Sonoma County product Sandra Oldfield, a proud graduate of University of California-Davis, continues to prove that British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley ranks among the best wine growing regions on the West Coast. This latest blend of her family’s vineyards on the Black Sage Bench and the Golden Mile Bench is a remarkable melange of Chardonnay (29%), Sauvignon Blanc (27%), … [Read more...] about Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Oldfield Series 2Bench White, Okanagan Valley, $20
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Ghost Hill Cellars 2013 Bayliss-Bower Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $42
The Bayliss family established their vineyard near Carlton, Ore., in 1999, but the land near Abbey Road has been a part of its bloodlines for more than a century. Their largest production of Pinot Noir is this four-clone blend, and they stick with their traditional percentages of Pommard (45%), 777 (20%), 114 (20%) and Wädenswil for what amounts to about 25 percent of their … [Read more...] about Ghost Hill Cellars 2013 Bayliss-Bower Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $42
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Evergreen Vineyard Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $35
Perhaps the most precious gem in the Milbrandts’ collection of vineyards is Evergreen, a caliche-laden site in the young appellation that is the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley. While it forms the baseline of Marty Clubb’s large-scale Columbia Valley Chardonnay, Evergreen Vineyard gains spotlight on this Chardonnay. Its expressive nose of coriander, starfruit, Red Delicious … [Read more...] about L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Evergreen Vineyard Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $35
Youngberg Hill 2015 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $25
Wayne Bailey doesn’t grow Pinot Blanc on his stunning 50-acre estate southwest of McMinnville, Ore., but the growing interest among consumers for the delicate, food-friendly features of Pinot Blanc prompts him to bring in fruit from Yamhill Valley Vineyards four miles due south. In his winery, Bailey sent it through a two-month program of neutral oak to develop beautiful … [Read more...] about Youngberg Hill 2015 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $25
Vidon Vineyard 2013 Brigita Clone 777 Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
This bucolic 10-acre property in the heart of Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains produces much of Don Hagge’s fruit, which he farms in accordance with Salmon-Safe practices. He named this block of clone 777 Pinot Noir for granddaughter Brigita, and he showed prescience by pulling it off on Sept. 14 - well ahead of the drenching remnants of Typhoon Pabuk. The 18-month program of 35% … [Read more...] about Vidon Vineyard 2013 Brigita Clone 777 Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50