Blackberry, a little blueberry, black pepper, and vanilla all show on the nose. The palate is juicy with black fruit, dusty with fine tannins, and well-balanced. Blackberry and boysenberry, a blend of fresh and jammy, lead, with vanilla, black pepper, and then a finish like the crisp smoky end cut
A tinge of earthiness in the aroma gives us a clue that this is not a purely New World pinot noir, though it comes from Oregon. The classic earthy Burgundy element persists on the palate too. Red and black fruit intermingle, and oak-aging provides structure without hindering the flavors. Moderate
With so much on offer just blocks from my home in southeast Portland, sometimes it is easy to forget the bounty that surrounds our fine city. The Willamette Valley AVA is Oregon’s largest wine producing region, and home to a majority of the state’s wineries, and yet it is only
If you play word association with a wine enthusiast and throw out the word "Oregon," chances are pretty high that the response will be "Pinot Noir." For good reason. In the 1960s, a handful of young vintners moved to the state, all passionate about wine and eager to be a
Oregon's relative lack of Chardonnay is downright weird. And in Portland, rare and weird is good. So you know where this is going. Some of the most exciting wines being made in Oregon today are Chardonnays. These are not your grandma's butter bombs; they're taut, lean wines with terrific mouthfeel.
The AVA name "Red Mountain" sells a lot of wine in steakhouses. I learned this from master sommelier Thomas Price of Seattle's Metropolitan Grill, who says people just like the sound and will order wine from there without knowing a thing about it. "Red Mountain is probably the best AVA
Clear, pale golden yellow. Clean nose with medum intensity aromas of ripe tropical fruit, honeysuckle, pineapple, citrus, and a clean savory note like lanolin. Dry on the palate with medium-full body, medium acidity. Flavors of tropical fruit, pineapple, banana, and fragrant white flowers. Medium finish. Recommended 89-90. RR WHO: Alchemy
If some consider Pinot Noir the thoroughbred of varietals, then the Willamette Valley may be the Kentucky Bluegrass of wine regions. There is something in the soil that sets the Willamette Valley apart from other wine regions. Many speak of the terroir in northern Oregon, comparing it to other world-renowned