Best Buy! The Tualitin, Ore., winemaking team of Ryan Harms and Greg Bauer produces wines at three tiers, and Kings Ridge stands in the middle. Their latest Pinot Gris releases hugely tropical aromas with notes of lychee and lemon lime, while the drink comes across as bone dry with Bosc pear, yellow grapefruit, lemon and melon. Rating: Recommended Production: 4,200 … [Read more...] about Union Wine Co. Kings Ridge 2012 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $15
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Duck Pond Cellars 2011 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $12
Best Buy! The Fries family is one of the largest producers of value wines in the Pacific Northwest, and its Pinot Gris ranks as one of the region's most consistent and available. They concentrate on estate sites in the Salem Hills cropped to 2 tons per acre, resulting in a crisp wine that brings aromas of citrus, melon and dusty herbs. Its lemony profile makes for a bright … [Read more...] about Duck Pond Cellars 2011 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $12
Browne Family Vineyards 2010 Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $25
Precept Wine CEO Andrew Browne puts his family name on this tier as a tribute both to his sons and his grandfather, and Walla Walla winemaker John Freeman made his boss proud. Part of its success stems from a pedigree that includes Seven Hills Vineyard as part of the blend of Merlot (51%), Cabernet Sauvignon (39%) and Syrah. The nose explodes with allspice, nutmeg and dark … [Read more...] about Browne Family Vineyards 2010 Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $25
Abacela 2009 Estate Syrah, Southern Oregon, $30
Wine Press Northwest's reigning Oregon Winery of the Year proves its versatility once again with this Côte Rotie-style Syrah, and while Andrew Wenzl celebrates his 10th anniversary at Abacela this year, the 2009 vintage marked just his second harvest as Earl & Hilda Jones' head winemaker. He created for them a plummy and smoky nose that includes touches of Aussie black … [Read more...] about Abacela 2009 Estate Syrah, Southern Oregon, $30
Oak Knoll Winery 2010 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $15
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