Red Lily Vineyards Review
Address: 11777 Oregon 238 Jacksonville,Oregon 97530.
Phone Number: 541-846-0475
Tasting Hours: Thurs-Sun 11:00-5:00
Region: Southern Oregon AVA, Rogue Valley AVA, Applegate Valley AVA, Oregon
Reviewer: Liesa Morrow-Bratcher
Review Date: 3/9/2014
Reviewer: Liesa Morrow-Bratcher
Rating: 4
The Review
On a cloudy, rainy Southern Oregon afternoon, the only thing better than curling up by the fire with a good book is visiting a winery. Today was one of those days, and we headed out to Red Lily Vineyards in the Applegate Valley. The number of wineries in the Applegate Valley area has seen significant growth in the last 10 years, with 19 wineries in a small valley just outside Jacksonville, Oregon.
The route to Red Lily takes visitors across a bridge that spans Applegate Creek. The area is green, lush and well cared for. There are wild blackberries growing next to the parking lot, and several grassy areas look like they would be lovely summer picnic retreats. The tasting room looks beautiful from the outside and is just as lovely as you walk in. The tasting room opened in 2011 and still looks brand new. It is a nice mix of natural materials and metals. They offer ample seating areas and a walk-up bar. For the chillier days, there is a comforting fireplace.
We were greeted by Ragan, the tasting room manager, with a nice smile and a warm hello. She offered us a choice of tasting flights, either the Signature Red Lily Flight or the Just Deserts Flight. We chose the Signature for its variety. Through the tasting, a few other staff members joined Ragan and all were talkative and friendly. They answered questions with good information and were able to discuss many different topics with the guests. It felt like being at a friends home for the afternoon; very comfortable.
Red Lily is predominately known for producing Tempranillo and Verdejo wines. They do make a couple of blends, but all along the same theme. They planted their first vines in 2004 and have been adding on ever since. The Red Lily Vineyard was a nice stop on a cold afternoon. The hospitality was wonderful and the wines were nice as well. I do believe I would like to go back with a picnic in the summer by the creek.
The Wines
2011 Lo Nuevo Albarino (They were out of their own Verdejo. This was a substitute) This crisp white wine with floral aromas and apricot flavors retained enough of a juicy core to make it a good choice for summer relaxing on the deck with a light meal.
2012 Lily Girl Rose´ – 50% Tempranillo and 50% Grenache This fruity rose with berry and citrus flavors has just a touch of sweetness and a nice finish. It is like a summer day in a glass!
2010 Red Blanket Tempranillo 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon With flavors of currants, black cherry and black pepper, this blend has obvious, but not overpowering, spice flavors. It finishes with oak and cola flavors.
2010 Red Lily Tempranillo 100% Tempranillo At first a little shy, but when this dark red wine opened up, it displayed complex berry, mineral, and pepper flavors and a long, dark berry finish.