Two Too Good – Under $30 Haden Fig Pinot noirs Today we have two new Haden Fig single vineyard Oregon Pinot noirs that are too good to pass up, especially for under $30. They are tiny production Pinots that belong in your glass and in your cellar. These two wines encompass what makes me love [...]
Washington’s Champoux Vineyard & Soos Creek Wines
Champoux. Ciel du Cheval. You can argue that there are better vineyards in Washington, but you won’t likely win. Reds from these two vineyards always command hefty prices…almost always, that is. Soos Creek Champoux and Ciel du Cheval reds give new meaning to the term “value.” These two wines, with their amazing Cabernet backbones, are [...]
2010 Evesham Wood – VOTC
“2010 is a VOTC – Vintage of the Century” – Erin Nuccio, Evesham Wood Erin Nuccio, owner and winemaker of Evesham Wood, thinks 2010 is a vintage of the century. Wait – better than 2008?! Well, they’ll age as long but they’re also a lot more approachable right now. You can open these and taste [...]
Blind Friday – A Pinot Pairing Party
We’re starting a new tradition at Avalon – “Blind Friday.” If you want to turn a small dinner party into a medium sized one, host a blind tasting. The event was a huge success. I could tell because we started out with three judges, but as soon as friends smelled what was cooking we ended [...]
March Wine Club Wines
The weather is behaving and we’re shipping the March Wine Club wines. Here’s the rundown. For complete information on the current wine club and links to all of the newsletters, go to the Wine Club Home Page. March 2012 Club Selections Big Reds Club Five Star Supernova 09 $32.30 Buty Merlot/Cab Franc 09 $35.70 Reserve [...]
Dragging of the Gut in Oregon Wine Country
As noted on our Facebook page, the Third Annual “Dragging of the Gut” Festival is being held in McMinnville, Oregon on August 24-25. While it’s about driving up and down Main Street on Saturday night ala American Graffiti, it can be interpreted in another rather hilarious way. I’m hoping there’s a little belly as well [...]
Hiking Through The Lifecycle of Oregon Forests
Hiking through OSU’s Macdonald Forest to visit families. Babies, teenagers, baby boomers, grannies, and the graves of past generations. Families of fir and oak and cedar and maple and spruce and redwood and huckleberry and birch and buckhorn. This photo I took north of the Saddle last weekend sums it up for me. In the [...]
Hand Picked by Avalon – Two Washington Reds
Hi – Jean here – At Avalon, we are only as good as our wine recommendations. You have to be able to depend on our skill at finding the best and standing behind them. After 25 years, 15 of those online, I think we’re a proven success – over and again, we’ve offered you the [...]
Andy Went to Pinot Camp and Found a Favorite
Hello from Andy at Avalon Wine – Summer camp, golf camp, band camp - they have nothing on Pinot Camp. Three days in Oregon Wine Country, immersed in all things Oregon Pinot. I was lucky enough to go this summer (you have to be invited, and part of the wine industry). Through all the delicious [...]
No-Brainer #2 – Januik Cab 08
Well I’ll be — ANOTHER no-brainer from Washington just hit the Wine Spectator today: Januik Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 08, 94 points and a “Hot Wine” in today’s Insider. Washington 2008 reds are cleaning up with huge scores in the $30 range. Januik wines are consistently excellent — Mike Januik is one of the most [...]
