Oregon

Country: US / Variety: Riesling Oregon Winery: Brandborg / Elkton Oregon This wine is labeled medium dry, a fair description. Aromatic with waxy, mixed citrus components, it’s refreshingly tart, with suggestions of lemon peel throughout. The finish brings in notes of orange-pekoe tea, with good concentration and length.

Country: US / Revana Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Alexana / Dundee Hills This pretty Pinot offers ripe fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry. There’s a nice dash of chocolate and a supple, seamless mouthfeel, with all the components beautifully integrated.

Country: US / Hyland Vineyard Old Vine Variety: Riesling Oregon Winery: Penner-Ash / McMinnville This captivating wine, from vines dating back to the early 1970s, will reward your patience. It must be decanted if you want it to burst open past the initial tart flavors of green apple and grapefruit. Once it does, it will […]

Country: US / Palmer Creek Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Penner-Ash / Eola-Amity Hills The wine from this vineyard has a lightly smoky scent, more of the characteristic tobacco aromas, and a flavorful fruit mix of mulberry, blueberry and blackberry. It’s spicy and chunky and generous, ready for near-term drinking.

Country: US / Estate Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Penner-Ash / Willamette Valley Directly adjoining the famed Shea Vineyard, these grapes bring comparable quality. This is young, grapy and aromatic, with primary aromas focused on black-cherry fruit. There are streaks of licorice and cola, leading into a long, lemony, tobacco-laced finish.

Country: US / Estates Reserve Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Trisaetum / Willamette Valley The Estates Reserve is a barrel selection combining chosen lots from the three estate vineyards. Despite this vintage’s reputation for offering ripe, forward, accessible flavors, this wine remains stubbornly closed. It’s entirely possible that it has just hit a bit of […]

Country: US / Reserve Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Elk Cove / Willamette Valley This is a barrel selection, and as such, may be expected to show extra layers of concentration—more stuffing overall. It’s a rich, smoky, lush wine, with a complex mix of red fruits ranging from rhubarb to raspberry to Bing cherries. Spicy […]

Country: US / Evenstad Reserve Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Domaine Serene / Willamette Valley Peppery herbal notes populate the nose, leading into flavors of brambly red fruits. The wine gathers strength on the midpalate, finishing with a flourish of strawberry preserves. There’s a touch of rhubarb pie and a dusting of cocoa in the […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Knudsen / Dundee Hills This very pretty wine is built upon soft, forward, ripe strawberry fruit, and dappled with details of cinnamon and baking spices. A touch of chocolate sneaks into the focused, lightly tarry finish, which is nicely balanced. This pioneering vineyard dates back to the […]

Country: US / Variety: Gamay Noir Oregon Winery: Hanson Vineyards / Willamette Valley Despite the low alcohol, the fruit tastes overripe, perhaps damaged. Flavors are cooked and attenuated.

Country: US / Beacon Hill Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Zimri Cellars / Willamette Valley This is subdued, almost invisible, with herbal flavors accented with bitter greens. Barely ripe red fruit leaves a flat taste, with no life in it. Two bottles tasted.

Country: US / Variety: Tempranillo Oregon Winery: Willful / Umpqua Valley Toasty, dense and tannic, this combines blueberry fruit, roasted walnut and sappy acidity in a fresh, youthful and delicious wine. Drink now through 2022.