Best Buy! Early Muscat is a fairly new variety in the world of wine, having been the crossbreeding creation of Harold Olmo from U.C. Davis in the 1940s. Originally, Early Muscat was meant as a table grape, but it has found a home in Oregon, and several examples can be found from various wineries. This version from Abiqua Wind east of Salem is delicious. The aromas are … [Read more...] about Abiqua Wind Vineyard 2011 Collier’s Early Muscat, Willamette Valley, $14
Oregon
Raptor Ridge 2012 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $20
Scott Shull launched Raptor Ridge in 1995 and picked up the name because of all the hawks, kestrels and owls that lived on the property. This Pinot Gris is a blend of five vineyards. It shows off aromas of peach, lemon, tangerine and rosewater, followed by flavors of Golden Delicious apple, lemon and even a hint of grapefruit. It's loaded with acidity and should pair … [Read more...] about Raptor Ridge 2012 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $20
Chatte d’Avignon 2011 Mourvedre, Columbia Valley, $29
Owner/winemaker Byron Dooley describes Mourvèdre as "exploring the darker side of Old World style wines." That certainly seems to be the case with this example from Seven of Hearts, a small, artisan producer in tiny Carlton, Ore. This opens with aromas of dark cherry, ripe strawberry and delicate notes of dried herbs. On the palate, it leads with toasty notes of poached plum, … [Read more...] about Chatte d’Avignon 2011 Mourvedre, Columbia Valley, $29
Seven of Hearts 2011 Armstrong Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $35
Ribbon Ridge is the smallest American Viticultural Area in the Pacific Northwest - even smaller than Washington's Red Mountain. It's a subappellation of the Chehalem Mountains (which is a subappellation of the Willamette Valley), and some of Oregon's top producers are in that neighborhood. This delicious vineyard-designated Pinot Noir opens with aromas of toasted wheat bread, … [Read more...] about Seven of Hearts 2011 Armstrong Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $35
Abacela 2009 Estate Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley, $35
Wine Press Northwest's 2013 Oregon Winery of the Year is led by owners Earl and Hilda Jones and winemaker Andrew Wenzl. The grapes for this Tempranillo - Abacela's signature red wine - come from their estate Fault Line Vineyards. This opens with aromas of blueberry, wild strawberry and malted milk balls. On the palate, flavors of plum, blackberry and dark chocolate are backed … [Read more...] about Abacela 2009 Estate Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley, $35