Bob Switzer creates this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%) and Merlot almost under the shadow of Portland’s Fremont Bridge and just downstream from the headquarters of the Oregon Wine Board. However, the fruit source is from the Walla Walla Valley, with the Cab from Les Collines and the Merlot from Golden Ridge and Seven Hills. Classic aromas of sweet herbs, black cherry and … [Read more...] about Seven Bridges Winery 2013 Resolution Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $28
Oregon
Angel Vine 2013 The Hellion Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $24
Ed Fus grows some Pinot Noir in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills, but he focuses his winemaking on Italian varieties such as Zinfandel and Primitivo. Because of that, he sources most of his 2,000-case production in downtown Portland from renowned sites in Washington state such as StoneTree, Coyote Canyon and Alder Ridge. This jaunty blend of Primitivo (46%), Petite Sirah (29%) and … [Read more...] about Angel Vine 2013 The Hellion Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $24
Plaisance Ranch 2014 Carménère, Applegate Valley, $30
Joe Ginet’s property began as a working ranch near Jacksonville, Ore., nearly 160 years ago, and while he grows much of the fruit for his wines on his Williams Valley estate, the growing interest in his work with Carménère prompted him to add fruit from the Moore family’s Quail Run Vineyard for his seven-barrel production. Crushed violets, dried Western serviceberry and … [Read more...] about Plaisance Ranch 2014 Carménère, Applegate Valley, $30
Ponzi Vineyards 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $65
The bountiful 2014 growing season in the Willamette Valley allowed Luisa Ponzi to double production of her family’s reserve Pinot Noir, and yet it merited our top rating for the second straight vintage. Her sources range from the north slope Chehalem Mountains estate sites of Abetina, Aurora and Madrona Vineyards to other sustainably farmed farm fruit at Kason, Linda Vista, … [Read more...] about Ponzi Vineyards 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $65
Abacela 2014 Barrel Select Graciano, Umpqua Valley, $30
One of the most obscure Spanish grape varieties grown in the Pacific Northwest, Graciano has found a home at Abacela where founding winemaker Earl Jones has been doting on it since he established his vineyard in 1995. In those 20 years, he’s approved of it 20 percent when it came time to harvest, and 2014 vintage ranked among those for this single acre. Rioja winemakers … [Read more...] about Abacela 2014 Barrel Select Graciano, Umpqua Valley, $30