Wine Mandalas
a visual representation of flavor profile
I have been a fan of art and science as long as I can recall. As a child, my artistic side was prominent. As a a young adult my love for science led me to earn a BS in Biology from Washington State University. After graduating from college I spent many hours in the laboratory observing thousands of analytical datapoints on hundreds of wines. It was clear the analyses were valuable representations of wines. Analytical datapoints could help tell the story of a wine. Is it a new wine? Was it cooped properly? Was it nutrient deficient during fermentation? Did it have additions? These things and more could be seen in the numbers.
It is this analytical knowledge paired with my weird creativity influenced by sacred geometry of the natural forms that inspired me to design a system that generates unique visual representations of each wines analytical profile. I call them wine mandalas. Mandalas are geometric configurations of symbols. Each line in the wine mandala represents a measured value in the wine. Color and space indicators based on frequency are used to reflect each analytical value expressed in the wine mandala. Together they form a novel representation of a particular wine, sort of like a fingerprint.
Identify mandala patterns in wines you like and look for those patterns in mandalas of wines you haven’t tried. This can aid in choosing wines you haven’t already tasted. Have you ever purchased a bottle of wine based on the image on the front label or the description on the back that ended in disappointment? Perhaps this system can help.
Do these visual symbols represent your sensory experiences? Can you see what you taste? Find patterns in the mandalas of the wines you enjoy most. Give it a try! If nothing else, have fun with it!
Wines and their mandalas
Sensory notes are included
2021 dry muscat
I love the aromatics of Moscato but find many of them to be very sweet. I am happy to offer this dry Muscat to those of you who agree. Grown in the Northern part of the Columbia Gorge AVA this wine offers aromas of honeysuckle, pear, green apple and a nice round finish. Light and fruity… perfect for a sunny day!
2020 Sauter vineyard syrah rose
Strawberry and honeydew dominate the nose! Vanilla cherry follows along with a round, creamy minerality.
2019 Merlot, sauter vineyard
This wine expresses what I have begun to call “Sauter Candy” - brown sugar, chocolate & spice! Each of Sauter wines thus far have expressed these traits. Spending 28 months in neutral French oak this Merlot carries a weighty palate and offers aromas of licorice, coconut and huckleberry.
2018 graves vineyard chardonnay
Originating in Graves Vineyard, this wine enters with creamy minerality and finishes with light notes of dried apricots, citrus and toasty oak. Partially malolactic complete and aged in light-toast French oak barrels this wine balances the tropical aromas of classic French Chablis with the mid-palate heartiness of the new world.
2018 graves vineyard grenache achromatic
Sourced from vines planted during the 1960’s in Dallesport, WA this wine offers a smooth palate with tropical fruit and pear aromas followed by a citrusy-crisp finish.
2018 graves vineyard syrah
This old vine Syrah derives from the oldest continuously operating vineyard in the Columbia River Gorge. Introduced with a garnet color, light peppery notes of savory spice and chocolatey tobacco dominate accompanied by undertones of cherry and raspberry followed by a smooth finish. Gold Medal, 93 points at the Sunset International Wine Awards
2018 Sauter Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
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2018 sauter vineyard merlot
In the late 1800’s the Sauter family homesteaded in the Columbia River Gorge. They have been farming the land since. This is the second release of Sauter Vineyards Merlot. This wine expresses what I have begun to call “Sauter Candy” - brown sugar, chocolate & spice and everything nice! Each of Sauter wines thus far have expressed these traits. Spending 28 months in neutral French oak this Merlot carries a weighty palate and offers aromas of licorice, coconut and huckleberry.
2018 sauter vineyard Syrah
Chocolate covered cherries and fresh plum coat the plate along with silky tannins and a blueberry vanilla finish.
2017 Charbono
Our Charbono offers umami, soft chocolate-cherry tannins and dark fruit.
merlono
Coconut dominates yummy dark fruit with chocolate and spice! Spending 48 months on French oak, this Charbono/Merlot blend carries a round weighty palate and is a good candidate for aging.
red dessert wine
A port-style wine focused on Graves and Sauter vineyard, notes of black pepper dominate a deep mid-palate of spice, fruit juice, and a spirited finish.
2016 charbeau nouveau
Hand-crafted from 2016 Charbono and created in the spirit of Beaujolais nouveau, each bottle is hand-painted and filled with an elixir that mixes cranberry notes and aromas of dark dried fruit with balanced mouthfeel.
2016 chardonnay, celilo vineyard
Stemming from the Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA, fermented and aged in neutral French barrels for 16 months, structured acid balanced with light tannin structure, this wine offers aromas such as orange blossom, mango and kiwi with brown sugar and honey flavors.
2016 chardonnay, graves vineyard
From the Graves Vineyard, this wine starts with creamy minerality and finishes with slight notes of toasty oak. Partially malolactic complete, aged in new light-toast French oak barrels. Balances the tropical aromas of classic French Chablis with the mid-palate heartiness of the new world.
2016 grenache achromatic
Sourced from vines planted during the 1960’s in Dallesport, WA this wine offers a smooth palate with tropical fruit and pear aromas followed by a citrusy-crisp finish.
2016 sauvignon blanc
Produced with fruit from the Smith-Cerne vineyard in The Dalles, OR. This wine provides notes of green apple and hazelnut followed by a citrus finish.
2016 Sunshine Mountain Vineyard pinot noir
Oregon Mountain Pinot Noir cold-fermented on skins for 4 weeks, pressed into barrel and sur-lees aged for 17 months. Red amber hue with dark cherry, beet root and violet aromas, strong spicy body with a woody long finish.
2015 cabernet sauvignon, bangsund vineyard
From Chenowith behind The Dalles, OR in the Columbia Valley AVA and less than 15 miles from the winery, spiced cranberry meets chocolate covered cherry and takes a ride along with high mid-palate and extended finish.
2015 malbec, mckinley springs
Grown in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, it presents a deep violet color with aromas of fresh blackberries, dark cherry, and coffee. Aged in American oak with chewy tannins on the palate coupled with a structured finish.