Spring has arrived in the Willamette Valley in all its capricious glory. We still see snow atop Mary’s Peak to the West, while the cherry trees and tulips are blooming here on the valley floor. Passing rain showers and rainbows turn to sunny afternoons and chilly evenings. The vineyards are just waking up from a cold sleepy winter and redirecting nutrients to start new growth.
As of April 1, Vineyards are pruned and ready for the growing season. The wet late winter and spring that we had in Willamette Valley made farming in the field difficult, but the crew has worked through the wet days and have the vines ready for bud break which will most likely come mid-April. Sun has started to shine giving us some drying weather and waking up the vines. Looking forward to a great 2024 growing season.
The Compton Family Farm has welcomed an assortment of baby animals into the world over the last few months. Tabitha’s late Christmas gift was Milo and Luna’s second litter of Maremma Sheepdog puppies. At the time of writing this, we still have one puppy, Orange, waiting for his forever home. Orange is the sweetest of his litter and the favorite of our middle son, because he would allow anyone to hold him for as long as they wanted. (Winter break was an extended Orange cuddling session). In February we moved our pregnant Katahdin sheep and Alpine goat mommas from the vineyard into the barn to get cozy and comfortable to give birth. Two sets of Alpine goat twins, all males, were born on Valentine’s Day. (If anyone is interested in cute baby goats that will make great brush clearers and fertilizer generators, we’ve got ‘em for you). Our five Katahdin ewes gave birth to eleven healthy lambs at the end of February and we have been enjoying watching the lambs race around the farm and meet the sheepdogs. March was the month of adding pigs. Tabitha carefully selected two Duroc breeder pigs from Nebraska to breed later in the year and our youngest son just got two 4H pigs delivered from Illinois. We still have two of the original three Kunekune pigs who live the life of spoiled farm pets.
Adaptive grazing of livestock is part of our “from beneath the soil up” regenerative agriculture plan. Our livestock also feeds our family, and maybe yours too! 2024 is our third year of offering locker lamb shares to our members and we plan to have Compton Farms raised pork for sale in 2025. We have fewer lamb shares available than last year, so email quickly to get on the list for fall pickup. We also offer pasture-raised farm eggs for sale in the Tasting Room or even better by pre-order via email.
Wine tastes better with good company. Take advantage of your wine club member benefits and bring in family and friends to enjoy a complimentary club tasting with you, or even share a bottle at the winery with an extra club discount. We thank you for being a Compton ambassador and referring new members with a $10 credit to your account. We truly appreciate your support of our family-owned winery and the local Oregon wine industry.
Cheers, Matt & Tabitha Compton
April 2024
COMPTON SHIP CLUB
THE WINES
Pinot Gris, 2023
Varietal purity is on display here, offering classic Pinot Gris flavors with hints of citrus. pear, peach, and a touch of almond – this one is something special. The warm summer of 2023 rewarded us with great fruit quality and higher-than-expected yields at harvest time and an early harvest in mid-September. The quality of the fruit in 2023 was outstanding.
Gewurztraminer, 2023
Old Vine Gewurztraminer from Mary’s Peak Vineyard made in an off dry style. Gewurztraminer translates in English to “spice grape”, and you’ll find those lush aromatics here. Mary’s Peak Vineyard was planted in 1977 on Southeast facing slopes in the rain shadow of Marys Peak.
Sauvignon Blanc, 2023
Our Sauvignon Blanc is sleek, smooth, and succulent all at once. Honeysuckle, stone fruit, citrus, and spice scents and flavors are tinged with hints of jasmine and slate. A long finish lingers, clean and smooth. Organically grown fruit from Croft Vineyards.
Concrete Egg Chardonnay, 2019
Classic Oregon Chardonnay with a perfumed nose of citron, white flowers, and vanilla. Old Vine Chardonnay from the Compton Estate and Hoot & Howl Vineyard is whole-cluster pressed and placed in our concrete egg tank to ferment and age for 8 months before bottling. Concrete allows for a slow, cool fermentation with the wine circulating on the lees for a round, creamy mouthfeel without any use of oak.
Compton Sparkling Brut, 2019
Compton Brut is made with old vine Pinot Noir from Mary’s Peak Vineyard and old vine 108 clone Chardonnay from Hoot & Howl Vineyard in Philomath, Oregon, in the traditional method of sparkling wine making: a slow, elegant transformation from still wine to sparkling, all occurring inside the bottle.
3 Pigs Red Blend – NEW
Named for Tabitha’s three Kunekune pigs, our 3 Pigs Red is a blend of 3 varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon from Hoot & Howl Vineyards, Merlot from Woodhall Vineyard, and Gamay from Croft Vineyards. This wine is lovely now or hold in the cellar for later.
BoVine Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2019 (Vertical Pinot Noir!!)
BoVine Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021
BoVine Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022
Matt Compton planted BoVine Vineyard with Pommard and Wadenswil clones of Pinot Noir in Alpine, Oregon back in 2008. The land was formerly cow pasture, and we appreciate their bovine contributions to the soil. BoVine Pinot Noir is aged for 10 months in French Oak before blending and bottling.
Llewellyn Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2017 (Vertical Pinot Noir!!)
Llewellyn Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2018
Pinot Noir from the Compton Family Farm, Hoot & Howl Vineyard, and Mary’s Peak Vineyard was fermented in our open top oak fermenter, barrel aged for 12 months, then aged in the concrete egg for 5 months before bottling. 2017 and 2018 were very different growing seasons and this makes a fun vertical tasting experience.
Mary’s Peak Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2019
All Wädenswil clone Pinot Noir. Mary’s Peak Vineyard was planted between 1977 and 1980 Situated on East-facing slopes of alluvial, sedimentary loam soil, and in the rain shadow of the highest mountain in the Oregon Coast range, Mary[s Peak, this dry-farmed vineyard consistently grows top quality Pinot Noir. Aged in 20% new French oak barrels for 18 months. Only 79 cases were produced of this vintage.
April 2024 RECIPE
Smoked Trout Pâté with Sage and Parmesan Crackers
Pairs with Compton Pinot Noir
Smoked Trout Pâté:
12 oz of smoked trout
(canned, fresh, or packaged, depending on availability)
1 cup cream cheese, softened
1/2 medium shallot, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 sprigs dill, finely chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons sliced scallion
Coarse sea salt, to taste
Coarse black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat for one minute. Add the shallot and cook until brown and soft, and the edges begin to crisp. Remove from heat. Combine the Smoked Trout, cream cheese, dill- reserving a few leaves for garnish, juice and zest of the lemon, scallions, and the shallot in a medium size mixing bowl, mixing lightly with a fork until you have a rustic spread. Avoid overmixing. Garnish with remaining dill. Serve with Sage Crackers.