CARLTON, Ore. — It’s a delicious cliché to approach the wines of Christopher James Barnes and Chris James Cellars as an extension of the quintessential line of 18th century British poet William Cowper — “Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour.” Consumers and judges continue to find the wines by Barnes worth remembering. He’s barely a decade into his … [Read more...] about 2022 Oregon Winery of the Year: Chris James Cellars
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King Estate Winery 2015 Weinbau Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley $50.00
While the 2021 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year is nationally known for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, Ed King’s team — led by Brent Stone — also does award-winning bottlings of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and this Merlot. Here is the only expression from the 2015 vintage to go gold in this tasting, but its sourcing from Sagemoor farms at Weinbau Vineyard on Washington’s … [Read more...] about King Estate Winery 2015 Weinbau Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley $50.00
Spangler Vineyards 2016 Merlot, Oregon $29.00
Not long after it was released, Patrick Spangler earned a Platinum for his work with this 2016 Merlot. Now, the 2018 Oregon Winery of the Year has qualified it for another round at Platinum Awards by earning a gold medal this winter. There’s remarkable brightness to the dark red fruit, which plays well with the charming profile provided by the barrel influences of baking spice … [Read more...] about Spangler Vineyards 2016 Merlot, Oregon $29.00
Abacela Winery 2018 Estate Merlot, Umpqua Valley $26.00
While the Jones family’s storied site continues to earn international acclaim for its work with Iberian Peninsula varieties, Fault Line Vineyards and seasoned winemaker Andrew Wenzl add more proof that Southern Oregon deserves to be in the discussion of approachable Merlot. And while the historic establishment of Tempranillo continues to attract much of the attention, these 3.6 … [Read more...] about Abacela Winery 2018 Estate Merlot, Umpqua Valley $26.00
Neher Family Wines 2019 Principal Red, Columbia Valley $32.00
Two of the Walla Walla Valley’s most respected winemakers — Roger Cockerline of Bunchgrass fame and Walla Walla Vintners co-founder Gordy Venneri — work in tandem on this ultra-boutique label for the Neher family. Labeled as a tribute to the late Richard Neher, a longtime high school principal, the proprietary name would indicate that this is a red blend. However, in this … [Read more...] about Neher Family Wines 2019 Principal Red, Columbia Valley $32.00