Herb Quady
Founded in Southern Oregon in 2005, Quady North has developed a stellar reputation for its rosés, Rhone varietals, and Cabernet Franc wines. We remember tasting the 2006 maiden vintage, and we’ve regularly reviewed the Quady North wines, especially the rosés, ever since. Owner and winemaker Herb Quady recently sent us his current releases, which we review below.
Quady North is located in Southern Oregon, which became an official AVA in 2004 and has elevations that range from 700 to 6600 feet, so there are microclimates that can suit a large number of grape varieties. Located about three hours south of Eugene, the Southern Oregon AVA includes within it the Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley AVAs, and within Rogue Valley lies the Applegate AVA where Herb has 100 acres of sustainably farmed vines. The Mediterranean climate of Southern Oregon makes it hospitable to Rhone varieties, and it is home to over 100 wineries and 3 thousand acres of vines.
The Quady North Rosés
Herb is one of the few American winegrowers who plants vineyards and sources fruit from vineyards specifically for making rosé, often using cooler, east facing sites. He sources much of his fruit in the Upper Applegate Valley where the weather is 5°-7° cooler than the valley floor. He plants red varieties like Grenache in places where they wouldn’t get ripe enough to make a red wine, but moderate temperatures allow for the gradual sugar accumulation and long, slow ripening to develop the flavors and delicate aromas required for rosé. He uses an open trellis to encourage air flow within the canopy and keeps some shading on the fruit to avoid thick skins and excessive bitter tannins.
Herb’s winemaking emphasizes gentle fruit handling. The sorting table is designed to eliminate unripe and defective grapes. He does mostly direct, whole cluster pressing to avoid the polyphenols that contribute to bitterness; he does it gently so the green berries in Grenache (which ripens unevenly, especially when picked early) don’t press out. He does small presses in order to carefully monitor acid levels, which can fall off quickly. For the portion of his grapes that are macerated, he carefully destems, leaving the berries whole, does a short cold soak, and then gently presses and ferments at cold temperatures in stainless steel to preserve delicate aromatics. For his rosé blends he prefers to coferment to get better integration early on. His goal is to make a wine that’s balanced from the beginning to avoid having to make acid and other adjustments later on.
Quady North Vineyard
Rosés
Quady North 2023 GSM Rosé Rogue Valley ($18) 91 Blush pink. Opens with aromas of fresh red berries and rose petals. Good concentration and firm acidity combine to present a flavorful and refreshing rosé. A firm backbone, breadth on the palate and a rich finish make this an excellent rosé to pair with a wide variety of lighter cuisine. A blend of 55% Grenache, 34% Syrah, and 11% Mourvèdre. 11.8% alc.
Quady North 2023 Grenache Rosé Applegate Valley ($22) 93 Light pink. With a bouquet redolent of fresh strawberries, this rosé of Grenache is especially appealing. Low in alcohol, it’s bright in the mouth with clean light red berry flavors and brisk acidity with a long finish. Very very good. 11.4% alc.
Quady North 2023 Rosé of Cabernet Franc Rogue Valley ($22) 91 Pale salmon. The bouguet evokes wet river stones, herbs and red berries. Crisp on entry with a delicate, lightly flavored palate infused with minerals and floral notes. A beautiful wine for sipping on a hot summer day. 12.4% alc.
White and Red Wines
Quady North 2022 Pistoleta Rogue Valley ($22) 91 Opens with summer fruit scents of pear and melon accented by a white flower perfume. The palate mirrors the bouquet with a suave texture, fullness in the mouth, excellent balance and a long, perfumed, fruity finish. Beautiful, especially for the price! A Rhone white blend comprised of 31% Viognier, 29% Roussanne, 25% Marsanne, 10% Grenache Blanc and 5% Vermentino whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel, amphora, acacia and oak barrels. pH 3.33, 12.5% alc.
Quady North 2021 GSM Rogue Valley ($27) 91 The GSM opens with a dark red plum and cherry nose. Suave with savory spice on the palate and firm tannins, this is the perfect wine to accompany pizza. A blend of 46% Grenache, 38% Syrah, and 16% Mourvèdre from several vineyards, fermented whole berry in small tanks, gently pressed, and matured in large neutral French oak barrels. 13.6% alc.
Quady North 2021 Syrah 4,2-A Rogue Valley ($27) 91 Opaque. Opens with a spicy, dark fruited nose. Round on a fruit driven palate with mineral notes and nuanced flavors of plum and dark berries. Firm tannins but overall easy drinking. Less evolved than the Steelhead Run Syrah. A blend of 88% Syrah, 11% Grenache, and 1% Viognier destemmed with mostly whole berries and fermented in small tanks and aged in 20% new French oak barrels. 13.9% alc.
Quady North 2018 Steelhead Run Syrah Applegate Valley ($35) 93 Opaque. More layered and complex than the Syrah 4.2-A, the Steelhead Run Syrah reveals a meaty, dark red fruited nose. Broad and full in the mouth with good focus, firm tannins, and a very long, flavorful finish. An excellent food wine. Sourced from Steelhead Run Vineyard planted in the early 1990s. Whole berry ferment and aged in new and used French oak. 14.6% alc.
