Wayne Bailey doesn’t grow Pinot Blanc on his stunning 50-acre estate southwest of McMinnville, Ore., but the growing interest among consumers for the delicate, food-friendly features of Pinot Blanc prompts him to bring in fruit from Yamhill Valley Vineyards four miles due south. In his winery, Bailey sent it through a two-month program of neutral oak to develop beautiful … [Read more...] about Youngberg Hill 2015 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $25
Oregon
Vidon Vineyard 2013 Brigita Clone 777 Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
This bucolic 10-acre property in the heart of Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains produces much of Don Hagge’s fruit, which he farms in accordance with Salmon-Safe practices. He named this block of clone 777 Pinot Noir for granddaughter Brigita, and he showed prescience by pulling it off on Sept. 14 - well ahead of the drenching remnants of Typhoon Pabuk. The 18-month program of 35% … [Read more...] about Vidon Vineyard 2013 Brigita Clone 777 Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
Cathedral Ridge Winery 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $58
Here’s an example of Columbia Gorge vintner Robb Bell’s long-range vision for his program at Cathedral Ridge, a single-site expression with venerable Hillside Vineyard in The Dalles, Ore. Bell and Sonoma winemaker Michael Sebastiani have featured this planting for their reserve Cabs for more than a decade. This example from a classic vintage is offers food-friendly aromas and … [Read more...] about Cathedral Ridge Winery 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $58
Winter’s Hill 2015 Reserve Estate Pinot Gris, Dundee Hills, $29
An early autumn harvest in 2015 of his family’s 35-acre estaste allowed Russell Gladhart to expand his reserve Pinot Gris program from the 2014 vintage, and he’s done a remarkable job with this release that blends some juice from neutral French oak barrels with stainless steel fermentation. It creates a theme of lemon bar and tutti frutti notes with bright, lively and long … [Read more...] about Winter’s Hill 2015 Reserve Estate Pinot Gris, Dundee Hills, $29
Vidon Vineyard 2013 Hans Clone Pommard Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
Vicki and Don Hagge began to lay out Vidon (VEE-Dohn) Vineyard in 1999, and they’ve achieved L.I.V.E. status as a certified sustainable site near Newberg, Ore. Don’s work with Pommard in his Hans Block, planted within the elevation range of 400-500 feet, shows the dark and ripe tones one expects from Pommard. Lush aromas of sugared plum, cherry pie and cocoa powder transition … [Read more...] about Vidon Vineyard 2013 Hans Clone Pommard Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50