Domaine J. Meuret Les Chênes Phelps Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
Domaine J. Meuret Les Chênes Phelps Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>I was delighted to find Maison Bleue’s tasting room in downtown Walla Walla on my last visit, and even more surprised to taste the Domaine J. Meuret Les Chênes Pinot Noir 2013, the inaugural vintage of this label, all of which are […]
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2013
As its name suggests, the Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz is a baritone rumble of smoky blackberries, earthy firmament, black peppercorn and baking spices. The attack is juicy, but well-structured in firm, tightly-wound tannins. Really nice and one I’ll want to reach for again, especially when grilling. Sample Torbreck 8.9 Point
Two Hands Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2014
I’ve been longing to try the Two Hands wines, so you can imagine my joy in coming across this Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2014. The nose explodes with juicy blueberries and ripe boysenberries followed by a lovely lingering top note of violets, anise and eucalyptus. My scrawled notes read, “a pleasure bomb” which differs from a […]
Murrieta’s Well The Spur 2013
vAnother label from Wente, Murrieta’s Well Winery The Spur 2013 is an estate-grown blend of 40% Petite Sirah, 26% Cabernet, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 8% Malbec. Sporting an opaque purple-hued dress, the aromatics are soft and expansive, with layers of plums, ripe boysenberries, black cherries, spice and cedar leading into […]
Murrieta’s Well The Whip 2014
From Wente, Murrieta’s Well Winery The Whip 2014 is an estate-grown blend of 29% Semillon and 27% Chardonnay, with the balance comprised of Sauvignon Blanc, Orange Muscat, Muscat Canelli and Viognier. It offers up a lush bouquet of golden apple, dried pineapple, mango, lemon drop, lemon blossom, and vanilla. There’s as much range [of fruit] […]
Oregon’s Enduring Spirit of Collaboration
Robed in luxurious, perpetual green, Oregon’s largest AVA is home to more than 270 wineries and over 1,000 vineyards. It’s a region that has enjoyed marked growth over the past few decades thanks, in part, to a handful of families that arrived in the late 1960s with little more than determination and vision. “My father […]
San Simeon Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
A well-crafted Cabernet from Paso Robles—a region that has yet to explode in popularity, thus, there are interesting values to be had. San Simeon is a brand owned by San Antonio Winery, which still maintains an urban tasting room in Los Angeles. The winery has been in operation since 1917. Sumptuous aromas and flavors of […]
Brooks Winery | Storyteller Wine Pinot Noir 2014
From Portland’s iconic Storyteller Wine Company, this 2014 Storyteller Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir, the fourth and final label to emerge from an intensive two day blending session at Brooks winery last fall. Michael Alberty’s blend is imbued with the fragrance of pure, ripe strawberries, so much so, that it reminds me of making strawberry jam. […]
Argyle “The Art of Sparkling” Trio — Christin Engelberth Label
Argyle’s new Art of the Blend series is stunning. The wines are sold as a trio, with each bottle featuring an artist chosen from a juried competition. From the winery’s website: “After nearly thirty years of growing and making World-class wines in the Willamette Valley, we have opened the Argyle House to our Community to interpret […]
Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2014
Crafted from biodynamically grown grapes, Montinore Estate’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2014 is a fast-forward to Thanksgiving with fragrant aromas of spiced apple rings, cranberry compote, black cherry, cola, and baking spice. The palate is laden in fine, supple tannins, and lively red fruit—2014 is indeed a riper vintage. Spices reemerge on the end with an […]