L to R: Guillaume Large, Ryan Clark, Thibault Gagey.
The invitation promised more than a dinner. It offered a passage across time and place. On one side of the Atlantic, Burgundy, where centuries of patient stewardship have made Pinot Noir a language all its own. On the other, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, younger but no less compelling, carving out its own expression of the same grape.
At the heart of it all were two guides: Guillaume Large, winemaker at Résonance, and Thibault Gagey, third-generation steward of Maison Louis Jadot. Their presence was felt from the moment they entered the room: Guillaume with a warmth shaped in the vineyard, Thibault carrying the weight of legacy.
Sunrise at Resonance Vineyard.
Thibault, who helped identify the Oregon site that would become Résonance, shared stories of that first encounter with its rugged terrain and cool-climate promise. Guillaume, now the voice of that vision, has shaped the wines that tell Burgundy’s continuing story in the New World.
Together, they represent both the tradition that shaped Pinot Noir’s past and the imagination shaping its future.
2018 Jadot Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy.
The evening opened with a bright 2018 Jadot Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy, its clean, saline precision serving as both an aperitif and an introduction to the house’s timeless approach to Chardonnay.
That approach found its Oregon counterpart in the 2023 Résonance Koosah Vineyard Chardonnay, a wine of tension and subtle power. Guillaume spoke of Koosah’s high elevation and mosaic of volcanic soils lending remarkable complexity and lift.
The site sits above the fog line, where cool nights preserve acidity and long, even ripening builds layered complexity. In the glass, the wine unfolds with restraint; initially taut and mineral-driven before revealing a seamless balance of minerality, energy and length.
The accompanying dish of charred cabbage, honeynut squash, farro, and heirloom beets by chef Ryan Clark of Wooden Heart in Dundee captured the cool autumn bounty in the Willamette Valley, complementing the wines beautifully. The first course wasn’t just a match of flavours but a way of slowing the room down, signaling that this was to be an evening of attention and presence.
2018 Résonance Estate Pinot Noir / 2018 Volnay Les Mitans Premier Cru.
A side-by-side tasting of 2018 Résonance Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2018 Jadot Volnay Premier Cru Les Mitans formed the evening’s core. The comparison wasn’t a contest but an education featuring Oregon’s natural intensity meeting Burgundy’s poise.
Guillaume spoke of being patient with fruit ripening in order to find the balance in Oregon’s unpredictable seasons. By waiting for just the right moment to harvest, Guillaume ensures that the grapes achieve a harmony of acidity, flavour, and texture. The wine was earth-driven, supple, and textural reflecting the measured hand of someone attuned to Oregon’s rhythm.
Volnay, by contrast, carried its lineage with quiet authority. It was elegant, fine-grained, and steeped in history. Together, they revealed the threads that connect their distant origins.
2018 Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru.
The final pairing brought depth and emotion: the 2017 Memory of Résonance Vineyard, Guillaume’s inaugural Oregon vintage, alongside the 2018 Jadot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru.
The 2017 now shows remarkable balance and maturity reflecting resilience and intuition. Born of a challenging vintage, this wine has evolved to display a striking equilibrium, its maturity evident in both structure and flavour.
In contrast, the 2018 Jadot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru embodies centuries of winemaking heritage. Its presence is defined by an unmistakable gravitas, every sip revealing layers of subtlety and finely wrought structure. Where Memory of Résonance speaks to adaptation and growth, Clos de Vougeot asserts its authority through refined tradition and historical depth.
A memorable dinner in a beautiful setting.
Here, the conversation between Thibault and Guillaume turned philosophical. Thibault reflected on what it means to uphold the Jadot name while embracing innovation; Guillaume spoke of the creative freedom that comes with crafting wines in a region still defining itself.
By evening’s end, formality had given way to warmth and the conversation had loosened into something more intimate. Glasses lifted, laughter softened the edges, and what began as a structured tasting evolved. The wines had drawn everyone into a shared sense of discovery.
What made the night memorable wasn’t only the quality and precision of the wines, but the dialogue they created. Burgundy and Oregon may be separated by oceans, but at this table their voices intertwined seamlessly. Further proof that great wine speaks not only of place, but of the people who listen deeply to it.
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