History
Résonance Winery, founded in 2013, is Maison Louis Jadot's first venture outside Burgundy, established in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The project began when Jacques Lardière, Jadot's winemaker for 42 years, and Thibault Gagey, whose family has operated Jadot since 1962, acquired the 20-acre Résonance Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA from growers Kevin and Carla Chambers. In 2013, they also purchased a site in Dundee Hills, named Découverte Vineyard. The winery, led by winemaker Guillaume Large since 2017, opened a custom-built facility in 2018 and tasting rooms in Carlton and Dundee Hills, reflecting a Burgundian-inspired approach in Oregon.
Viticulture Philosophy
Résonance manages certified organic vineyards, including Résonance (Yamhill-Carlton), Découverte (Dundee Hills), Koosah (Eola-Amity Hills), and Home Ranch. The Résonance Vineyard, planted in 1981 with ungrafted vines, features ancient sedimentary soils, ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The estate emphasizes biodynamic principles (previously Demeter-certified under prior ownership) and sustainability, preserving old-growth oaks and leveraging the Willamette Valley's cool climate and diverse terroirs to produce elegant, site-expressive wines.
Winemaking Techniques
Under Guillaume Large, Résonance crafts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé using Burgundian methods. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts, and aged in French oak barrels (30% new for Pinot Noir, 16-30% for Chardonnay) from Jadot's Tonnellerie Cadus. The gravity-fed winery employs gentle handling, with Pinot Noirs aging 15-17 months and Chardonnays up to 16 months, sometimes in concrete eggs for texture. Techniques focus on elegance, complexity, and terroir, blending estate and select Willamette Valley fruit.
Critics and Journalist Praises
Résonance's wines are highly acclaimed. The 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir earned a spot as Wine Spectator's No. 9 wine of 2023, praised for its “precise, elegantly structured” raspberry and crushed stone notes, drinkable through 2031. The 2017 Résonance Vineyard Pinot Noir was lauded by Cindy Rynning for its “black cherry, tobacco, and violet” complexity. The 2019 Découverte Chardonnay scored high for its “lemon zest, hazelnut, and mineral” profile, with a creamy mouthfeel. L.M. Archer commended Guillaume Large's “delicate balance of depth and finesse.”
