Oregon

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Firesteed / Oregon Some rosés are darker in color than this flyweight. But the bouquet and palate each pack some punch. Orange-rind and cranberry scents pave the way for the chocolate and black-plum flavors that blanket the thick palate. At the end, though, it lacks the sleekness […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Beran / Willamette Valley Clove, black-licorice gumdrops, some mint and a meaty quality mark the nose. It’s weighty, with raspberry fruit touched by the taste of tomato. It doesn’t offer a lot of finesse, and the oak is heavy on the end.

Country: US / Reserve Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Benton-Lane / Willamette Valley At first the aroma is sharp, even clumsy, showing herbs, peanuts and even bacon fat. The fruit is in the big-plum range. A heavy dose of oak has been thrown at this wine, so it’s buttery on the palate and coffee-tinged on […]

Country: US / Estate Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Eola Hills / Oregon Very lively and jumpy, with bright cherry fruit supported by high-voltage acidity. It hits the high notes, but lacks the bass below, and therefore is ultimately a bit out of balance. Very much a cherry-fruit dominated, one-dimensional wine

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Secret House / Willamette Valley Some youthful minty cherry marks the nose. The palate is heavy on the tangy red fruits: cranberry and raspberry. A clean quaffer and a nice introduction to the world of Oregon Pinot. Has the varietal correctness, but it’s trim as a stick.

Country: US / Lewman Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Bethel Heights / Willamette Valley Very tight in the nose, with hints of peanuts. A cinnamon nuance provides an exotic edge to the otherwise straightforward, somewhat tart cherry palate. Buttery oak and more tangy cherries dominate the finish.

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Hauer of the Dauen / Willamette Valley A very light and flowery nose starts the package rolling, followed by light candied raspberry on the palate. Features a smooth texture throughout, with the slightest notes of cherry cough drops and fruit punch. A simple, straightforward wine that goes […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Amity / Willamette Valley A Pinot in the ultralight style. There’s cranberry and tea qualities, and an almost weightless mouthfeel. No new oak renders it clean and fruity, with plenty of fresh-berry essence. In the end, it’s a lightweight that closes with licorice and anise notes.

Country: US / Sunnymount Cuvée Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Benton-Lane / Willamette Valley One of the strongest aromas of beets I have smelled in a wine; also some vanilla and cream nuances. Tasty and satisfying, if a bit one-dimensional.

Country: US / Variety: Champagne Blend Oregon Winery: Rex Hill / Oregon There’s some funkiness in the nose from a healthy dose of sulfur, but once it blows off it uncovers a firm, dry, slightly toasty wine with good structure and balance. Some bitterness in the finish (perhaps attributable to that same SO2) is the […]

Country: US / Doerner Vyd Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Secret House / Umpqua Valley Light and bright, a shade darker than a hearty Rhône rosé, this cherry- and strawberry-flavored pacer displays saddle leather and earth notes that provide interest and depth. Fairly high in acidity, and with brisk, lightly peppery tannins, this would be […]

Country: US / Extended Tirage Brut Variety: Champagne Blend Oregon Winery: Argyle / Willamette Valley Ripe apples and toast on the nose of this Oregonian open to a medium-bodied wine with decent complexity and a soft foamy mousse. Crisp apple and herb flavors with a slight mineral note play out on the clean and tart […]