The largest biodynamic and certified organic vineyard in the U.S. is now also within the Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area, which explains why this bottling of estate fruit no longer lists “Oregon” as the AVA. There’s no oak involved in the production, and the tradition of five months on the lees builds aromas of baked orchard fruit, candy corn, jasmine and … [Read more...] about King Estate 2015 Domaine Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $29
Oregon
Cathedral Ridge Winery 2014 McDuffee Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $44
Terry McDuffee’s vineyard near The Dalles, Ore., planted more than 30 years ago, ranks as a rare site in the Columbia Gorge for old vine Chardonnay. Sonoma winemaker Michael Sebastiani develops this for 14 months in neutral American oak to create a rich yet bright style with aromas of Sara Lee Lemon Pound Cake with hints of almond extract, tutti frutti and cinnamon. Inside, … [Read more...] about Cathedral Ridge Winery 2014 McDuffee Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $44
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2015 Noah’s & Jezreel Block Estate Viognier, Umpqua Valley, $27
Southern Oregon vintner Stephen Reustle’s skill, versatility and complete control from grape to glass shows again in his latest Viognier from clone 1 fruit. It’s hugely aromatic with hints of lychee, rosewater, orange Creamsicle and banana, and there’s a match on the palate. He fermented the entire lot, pulled from 15-year-old vines, for five months on the lees in French oak. … [Read more...] about Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2015 Noah’s & Jezreel Block Estate Viognier, Umpqua Valley, $27
Elk Cove Vineyards 2014 La Bohème Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
Perhaps no vineyard in the Elk Cove portfolio serves as a better example of the quality and bounty of the 2014 vintage than La Bohème. The site was established in 1985 with cuttings from top-performing Pommard vines across the original estate vineyard that’s just east of the Campbell family’s tasting room in the hills above Gaston, Ore. Second-generation winemaker Adam Campbell … [Read more...] about Elk Cove Vineyards 2014 La Bohème Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
Fullerton Wines 2014 Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $55
Moe Momtazi purchased his 540 acres in the McMinnville American Viticultural Area back in 1997, and the abandoned wheat ranch soon became one of the most important biodynamic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest wine industry. Alex Fullerton’s work with these 16 barrels — two of which were brand new French oak — includes a program of 25% whole cluster fermentation. The cooling … [Read more...] about Fullerton Wines 2014 Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $55