One of the Willamette Valley’s early adopters of Biodynamic farming has entered its fifth decade of winemaking near Forest Grove, Ore., this is Montinore Estate’s third vintage of First Sight Pinot Noir, sourced from picturesque Tidalstar Vineyard, a Tualatin Hills site in the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area. Their effort here from the 2019 vintage presents Pinot … [Read more...] about Montinore Estate 2019 First Sight Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
Oregon
Los Rocosos Vineyards 2020 Arenas Suaves Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley $48
Inspired by the movie Bottle Shock, Roger Lemstrom’s midlife introduction to wine has led him to a 7-acre vineyard in “The Rocks” — so he used the Spanish translation for his project in Milton-Freewater, Ore., which has him selling most of his grapes to boutique wineries in the Walla Walla Valley. This non-traditional blend of Garnacha (in that spirit we’ll use the Spanish word … [Read more...] about Los Rocosos Vineyards 2020 Arenas Suaves Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley $48
Coventina Vineyards 2016 Tempranillo, Rogue Valley $35
This Southern Oregon boutique vineyard and winery remains a passion project of Chris Amen, whose late father, Lou, led the Certified Grocers of California. She wisely placed her wine production in the hands of renowned grower/winemaker Herb Quady and his Barrel 42 team in Medford, and that relationship has now led to a trio of Platinums. Two of those have been for Tempranillo … [Read more...] about Coventina Vineyards 2016 Tempranillo, Rogue Valley $35
Spangler Vineyards 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon $49
This self-taught Roseburg, Ore., grower/ winemaker prides himself on his Bordeaux program, and of his 26 career Platinums, 18 of those have been for work with those varieties. Here is the fifth for Cabernet Sauvignon, a list that began in 2007 from the 2004 vintage. Dark plum, Craisin, cherry pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and peppercorns lead to a full-bodied Cab with soft … [Read more...] about Spangler Vineyards 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon $49
Puffin Brand 2022 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $24
One of the most amazing storylines of the Platinum Awards is the repeated excellence surrounding the Pinot Gris program by Cannon Beach wine merchant/Realtor/negoçiant Steven Sinkler. Of the 11 career Platinums he’s attained, seven have been for Pinot Gris — including six in the past seven years. (The gap is from the 2020 pandemic vintage.) They are products of his … [Read more...] about Puffin Brand 2022 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $24