My last day of wine tasting in Oregon was centered on Louis Jadot’s creation and expansion into the United States at Résonance Winery in the Carlton Hills area. My visit was a dignified private wine tasting visit marked with some excellent wines and a world class view.

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This post is one chapter on a weekend trip from Canada to Portland, Oregon, United States of America. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Résonance Winery, Louis Jadot’s Oregon Pinor Noir Cellar Door – Oregon, USA

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On my last day of this trip, I had one last winery to visit. Given that tasting fees were nearing $50 USD per tasting, this put a bit of a dent in the wallet with every winery I visited.

While most tasting fees were refundable with the purchase of $100 USD of product (or a set number of bottles), as an international visitor from Canada, I was limited at two bottles duty free coming back over the international border unless I was willing to pay a 35% combined tax rate on the wines.

I ended up researching and selecting Résonance Winery to visit as the last cellar door stop on this particular trip. My visit to Résonance Winery ended up being outstanding.

About Résonance Winery:

The cellar doors at Résonance Winery were opened in the year 2013. The story has it that the lead wine maker of Louis Jadot visited the area after leading wine making at Louis Jadot for forty two years.

After a visit, the President of Louis Jadot and the wine maker agreed to acquire the winery and mark Louis Jadot’s first operation outside of France. As a result of the partnership in investment, the winery has had the benefit of a lot of working capital. The winery itself is absolutely gorgeous and impressive.

Arriving to Résonance Winery:

I checked out of The Nines – A Luxury Collection Hotel Portland. It was a short one hour and fifteen minute drive from Portland into the sloping hills of Carlton.

All tastings at Résonance Winery are by appointment. I was easily able to get an appointment on line just a few days before my visit.

I arrived to the entrance of the winery. There was a long drive past Résonace’s slope side vines up to the tasting room which was located at the top of the hill. Arriving to the tasting room, there was an impressive cellar door that offered a modern state of the art facility.

I checked in with reception. I was offered an indoor or outdoor tasting option. Given that it was an early 11 AM, I went for the outdoor tasting option.

I was promptly led outside to a beautiful tasting patio that was partially covered in trees and umbrellas. The tasting area offered a tremendous and inspirational view over the Carlton valley.

Setting into Tasting:

After being seated in a shady spot, I was given the choice of the tastings for the day.

I was given a choice between two sets of wine, tastings; an entry level tasting at $45 USD waived with a $150 USD purchase, or a Premier Cru tasting at $65 USD waived with a $200 USD purchase.

I ended up with the entry level tasting, which was an excellent introduction to Résonance Winery.

First Taste: 2021 Résonance – Les Coteaux Chardonnay

The first pour today was a 2021 Résonance Les Coteaux Chardonnay. This was presented in a open bold glass.

From the tasting card, Les Coteaux means “the hills” in French which represented both hillsides of our estate vineyards: the Résonance Vineyard and our Découverte Vineyard, both in the Willamette Valley. The wine was organically dry-farmed, showing a dual estate vineyard blend with elegance and complexity.

The tasting note described the wine as expressive nose of citrus, yellow fruits, wheat, dry herbs and subtle wood. In mouth, the wine is fruity and ample, with a nice volume, balanced by a persistent freshness.

First Pinot: 2023 Résonance Rosé of Pinot Noir

Résonance completed a small batch of Résonance Rosé of Pinot Noir. While Rosé’s aren’t really my thing, this one was pretty good for a bridging wine to get toward the Pinot Noirs. The fact that it was served on a nice patio overlooking the valley didn’t hurt either.

Second Pinot: 2023 Résonance Les Coteaux Pinot Noir

Next up, was the first Pinot Noir on the tasting list; a 2023 Résonance Les Coteaux Pinot Noir. Their entry level Pinot Noir, the wine was market under the Les Coteaux series.

Les Coteaux was defined as meaning “the hills” in French, which represented both hillsides of our estate vineyards: the Résonance Vineyard and our Découverte Vineyard, both in the Willamette Valley.

From the tasting card, the Résonance Les Coteaux Pinot Noir was described as expressive nose of cherry, raspberry, blueberry, and purple flowers. A nice fruity presence on the palate, with a bright freshness balancing the tannins, and warm cedar on the finish.

In terms of tasting itself, the Les Coteaux Pinot Noir was a smooth introduction to Résonance Pinot Noirs.

Third Pinot: 2018 Résonance Decouverte Pinot Noir

Fourth Pinot: 2018 Résonance Vineyard Pinot Noir

I ended up testing out both of these fine Pinot Noir’s back to back. As their best wines available on their tasting menu today, these represented the best of todays’ starter tasting.

The 2018 Decouverte Pinot Noir was drawn from Résonance’s second estate vineyard, in the heart of the Dundee Hills. Organic vines on volcanic Jory soil and sundrenched hillside slopes help imbue the wines from this site with all of the red-fruit character and freshness that make this American Viticultural Area so beloved. 

In contrast the 2018 Résonance Vineyard Pinot Noir

Both of these tasted much better than the Les Coteaux Pinot Noir. However, when pressed, I really enjoyed the Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir. I would end up purchasing a bottle to take home with me back to Canada.

After the tasting, it was a six and a half hour drive back up to Canada through Seattle. Without much border traffic, I got lucky at the border and didn’t have to pay any tax on my four bottles of wine, despite being over the duty free limit.

My Thoughts on Visiting Résonance Winery:

I had a pleasant and dignified visit to Résonance Winery. With an upscale facility, and a beautiful tasting area, a visit to Résonance Winery more than made the mark for an elegant and sophisticated Pinot Noir tasting visit.

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If you’ve visited the Carlton Valley in Oregon USA for wine tastings, what wineries are must visit locations ?

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