I sat at Doug Tunnell’s kitchen table on a cold, rainy afternoon last weekend, starting my second decade tasting his Brick House wines. It swept me into memories of twenty-some years of visiting Oregon winemakers. Every year is more rewarding: the latest vintage is always a fresh, new exploration of what Oregon wine is all [...]
Oregon Gamay noir Part 1 – The Grape
Gamay noir is the secret grape of Oregon’s Thanksgiving dinners. Dwarfed by the popularity of Pinot noir, Gamay is made by just a few Oregon wineries. Our version is a delicious, ready to drink red wine with hints of the flavors of Pinot noir and a juicy, fruity quality all its own. It is particularly [...]
A Harvest Distilled and Fermented
From afar it might appear that during harvest the same routine is being followed by every winery in the state. Get a little closer, however, and you’ll see that each ‘estate’ has their own distinct traditions and particular ways of handling the stresses of making wine. To highlight some of these unique, and often idiosyncratic [...]
Oregon Wine News – Volkman, “Perfect”, Russ Raney
Here’s some news from Oregon wineries in the Willamette Valley. Laura Volkman Sells Vineyard Laura Volkman sold her vineyard and winery in Newberg and will continue as winemaker for “at least a couple of years.” She and her family continue to live nearby. The new owners are the Sauchey family, longtime Oregonians. He is a [...]
Washington’s New Sheridan Vineyards Reds
Here it is, an Avalon exclusive for Oregon, the Wine Advocate 97-100 point Sheridan Block 1, plus winemaker Scott Greer’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Mystique, and his new label, Crossfork Creek Dark Matter Syrah. Wine Advocate 97-100 Points Sheridan Vineyard Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 $103.45 in any 12 bottle order or Build a Case* ($114.95 retail) [...]
Reynvaan Family Vineyards’ 2010 Syrahs
One of the hottest new wineries in Walla Walla Washington, Reynvaan Family Vineyards released their 2010 Syrahs this week. The Reynvaan Syrahs are very reminiscent of the Cayuse Syrahs. It makes sense – Cayuse’s Christophe Baron is the viticulture and wine consultant to the Reynvaans. And “In the Rocks” Vineyard is bounded on one side [...]
SF Chronicle Chooses Top Oregon Pinot noirs
Yesterday the San Francisco Chronicle praised Oregon’s 2010 Pinot noirs: “The wines aren’t simply excellent; they show a concentration and depth that rise from being simply pleasurable to being profound…a vintage to cherish…a true sense of Oregon-ness.” Here are the Chronicle’s top picks: Beaux Freres Beaux Freres Vineyard 2010 $67.45 in any 12 bottle order [...]
98 Point Figgins Estate Red from Leonetti Winemaker
The 98-point Figgins Estate Red 2009 made by Chris Figgins, second generation winemaker at Leonetti Cellar, arrived today! at right, Chris Figgins “Astonishing…it can stand alongside top tier Bordeaux costing four or five times as much.” It’s little wonder Leonetti Cellar wines are cherished by customers as something very special and a must for any [...]
Wine Spectator 95 Point Oregon Pinot noirs
Oregon 2010 Pinots score again! Wine Spectator just published a new string of scores for 2010 Oregon Pinots including two “Hot Wines” with 95 point scores from Ayoub and Evening Land. Wine Spectator 95 Points Evening Land Vineyards La Source Pinot noir 2010 $53.95 in any 12 bottle order or Build a Case* ($59.95 retail) [...]
PinotFile on Oregon Pinot noirs
Rusty Gaffney’s PinotFile is the top newsletter on Oregon and California Pinot noir. His annual Oregon issue, published in September this year, is always eagerly anticipated. This year Rusty reviewed a wide range of Pinot noirs from the 2010 vintage (as well as 2008 and 2009 wines) had this to say about the 2010 vintagel: [...]
