This bottling marked the fifth vintage for Sherwood, Ore., vintner Tom Fuller, who tapped into this Walnut Hill site to produce a stunning Pinot Noir. There's a lot to like, starting with the nose of strawberry pie, Van cherries, raspberry sauce, cherry tomato paste, sweet herbs, forest floor and porcini mushrooms. The delivery to the palate is bold and bright with flavors of … [Read more...] about Artisanal Wine Cellars 2010 Dukes Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $34
Oregon
Anam Cara Cellars 2012 Nicholas Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $18
The Nicholas family produces a number of stunning wines from their small estate site near Sherwood, Ore., and this gorgeous rosé shows a great deal of elegance. The nose features hints of cherry, dried strawberry, pomegranate and Kiwi fruit. Fanciful flavors gather up Rainier cherry, fresh-picked plum along with strawberry and raspberry. Its stunning structure, bone-dry … [Read more...] about Anam Cara Cellars 2012 Nicholas Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $18
Cathedral Ridge Winery 2009 Rock Star Red, Columbia Valley, $48
One of the top wineries in the Columbia Gorge, owner Robb Bell recently opened a tasting room in Dundee, Ore., and this suave blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Syrah offers a pleasant change of pace for those Pinot Noir tourists. The nose carries a theme of blackberry, Belgian chocolate and espresso, and that brambleberry flavor leads the entry. The midpalate features … [Read more...] about Cathedral Ridge Winery 2009 Rock Star Red, Columbia Valley, $48
Elk Cove Vineyards 2010 Five Mountain Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $48
In 2005, two years before they earned Wine Press Northwest's Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year award, the Campbells purchased this Chehalem Mountains vineyard. It comes with views of five peaks in the Cascade Range and was first planted in 1978 by the Ponzi family. Their product from the 2010 vintage flashes aromas of strawberry jam, pie cherry and toast. The palate carries … [Read more...] about Elk Cove Vineyards 2010 Five Mountain Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $48
Treos Wines 2012 Dry Muscat, Willamette Valley, $21
It's nearly impossible not to smile when putting a nose to this brilliant blend of two historic varieties — Muscat Ottonel and Muscat of Alexandria, the latter is believed to be one of the oldest fruits on Earth. The young winery near Monmouth, Ore., sets the mood with gorgeous tropical aromas of mango, rosewater, orange oil, ginger and cardamom. And the fluid is elegant with … [Read more...] about Treos Wines 2012 Dry Muscat, Willamette Valley, $21