Best Buy! The Kings of Pinot, quarterbacked by winemaker Brent Stone, have now scored five Platinums in the past four years with Pinot Gris. The estate along the Territorial Highway accounts for 51% of this bottling and nearly a dozen other sites also come into play for this consistently classic expression featuring orange blossom, Asian pear, starfruit and kiwi while picking … [Read more...] about King Estate Winery 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $19
Oregon
Brian Carter Cellars 2021 Abracadabra Rosé, Yakima Valley $25
Master blender Brian Carter charted Double Platinum with both of his Abracadabra bottlings, and this Sangiovese-based pink ranked as the No. 1 rosé of the judging. The Woodinville producer’s reliance on bright red varieties from standout vineyards such as Boushey and Lonesome Spring Ranch also includes Grenache, Tempranillo and Graciano, making for a bright and refreshing drink … [Read more...] about Brian Carter Cellars 2021 Abracadabra Rosé, Yakima Valley $25
Chris James Cellars 2021 Estate Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Yamhill-Carlton $32
Even though he says this white Bordeaux grape presents challenges for him, Chris Barnes has earned a Platinum or better with an expression of Sauvignon Blanc the past two years. Here, it is sparkling in more ways than one. Presented under crown cap, it’s ebullient with fruitiness akin to Granny Smith apple, starfruit and citrus as the beautifully tiny bubbles and touch of … [Read more...] about Chris James Cellars 2021 Estate Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Yamhill-Carlton $32
Reustle Prayer-Rock Vineyards 2021 Estate Selection Green Lizard Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley $36
In each of the past five vintages, the guru of Grüner in the United States has earned a Platinum for his Green Lizard program. Stephen Reustle names it for the mascot of Austria’s famed Wachau Valley, and he crafts this in a style that references the lots of Grüner Veltliner grapes that were the ripest at harvest. As a result, this tier is arguably the most approachable and … [Read more...] about Reustle Prayer-Rock Vineyards 2021 Estate Selection Green Lizard Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley $36
Iris Vineyards 2019 House Call Red Blend, Oregon $19.99
Best Buy! A big reason that a handful of wineries operating on the eastern side of the Cascades are operating tasting rooms in the Willamette Valley is because sometimes Pinot Noir consumers seek a change of pace. Cottage Grove winemaker Aaron Lieberman wanted to branch out a bit, too, so he worked with Rogue Valley sites Folin Vineyards and Cliff Creek Cellars’s Sams Valley … [Read more...] about Iris Vineyards 2019 House Call Red Blend, Oregon $19.99