Founded by husband-and-wife duo John House and Ksenija Kostic in 2011, Ovum is a celebration of the diverse expressions of Oregon Riesling. After years of learning the intricacies of the Willamette Valley while working together at Chehalem, John and Ksenija set off to further investigate the myriad terroirs of Oregon through the lens of Riesling, and now source fruit from through the state. They have found sites with blustery Pacific winds, extreme diurnal shifts, and rocky, well-draining soils.
To emphasize the idiosyncrasies of these vineyards, all of Ovum's wines see the same practices in the cellar: natural fermentations, no additions or subtractions except for SO2, extended lees contact of 8-9 months – all in neutral barrels of acacia and oak, as well as Nomblot concrete eggs. The resulting wines are textured and concentrated, driven by minerality, and framed by unwavering acidity. Ovum's work is among the most compelling white winemaking we have encountered in our search throughout the Pacific Northwest.
11b
Oregon » Willamette Valley
Wine Enthusiast 91 Best Buy "Like previous vintages, this remains roughly half and half Riesling and Gewürztraminer, with small amounts of Muscat and other grapes. What's
42dOregon » Willamette Valley
The Wine – Elkton AVA, planted on Windygap soils (deep, well-drained residuum and colluvium from sandstone and siltstone) – 90% native co-fermented Gewurztraminer (1980) & Riesling
Wine Enthusiast 91 "The 2017 vintage is considerably lighter than last year's Memorista, though again fermented in a large Austrian cask. Spicy and textural, its unusual
60dOregon » Rogue Valley
Wine Enthusiast 95 Editor's Choice "This new take on Ovum's Memorista cuvée—the winery's flagship—is its ripest Riesling. It was fermented in a thousand-liter Austrian cask, with a
Wine & Spirits 94 "Here is a gewurztraminer that feels like a pinnacle for the variety: complex, full of grain and spice and floral scents. And
John Gilman 93 "The bouquet wafts from the glass in lovely and utterly classic blend of lychee nut, rosewater, a touch of spices meats, a nice
Wine Enthusiast 93 Editor's Choice "Sourced from the Cedar Ranch vineyard in the Illinois Valley, this exquisite Riesling was entirely fermented with native yeast in both concrete
Wine Enthusiast 94 Cellar Selection "This wine's initial baby powder scents give way to a bone dry palate of astonishing intensity. Fermented with native yeast in neutral
The Wine – Elkton AVA, planted on Windygap soils (deep, well-drained residuum and colluvium from sandstone and siltstone) – 90% native co-fermented Gewurztraminer (1980) & Riesling
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