Drouhin Rose Rock Pinot Noir 2014
Aptly named, Drouhin’s Rose Rock Pinot Noir hails from a parcel seated at the southern tip of the Eola-Amity Hills, the grapes harvested from this site are grown in ancient volcanic soils and benefit from the cooling Van Duzer winds. Blithe floral notes; a bouquet of wild roses, lavender, lilac, dust, anise, spice, and crushed […]
Frei Brothers Dry Creek Zinfandel 2014
Blackberries, black cherries, plums, smoke and spice grace the nose of this Dry Creek Zinfandel from Frei Brothers. It’s an easy-going Zin, with velvety tannins and a moderate level of acidity. Certainly, this is a food friendly wine, but it’s also one that can be enjoyed on its own. As is typical with Dry Creek […]
Stoller Family Estate Dundee Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2013
Lilting aromas of apricot, pear, dried honey, lemon curd, anise. Stoller’s Dundee Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2013 is clean and focused on the palate and more delicate than most. The perception is one of silkiness with beautifully integrated oak (you’d hardly know it’s there) except as a textural component, lending structure, allowing pure orchard fruit notes […]
Bodega Septima Malbec 2014
Better on the second day, as the Septima 2014 Malbec felt tight on opening. Today, more generous notes of warm blackberries at peak ripeness, plums, boysenberries, dried violets and black licorice. The attack shows tart, high acidity, this wine begs to be paired with a grilled, well-marbled steak. The tannins linger under the acidity, a […]
Troon Vineyard Applegate Valley Vermentino Sauvignon Blanc 2014
This unusual blend of 80% Vermentino and 20% Sauvignon Blanc hails from Troon Vineyard in Applegate Valley—A sub-appellation of Southern Oregon that finds itself a bit overshadowed by the Willamette Valley. I have tasted some lovely whites, especially Rieslings from this region, though this is admittedly, my first Vermentino. Bright lemon yellow in the glass, […]
William Hill Central Coast Pinot Noir 2014
I have liked ‘s Chardonnay more than their Pinot Noir, the 2014 Sonoma Coast evokes plums, grape jelly, brown sugar. This is an easy-drinking, uncomplicated, and slightly sweet California Pinot that leans toward jammy black fruit—it’s all black cherry at the core, with a touch of cola, and low levels of tannin. 14.5% ABV | […]
Aldelsheim Breaking Ground Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2014
Intensely perfumed, Aldelsheim’s commemorative 2014 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir is composed entirely of Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir, 12% of which is from the winery’s estate. Sumptuous black cherries, black raspberry, underbrush, earth, and heirloom roses grace the nose. It’s ruby-hued and more opaque than is typical for Oregon Pinot—hinting at this wine’s concentration and depth. […]
Seed Paraje Altamira Malbec 2014
Luscious steeped blackberries, marionberries, and dusky Italian plums lie well beneath lighter, more enigmatic aromas of violets, dust, and dark chocolate shavings. Seed’s 2014 Paraje Altamira Malbec is mulberry-hued at the rim, and deliciously fresh. The nose echoes the palate, with saturating black fruit at the core, neatly hemmed in by mouth-coating, ripe tannins. It’s […]
Seed Red Wine 2014
Pronounced, layered aromas of blackberries, plums, lavender and lilac, the 2014 Red is Seed Wine’s inaugural release and is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 16 months on new French oak, this polished Argentine red exhibits fabulous purity of fruit at the core, cradled in fine, velvety tannins. […]
Alamos Red Blend 2014
The parent company of widely-distributed Alamos is Catena, a winery that is one of the foremost in Mendoza. Alamos is easy and very drinkable considering it’s price point. The 2014 Red Blend has a nose that is bursting with dark Hudson cherries, juicy plums and a playful whiff of wild underbrush. The attack is equally […]