In the 1850s, prospectors discovered gold in the southern region of the Oregon Territory. From the moment gold was struck, the Oregon Territory was flooded with miners seeking their fortune. During the rush, a gold prospector whose identity has been lost to history traveled from the goldfields of Southern Oregon to Portland to sell his gold and make his fortune. He made the fateful decision to stop for the night and set up camp at the top of what is currently the Bayliss farm, the place we now know as Ghost Hill. At the time, the hill and the surrounding land was heavily wooded making it an ideal place to camp in peace. During the night, someone snuck into his camp to rob him of his gold. The miner was killed and his horse was mortally injured. His hard-earned poke of gold disappeared into the night. To this day, the miner is said to wander the hill looking for his stolen gold and to right the wrongs that befell him.
While the miner never recovered his gold, we have found our treasure with our Pinot Noirs.
THE LAND:
Excellent wine starts in a remarkable vineyard. The resplendent, rolling hills of the farm are Willakenzie series soils with marine sediment bedrock. These soils are ideal for the propagation of the difficult-to-grow, but very rewarding, Pinot Noir grape. We strive to produce delicious, elegant wines from the grapes grown in our estate vineyard.
The Bayliss-Bower Vineyard is part of the family’s 234 acre section of land in the Yamhill-Carlton District. The Bayliss family has owned the farm since 1906. The first vines were planted in 1999. Currently, all 16 acres of vines are Pinot Noir of the Pommard, Wadenswil, and Dijon clones 114, 115, 777. One hundred percent of the fruit used to produce the wines of Ghost Hill Cellars comes from the estate vineyard. We only use around a third of the grapes we grow. The rest of our grapes are sold to other wineries looking for exceptional Pinot Noir grapes.
THE FAMILY:
The quote from Robert Frost “The land was ours before we were the land’s,” epitomizes the bond of the Bayliss family with the land. The Baylisses have been stewards of this piece of the Willamette Valley for more than a century. In 1906, brothers Daniel and Samuel Bayliss purchased the Donation Land Claim of James and Edith Greene. The family started clearing the trees and brush in order to farm the land. The farm added a dairy operation in the 1920s. Samuel Bayliss took milk into Portland to sell on a sternwheeler steamboat.
Daniel’s son, Samuel D. and his wife Barbara purchased the farm in the 1930s. They moved from dairy-based farming to raising wheat, hay, clover, peas and sheep. As their son Mike and daughter-in-law Drenda became more involved in the farm in the 70s and 80s, they began making more grass hay and raising Black Angus cattle for beef. Today, the vineyard is the only crop farmed by the Bayliss family. The fourth and fifth generations of the Bayliss family continue to work and live on the farm today. Mike and Drenda live in the original farmhouse built in 1906 by Daniel and Samuel. Mike, Drenda, their son Michael, their daughter Bernadette and son-in-law, Cameron Bower are working together to make the vineyard and Ghost Hill Cellars a success and preserve the farm for future generations.
Ghost Hull Cabernet Sauvignon is made of 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aromas of blackberry, elderberry and ripe plum are accentuated by notes of mocha, fresh tarragon, vanilla and oak. The palate is full-bodied and offers a lovely balance of acidity and tannins accompanied by rich flavors of dark fruit and black currant, ending with a juicy and lingering finish
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
DuMOL 'Chloe' Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Our first vintage of Chloe was 2000, and although the vineyard mix has changed over the years, the wine has always focused on the central Russian River Valley district to represent the richest side of DuMOL Chardonnay. The wine has lower acidity than our coastal wines, making it more approachable in its youth, and the flavors focus more on orchard fruits than citrus. The neighboring El Diablo and Flora Marie vineyards sit overlooking the river on gravelly loam soils and provide the wine's deep fruit generosity. These are the first vineyards we harvest each year as the lean soils really advance their crop’s ripening. We offset this fruit richness with grapes from our Green Valley Bressay Estate, which overflow with tense structure and coastal acidity. It’s a seamless combination that produces a thrilling result, and Chloe is the first of our designate Chardonnays you should open each vintage.
The wine’s aromas and flavors are akin to peach, apricot, oatmeal and anise. Fresh thyme and honey notes combine with tangerine and lemon curd. It’s a deeply textural and expansive wine that gently glides along the palate. Lively acidity and spicy notes of ginger and white pepper provide lift and energy to the finish. A beautiful, layered, and richer style to enjoy soon after release. Drink between late-2024 and 2029 and serve no cooler than 55º F.
Review:
A Central Russian River Blend, the 2022 Chardonnay Chloe is a bright yellow hue and captures a wide spectrum of citrus with notes of orange, Meyer lemon, fresh pineapple, toasted spice, and a hint of almond through the mid-palate as well as a nice lift of citrus on the finish. It’s a beautiful wine offering a richer tone through the range. Drink 2024-2034.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points