Willamette Valley winemaker Dick Ferraro grew up within an Italian neighborhood in Walla Walla, and some of his early efforts were inspired by time spent at Walla Walla Vintners. Three years ago, his first Platinum came with Barbera from the Columbia Gorge. Zinfandel from this vineyard — raised into prominence by Maryhill Winery — returns Ferraro his second Platinum. The two … [Read more...] about Ferraro Cellar 2018 Gunkel Vineyards Hellsgate Canyon Block Zinfandel Columbia Valley $32
Oregon
Iris Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Oregon State University grad Aaron Lieberman scored Platinums with two bottlings of Pinot Noir from the 2021 vintage, the reserve tier under the Areté label and this flagship release for Iris Vineyards. It’s a blend of four distinct growing regions and includes the Chalice Estate (36%) and underrated Methven (27%) in the Eola-Amity Hills. The nose includes Rainier cherry, … [Read more...] about Iris Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Stage Pass Estate 2019 Boitano Reserva Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $42
The historic Old West town of Jacksonville, Ore., now includes an upscale, wine-themed housing development — Stage Pass — that features several home lots with young vineyards. Homesite No. 2 comes with the single-acre vineyard named Boitano, and it’s now home to a Platinum-winning Pinot Noir. Chris Jiron of nearby DANCIN Vineyards sorted through the five clones for a … [Read more...] about Stage Pass Estate 2019 Boitano Reserva Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $42
Thurston Wolfe Winery 2020 Zephyr Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel, Horse Heaven Hills $22.50
Wade Wolfe has won a dozen of his 39 career Platinums in just the past three years. For two of them, he’s used standalone bottlings of Zinfandel to add to that total. His relationship with this wind-blown site stretches back to the 1990s when he worked for The Hogue Cellars, and that knowledge is reflected here. It’s a black-fruited wine that picks up secondary notes of star … [Read more...] about Thurston Wolfe Winery 2020 Zephyr Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel, Horse Heaven Hills $22.50
R. Stuart & Co. Winery 2022 Big Fire Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $22
Rob Stuart’s winery in McMinnville is centrally located for the dozen vineyards he sources from. For his flagship Pinot Gris, he works with two sites on opposite sides of the Sunset Highway west of Hillsboro — Courting Hill and Cochran — as well as 30-year-old Wade Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. Big Fire is created and priced as a “Tuesday night” wine, but in typical fashion for … [Read more...] about R. Stuart & Co. Winery 2022 Big Fire Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $22