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Emile Beyer Pinot Gris Tradition 2016

Emile Beyer Pinot Gris Tradition 2016

Pale straw in the glass, Emile Beyer’s Pinot Gris Tradition 2016 enchants with aromas of yellow peach, pear, lemon drop, stargazer lily, muskmelon, lemon thyme, and smoky minerality. It’s quite round in the mouth, while still maintaining balance as pitch-perfect acidity winds ’round a core that presents a textural landscape of pear skin, peach pit, […]

Haubs-Barzen Erben Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 1997

Haubs-Barzen Erben Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 1997

A nice little find from Garagiste—where it’s sometimes possible to pick up an aged wine like this one, direct from the producer. The 1997 Haubs Barzen Erben Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese requires some coaxing as far as aromatics are concerned. A good swirl of the glass reveals fleshy yellow peach, pineapple, melon, dried mint, pea […]

Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay 2018

Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay 2018

Abundantly fresh, Domaine Bousquet, an Argentine winery under French ownership, generally offers great value, particularly for those on the hunt for organic wines. This is not one of their more complex offerings, it shows classic orchard fruit on the nose with a hint of subtle spice. 70% of the Chardonnay is aged in stainless, while […]

Rain Dance Vineyards Grand Oak Vineyard Estate Riesling 2017

Grand Oak Vineyard Estate Riesling 2017

Crafted from Reisling sourced from Rain Dance’s estate vineyards—Grand Oak Vineyard lies within Willamette Valley’s Chehalem Mountains sub-appellation and the vines are seated in Jory and Laurelwood-type soils. Aromas of yellow apple, lemon drop, and ripe pear anoint the nose, on the palate, it’s softly-textured thanks to sur lie aging in French oak—perfectly dry and […]

Brooks Amycas 2016

Brooks Amycas 2016

Straw yellow in the glass, Brooks’ 2016 Amycas is an aromatic white blend of 44% Riesling, 21% Muscat, 18% Pinot Blanc, 10% Gewurztraminer, and 7% Pinot Gris. At this stage in its evolution, that classic Muscat florality takes the center stage. White flowers and chamomile segue into delicate fruit aromas of Asian pear, lemon drop, […]

Cantina Tramin Pinot Bianco Moriz Alto Adige 2015

Cantina Tramin Pinot Bianco Alto Adige 2015

A steadily evolving kaleidoscope of white flowers, lemon curd, Asian pear, green apple, and mint. On the palate, the 2015 Tramin Pinot Bianco Moriz is light, bright, and fresh with a burst of pink pomelo, and perhaps most surprising—dried rose petal and wet shell that tumbles onto the scene like an unexpected last act. It […]

Barón Balché Sauvignon Blanc Spiral 10 2013

Barón Balché Sauvignon Blanc Spiral 10

My first Mexican wine, it’s clear that I’m long overdue—the 2013 Baron Balche Spiral Sauvignon Blanc displays modest tropical aromas of guava, gooseberry, pine, and dried mint. Lower acidity seems to be the tip-off to a warmer climate. There’s also quite a bit of mouthfeel which suggests some skin contact—it drops off at the finish, […]

Colterenzio Schreckbichl Gewürztraminer 2016

Colterenzio Schreckbichl Gewürztraminer 2016

From Northern Italy’s Südtirol – Alto Adige region, the 2016 Schreckbichl Colterenzio Gewürztraminer is lemon yellow in the glass and bursting a heady floral mix of chamomile and lily of the valley—beneath this fruit notes of lychee and cherimoya. On the palate, taut acidity crescendoes through this white’s pretty textural landscape that gives way to Meyer […]

Szent Tamás Percze 3400 Palack Tokaji Száraz Furmint 2013

2013 Szent Tamás Percze 3400 Palack

With a mouthfeel that reminds me very much of a Condrieu from a top producer, perhaps with a little more weight the 2013 Szent Tamás Percze 3400 Palack Tokaji Száraz Furmintcaptivates with breathtaking aromas of blanched almonds, quince, yellow peach, spice, orange blossom, and honeycomb. Feels like it might be more voluptuous than it is, […]

Arínzano Gran Vino Blanco 2014

Arínzano Gran Vino Blanco 2014

In the North-Eastern corner of Spain, Arínzano’s estate vineyards are planted at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains, midway between the Rioja and Bordeaux. The 2014 Gran Vino Blanco is 100% Chardonnay, aged 11 months on new and used French oak. A profusion of yellow apples, pear, mandarin oranges, vanilla, smoke, whipped butter, and warm […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com