Golden Ray of Light

I couldn’t be more thrilled for the next three weeks of Wednesday offers. This journey will encompass three distinct producers who are making serious waves in the American winemaking industry. Their common thread is based on one simple factor – beguiling quality. These are producers that I haven’t just tasted 1 or 2 wines from. I have thoroughly vetted these wines with both young wines and aged examples, all of which kept showcasing the quality that I expected to see dip or fade at some point, and simply did not. The consistent quality year in and year out, combined with the places my mind goes when looking for comparisons, is a wild journey that I will share as I present each producer.

We start with someone I was very fortunate to be introduced to 7 years ago. Seth Long’s rise to stardom didn’t come as a surprise to me as he was firing out of the gates with his very first vintage. He drew inspiration from the famed winemakers of Burgundy and aspired to pay homage to a formula that had worked for the very best. Just as you might expect, his wines remind me of the best in Meursault. They are precise, mineral-driven wines that are perfectly fresh and make you salivate for the next sip. I still remember the first time I had the 2014 – I had to look at the label to confirm the wine was indeed from Oregon, and not some well-known vineyard in Burgundy.

Thankfully, I bought a lot of those 2014s and was able to see how they aged. My enthusiasm for the wines only grew larger, as they yielded exotic flavors and more texture over time. With each passing vintage, you could see that the knowledge Seth gained was being added to the successful formula and the wines kept improving even though they were already great. The 2021 vintage appears to have been the breakthrough with the critics, as the wines rated as high as 99 points. He’s now being held among the greatest names of Oregon, and among the very best of American Chardonnay producers. The best news is that Seth is still striving for better and better, as his humble character will not let him stop in his pursuit of finding new heights.

I am thrilled to be sharing his 2022 vintage release with you. The wine that I cut my teeth on is the Willamette Chardonnay, which has since evolved into a “who’s who” of great vineyard sourcing. The Eola-Amity shows a bit more richness and texture now, and frankly will be a treat if you can be patient. Lastly, the flagship X Omni may look pricey on paper, but it is a fraction of the price of many others. Peter Michael’s Point Rouge and Kongsgaard The Judge release for significantly higher prices, and the best Meursault 1er Crus are priced at multiples of this price. Suffice it to say, no matter the price you see here, it is money very wisely spent.

Please note that quantities are extremely limited. We also encourage all of you to sign up for Morgen Long’s mailing list, as we can’t say for sure how many years we will be able to offer these wines to our customers.