Beaverton, Ore., winemaker Alex Fullerton devotes this bottling to Croft Vineyard, a 30-year-old organic planting near Monmouth. His program of 40 percent whole-cluster fermentation and 25% new French oak presents light toast aromas with black cherry, strawberry fruit leather, caramel and rose hips. Its lithe style brings delicate red fruit flavors, boysenberry acidity, … [Read more...] about Fullerton Wines 2014 Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $45
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Martinez and Martinez 2015 Tudor Hills Vineyard Pinot Grigio, Yakima Valley, $17
The Martinez family launched their winery in 2005 using estate fruit from the Horse Heaven Hills, but here Andrew Martinez furthers his work with Tudor family grapes. (Andrew’s GM/wife is Monica Tudor-Martinez.) Festive and fruity aromas of peach, pear and pineapple include hints of tutti frutti, cotton candy and jasmine. On the palate, it’s filled with flavors of Ambrosia … [Read more...] about Martinez and Martinez 2015 Tudor Hills Vineyard Pinot Grigio, Yakima Valley, $17
Laissez Faire 2015 White Table Wine, Snake River Valley, $16
Melanie Krause and her husband, Joe Schnerr, of Cinder Wines near Boise developed the Laissez Faire brand as one that would appeal casually to winemakers and serve as an everyday “house wine.” They arrived at a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc — harvest from five of their core vineyards — that goes from vineyard to tank to bottle all within about four months. Fun … [Read more...] about Laissez Faire 2015 White Table Wine, Snake River Valley, $16
Yamhill Valley Vineyards 2012 Tall Poppy Single Block Designate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $75
Yamhill Valley Vineyards is home to the second-oldest vineyard in the McMinnville appellation, and this block is home to its oldest planting of Pinot Noir. That makes these Pommard vines nearly 30 years old. And yet this harvest from Oct. 14 marks Stephen Cary’s eighth single-block wine produced at Yamhill Valley Vineyards. It’s a showy Pinot Noir with alluring aromatics of … [Read more...] about Yamhill Valley Vineyards 2012 Tall Poppy Single Block Designate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $75
Panther Creek Cellars 2014 Schindler Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $50
Tony Rynders put Domaine Serene on the international map during the 2000s, and he’s quickly re-established Panther Creek Cellars as one of the Willamette Valley’s most delicious brands. A longtime friend of Ken Wright, who created Panther Creek in the 1980s, the University of California-Davis grad works with 18-acre Schindler Vineyard for this fruit-focused and lively Pinot … [Read more...] about Panther Creek Cellars 2014 Schindler Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $50