Southern Oregon's 150-year history of pioneering work in vineyards is on display at Ed Kerwin's showpiece property near Ashland. Among his 31 acres of plantings is Teroldego, a red variety associated with northern Italy's Alto Adige region. First in the ground in 2010, this bottling by Kathe Kaigas is from fifth-leaf fruit, and it's a remarkably intense and very approachable … [Read more...] about Belle Fiore Winery 2014 Belle Esprit Estate Teroldego, Rogue Valley, $39
Oregon
Aubichon Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $35
Jim Sanders and Tom Mortimer launched Aubichon Cellars with the 2007 vintage, but they didn't begin producing Chardonnay under this brand until 2013. They source this from the cooler Eola-Amity Hills portion of Oregon's Willamette Valley, and the juice spent 16 months in oak, with just one of those eight barrels new. Its fragrant nose of marzipan, lemon bar and jasmine goes … [Read more...] about Aubichon Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $35
Underwood NV Pinot Noir, Oregon, $14
Best Buy! Union Wine Co., unveiled its canned Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris program at the foodie Feast Portland in the summer of 2013, and interest in convenience packaging from Whole Foods sparked the movement to expand. Winery/vineyard owner Ryan Harms continues to lean heavily on Pinot Noir from the warmer Southern Oregon, which boosts the fruitiness of the profile. There's a … [Read more...] about Underwood NV Pinot Noir, Oregon, $14
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyard 2016 Estate Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc, Umpqua Valley, $23
Our panels have evaluated this blend of Romancing Rock and Prayer Rock blocks three times within the past 12 months — including double golds at the 2017 Cascadia and Wine Press Northwest's 2017 Platinum — and there's no denying that Stephen Reustle is a wizard with cool-climate whites in Southern Oregon. Mouthwatering aromas of pineapple, Meyer lemon and Key Lime pie lead to … [Read more...] about Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyard 2016 Estate Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc, Umpqua Valley, $23
Aubichon Cellars 2015 Reserve Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $35
The tandem of grower Tom Mortimer and winemaker Jim Sanders pays more attention to Pinot Gris under their Aubichon Cellars label than most in the North Willamette Valley, producing three styles of this other white Burgundy grape. This reserve program shows a remarkable style that Sanders extends to some of the other brands he works with, but here it amounts to four barrels of … [Read more...] about Aubichon Cellars 2015 Reserve Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $35