Oregon

Country: US / Variety: Riesling Oregon Winery: Hyland / McMinnville Old vines, ungrafted, comprise the core of this rich and sappy wine. It’s definitely on the dry side, with a mix of peach flesh and skin, Meyer lemon, melon and vanilla. Drink now through 2025.

Country: US / Estate Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Carlton Hill / Willamette Valley Balanced and fresh, mixing berries, fresh herbs, black cherry and dried mushroom components, this medium-long, estate-grown wine is designed for significant short-term improvement. Delicious already, it seems poised to evolve gracefully through 2021.

Country: US / M-T Reserve Variety: Malbec-Tannat Oregon Winery: Troon / Southern Oregon This cofermented field blend is 60% Tannat and 40% Malbec. It’s big, black, bold and captivating, with rich blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The tannins are grainy and flecked with graphite, and there’s a suggestion of mocha throughout. This might fool some tasters […]

Country: US / Elkton Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: River’s Edge / Elkton Oregon The winery produces two outstanding Pinots from estate vineyards planted in 1972. This is big and chewy (as the potent alcohol might suggest) and aging in 50% new French oak puts flavors of toasted coconut and caramel around smooth supple […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Blanc Oregon Winery: Grochau / Willamette Valley Mostly stainless fermentation, with 30% done in neutral oak, yields a wine heavily scented with fresh-baked bread. It’s smooth and light, the green apple fruit flavors yielding to a finish that tails off again to lingering scents of bread.

Country: US / Coeur Blanc (White Heart) Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Domaine Serene / Willamette Valley This was the first winery to make a truly white Pinot Noir (back in 2004). Produced exclusively from Pommard clones, it’s barrel fermented and aged much like a Chardonnay. Along with great texture and length, there’s plenty of […]

Country: US / Dardis Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Fairsing / Willamette Valley The Dardis designate is a mix of Wädenswil and Dijon 115 clones, aged for 10 months in 30% new French oak. Cherry, berry and chocolate flavors meld gracefully with a thread of cola. There’s a briary undertone to the fruit, and a […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Gris Oregon Winery: The Eyrie Vineyards / Dundee Hills This racy and leesy young wine offers fresh and crisp flavors of cucumber, celery, jicama and green apple. Despite all the green components, it is not herbal or vegetal, and offers a precise, delicately crafted and ageworthy take on the grape.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Macindoe / Willamette Valley A light flavor of cherry mingles with a dusting of brown sugar in this pleasant, easy-drinking wine.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Gris Oregon Winery: RoxyAnn / Rogue Valley Like biting right into a crisp Asian pear, this clean and brightly fruity wine accents the fresh flavors with just a hint of nutmeg and sweet spice.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Silvan Ridge / Willamette Valley This smooth and detailed wine mixes tart red fruits with earthy, lightly charred flavors. The robust tannins carry notes of espresso beans and dark chocolate. It will need decanting and/or aeration to bring it all into proper balance.

Country: US / Sullivan Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Fairsing / Willamette Valley The Sullivan designate mixes Pommard, Wädenswil and Dijon 777 clones, which were aged 10 months in 30% new French oak. It’s similar to the winery’s Dardis bottling in terms of the balance between fruit and herbs, though here there is a bit […]