Best Buy! Jeff Herinckx, winemaker for this historic Hillsboro, Ore., winery, worked with crop levels ranging from 1.5 to 1.75 tons per acre from Dion, Tuenge and Sheppard vineyards, and yet he was still able to produce Pinot Noir of this quality and scale at such a friendly price. There are a lot of pleasing things to sort through in the nose, starting with plums, Bing … [Read more...] about Oak Knoll Winery 2010 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $15
Oregon
Oak Knoll Winery NV Frambrosia Raspberry Wine, Oregon, $14
Success with homemade fruit wines inspired the Vuylsteke family to launch Oak Knoll Winery in 1970, and 30 years ago, they won the Governor's Trophy at the Oregon State Fair for this wine. The nose screams of strawberry-rhubarb pie, raspberry jam and cinnamon toast, but the raspberry presents itself more in the mouth. There's nice richness on the entry and the spritzy acidity … [Read more...] about Oak Knoll Winery NV Frambrosia Raspberry Wine, Oregon, $14
Winter’s Hill Vineyard 2010 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $34
Quite a neighborhood has sprung up around the Gladhart farm in Dayton, Ore., which the family started in 1961. Their 35-acre estate vineyard, certified as sustainable in 1999, is bordered by Domaine Serene, Stoller and Vista Hills, and this release from a nerve-wracking vintage certainly stands alongside those producers. It’s classic Dundee Hills from start to finish, opening … [Read more...] about Winter’s Hill Vineyard 2010 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $34
Oak Knoll Winery NV Marion bèrree Marionberry Wine, Oregon, $14
Oregonians are proud — rightly so — of the Marionberry, developed in 1956 by Oregon State University and tested in nearby Marion County. Hence the name. The folks at Oak Knoll Winery in Hillsboro have embraced "the Cabernet of blackberries," and do a delicious job creating dessert wine from it. It's difficult to discern the aromas from those of raspberry, and the wine also … [Read more...] about Oak Knoll Winery NV Marion bèrree Marionberry Wine, Oregon, $14
Abacela NV Vintner’s Blend #13, Southern Oregon, $15
Best Buy! There's an Iberian profile to this robust red, and it will stand up nicely on any night with Mediterranean fare. An estate blend that's led by Tempranillo (44%), it's backed by eight other varieties, including Syrah (17%), Merlot (16%), Malbec, Dolcetto, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Tannat. The nose brings black cherry cola, plums, allspice and … [Read more...] about Abacela NV Vintner’s Blend #13, Southern Oregon, $15