With the 2005 vintage, Southern Oregon vintner Stephen Reustle became the first U.S. winery to grow and bottle this Austria white grape, and he pays tribute to the green lizard - the smaragd which inhabit that country's Wachau Valley. In the Austrian wine industry, smaragd also denotes that the highest ripeness level of Grüner Veltliner grapes, and the resulting wine must … [Read more...] about Reustle – Prayer Rock Vineyards 2017 Estate Green Lizard Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley, $32
Outstanding
Valcan Cellars 2015 Mélange de Vin, Rogue Valley, $24
Juan Pablo Valot, a native of Argentina, uses a French phrase for "wine blend" on his entry-level proprietary red to provide flexibility. And when he launched Valcan Cellars, he did so with a mélange de vin from the 2011 vintage. That time, it led with Cabernet Sauvignon and backed by Syrah. This time, it's all Rhône thanks to Petite Sirah (63%) and Syrah (37%) from Belmont … [Read more...] about Valcan Cellars 2015 Mélange de Vin, Rogue Valley, $24
Wine By Joe 2019 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $14
Best Buy! Oregon native Joe Dobbes has loved this unappreciated white grape native to the Burgundy region of France for two decades, and his work under his nicely priced Wine By Joe brand has been getting attention from some of the wine world’s biggest pundits going back to 2006. For years, Dobbes pulled from Seabreeze Estate Vineyard in the Van Duzer Corridor for Pinot Blanc. … [Read more...] about Wine By Joe 2019 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $14
Seven Hills Winery 2018 McClellan Estate Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $40
The McClellan family pioneered Merlot in the Walla Walla Valley, planting 4 acres of it in 1982, and founding winemaker Casey McClellan was also the first in the valley to produce Malbec, more than 15 years ago. He established it in McClellan Estate Vineyard in 2008, and his oak program tucks baking spice aromas behind sweet blue fruit. It's deliciously bright and spicy with … [Read more...] about Seven Hills Winery 2018 McClellan Estate Vineyard Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $40
Dussek 2017 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $30
Last fall at the Great Northwest Invitational, Woodhouse Wine Estates in Woodinville and winemaker Jean-Claude Beck earned a double gold medal - a unanimous vote for gold by a judging panel — for Malbec produced under its Dussek tier. The nose is full of blackberries, black cherry, parsley, river rocks and chocolate covered espresso beans from its 16 months in 100% neutral … [Read more...] about Dussek 2017 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $30