All the best: a dozen great wines

Monks Gate Vineyard 2013 Riesling, Yamhill-Carlton, $25

One of the highlight discoveries during 2014 has been  small, family operation in Carlton, Ore. Their vineyard serves as a gateway for monks at the Trappist Abbey, which defines the name behind the label, and the work of winemaker Laurent Montalieu with estate clone C12 fruit — harvested Sept. 20 — helps explain the quality in the bottle. There’s been a growing buzz from Oregon about serious Riesling, and here’s another exciting bone-dry example that deserves to be in the discussion. It opens with fascinating floral notes of Juicy Fruit gum, white peach, Honeycrisp apple and lime, backed by a whiff of petrol. Its piercing acidity creates a narrow focus of limeade, Granny Smith apple and spearmint, finished with petrol and Maraschino cherry. Look for this at the Zupan’s Markets location in the Portland neighborhood of Belmont.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 56 cases

Alcohol: 11.3%

Winery website

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