Best Buy! Terry Brandborg in Elkton, Ore., has been quietly behind a number of Southern Oregon’s top wines — including those of Trella Vineyards, selected as the 2020 Oregon Winery to Watch by Great Northwest Wine’s editorial team. Owners/physicians Stephen and Susan Williams grow the 7 acres of grapes that they hire Brandborg to vinify. He turned three wines from the 2016 vintage into Platinums in 2019. This 2016 Pinot Gris now qualifies for the 2022 Platinum Awards. There’s dusty orchard fruit, jicama and starfruit in the nose. Inside, it’s remarkably bright with dried Bartlett pear and calcareous sensations on the entry that leads out with long flavors of Bosc pear and Key lime, a combination that more than deals with the slightest bit of sweetness (0.6% residual sugar). It’s one of the most fascinating wines we’ve evaluated in recent years. Enjoy with pork, poultry and mushroom dishes.
Rating: Unanimously Outstanding! Double gold — 94 points
Production: 171 cases
Alcohol: 14.1%
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