Through the winery and wine club, (and a limited release elsewhere) Dobbes will offer a six-pack of Syrah, including a Syrah and Viognier (8 percent) blend and an Assemblage Cuvee, which will blend all of the Syrah together. As if That is Not Enough With his fingers in so many pies, Dobbes also manages to source Pinot Gris grapes from Oregon, shipped it to the Napa Valley and oversea the production of 22,000 cases of Pinot Gregio for Villa San Maurice. He makes about four or five trips per year to Napa to consult with the winemaker. After leaving Willamette Valley Vineyards last year, Dobbes continued as consulting winemaker for Torii Mor, his third year at the winery. But the piece d’ resistance for Dobbes will be an agreement between himself and Mike Sweeney, owner of Cherry Hill Vineyards and Winery in the Eola Hills near Salem, allowing Dobbes to lease the new winery he helped design on 52 acres of a former Cherry orchard. The agreement would have Dobbes making wine for Sweeney under the Cherry Hill label, and Dobbes producing the Dobbes Family Estate and Pascal wines. In addition, Dobbes would provide custom winemaking for those interested in a private label. “Cherry Hill would be the central hub of everything,” Dobbes said. “It pulls everything together, centralizing everything I’m working on, plus other projects. It would be my dream come true.” Dobbes would like to purchase the property, but for now, he is content to negotiate a lease and travel less in order to spend time with his two children, who live in Salem. If all goes according to Joe’s plan, we should hear him singing his new anthem, “I feel good...like I knew I would…I feel good…like I knew I would now.” |
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Note from Joe Dobbes After more than six years and seven vintages at Willamette Valley Vineyards, I have retired from large corporate winery life and started my own company, Wine By Joe. Wine By Joe encompasses several parallel projects including winery and label partnerships, wine sales distribution, consulting, custom winemaking and my own personal label: Dobbes Family Estate. The partnerships include Villa San Maurice and Paschal Winery. The first time I happened upon Paschal Winery I thought to myself “this is a special place and I need to be a part of it”. Paschal Winery is one of the most beautifully designed and situated wineries in the state with unparalleled views of the Rogue Valley and majestic Siskiyou mountains. It is located just south of Medford and minutes north of Ashland, the home of the famous Shakespeare Festival. The entire valley is white with pear blossoms in the spring, their fragrance wafting up to the tasting room deck overlooking the valley. At sunset the valley takes on a pink hue as the sun sets behind the mountains rising immediately to the west.
Speaking of dreams…over the past several years Renee’, the elder of my two sisters spoke about the idea of moving back to Oregon and working with me in the wine business. I am absolutely thrilled that this November, after quitting her job in Orange County and moving to Talent we are working together! Renee’ has taken on the role of Paschal Estate Manager, is doing a fabulous job and is a pleasure to work with. Fortunately she has forgiven me for all the obligatory big brother abuse I imposed upon her when we were growing up. Cheers and thank you for your past support and thank you in advance for your continued patronage. Sincerely, Joe Dobbes |
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By Christina Kelly
With the economy tighter than a drum, Pascal
wines are a great value, retailing between $18 and $26. They provide
a taste of the Southern Oregon “terroir” and
showcase the great fruit grown in one of Oregon’s most underrated
appellations.
This
past September I took over as the managing director and winemaker for
Paschal Winery, realizing another goal of mine to continue to make wine
from Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, one of the most exciting young “diamond
in the rough” appellations in America. Paschal produces some of
the finest Cabernet’s, Merlot’s and Bordeaux blends from
Southern Oregon, and offers exceptional Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and limited
quantities of Syrah and Pinot Noir. All are great values at $18-26 per
bottle. Ultimately Paschal will focus on the Italian varietals: Dolcetto,
Barbera and Sangiovese being planted this spring. We will also produce
Super Tuscan styled blends of these varietals with Cabernet Sauvignon
and Merlot.
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