Tony Rynders put Domaine Serene on the international map during the 2000s, and he’s quickly re-established Panther Creek Cellars as one of the Willamette Valley’s most delicious brands. A longtime friend of Ken Wright, who created Panther Creek in the 1980s, the University of California-Davis grad works with 18-acre Schindler Vineyard for this fruit-focused and lively Pinot … [Read more...] about Panther Creek Cellars 2014 Schindler Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $50
Oregon
Acrobat 2015 Pinot Gris, Oregon, $13
Best Buy! King Estate winemakers Spencer Spetnagel and Brent Stone collaborate on this sister brand, which sources from their iconic Territorial Road property for 19% of the fruit and goes beyond for the majority of a harvest that came earlier than ever. Remarkable aromas of peach, Key lime and grapefruit pick up secondary notes of perfumy flannel sheets. Three months on the … [Read more...] about Acrobat 2015 Pinot Gris, Oregon, $13
Panther Creek Cellars 2014 French Creek Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $35
Washington viticulturist Damon Lalonde presented some of the state’s oldest Chardonnay to winemaker Tony Rynders, who shines with these Wente clone vines established near Prosser in 1981. Once in the Willamette Valley, Rynders devoted 16 months to a barrel program of 28% new French oak. That helps give it a theme of light toast, pear and Golden Delicious apple with pleasant … [Read more...] about Panther Creek Cellars 2014 French Creek Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $35
Delfino Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Umpqua Valley, $28
Southern Oregon grower/winemaker Jim Delfino established his reputation with big and spicy Tempranillo, and he excels with this Cabernet Sauvignon project he collaborated on with Denise Aaron. Dark toast and bittersweet chocolate aromas are signs of his program with 25% new French oak, which allows for ripe black cherry, cinnamon, rose petal and crushed cinder notes. There are … [Read more...] about Delfino Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Umpqua Valley, $28
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2015 Estate Matrix White Wine, Umpqua Valley, $24
Stephen Reustle’s penchant for cool-climate white wines is on display with this Riesling-based blend of lots spent time in either stainless steel or American oak. Fanciful aromas of cotton candy, ripe peach, apple and rosewater lead to more fruity flavors, leading with ripe pear, honeysuckle and rock candy, finished by peach. Suggested pairings include crab with a mango-ginger … [Read more...] about Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2015 Estate Matrix White Wine, Umpqua Valley, $24