A blend of two-third Viognier with one-third Roussanne, these white Rhône varieties seem to be thriving at Rattlesnake Road Vineyard in Arlington, Ore., across the Columbia River from the Horse Heaven Hills. The Roussanne spent its life in neutral French oak barrels, which allows the wine to impart notes of baked apple pie in front of dried pineapple, gooseberry and lemon. … [Read more...] about Seven of Hearts 2012 Chatte d’Avignon Viognier & Roussanne, Columbia Valley, $18
Oregon
Seven Bridges Winery 2010 Prima Nata, Columbia Valley, $36
This new, ultra-boutique winery in downtown Portland has displayed a Midas touch with single-variety releases, yet its deemed its flagship wine as this proprietary blend that borrows an Italian term for "first born." Kevin Ross and Bob Switzer's debut is a claret style leading with Merlot from Golden Ridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley (53%) with support of Cabernet … [Read more...] about Seven Bridges Winery 2010 Prima Nata, Columbia Valley, $36
Seven of Hearts 2012 Pinot Gris, Oregon, $18
Byron Dooley crafts wines in McMinnville, Ore., under two labels, which are sold in his Carlton tasting room. This brand can reach into vineyards beyond Willamette Valley, and it does with Rattlesnake Road, a site on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. There's also contribution from Vigna Giovanni in Yamhill-Carlton. His choice of neutral French oak aging (67%) with … [Read more...] about Seven of Hearts 2012 Pinot Gris, Oregon, $18
Spangler Vineyards 2010 Claret, Southern Oregon, $27
Few folks in the Pacific Northwest use this traditional English term for a red wine from Bordeaux, but Roseburg winemaker Patrick Spangler follows his own path and builds his wines for food and for the long haul. This blends all six of the common red Bordeaux varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère — for a wine featuring whiffs … [Read more...] about Spangler Vineyards 2010 Claret, Southern Oregon, $27
Stoller Family Estate 2011 Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $35
What used to be marketed as SV Chardonnay is now under the more easily described "reserve" tier. It's aged in French oak and while the nose leads with butterscotch and toasted marshmallow, there's bright fruit right alongside with pineapple and pear, backed by freshly laundered linen. Similar pleasure awaits on the palate with an entry that's rich and creamy with pear, Golden … [Read more...] about Stoller Family Estate 2011 Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, $35