A number of the Italian red grapes that thrive in hot and arid conditions have earned a spot in the portfolio of wineries along the Columbia Gorge, and Zinfandel is a focus of the Bell family, whose team at Cathedral Ridge devotes about 800 cases of craftsmanship to the variety. Moody Vineyard near The Dalles has been a key. So has Sonoma-based winemaker Michael Sebastiani, a … [Read more...] about Cathedral Ridge Winery 2019 Reserve Zinfandel, Columbia Valley $59
oregon wine
Montinore Estate 2019 First Sight Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
One of the Willamette Valley’s early adopters of Biodynamic farming has entered its fifth decade of winemaking near Forest Grove, Ore., this is Montinore Estate’s third vintage of First Sight Pinot Noir, sourced from picturesque Tidalstar Vineyard, a Tualatin Hills site in the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area. Their effort here from the 2019 vintage presents Pinot … [Read more...] about Montinore Estate 2019 First Sight Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $60
Los Rocosos Vineyards 2020 Arenas Suaves Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley $48
Inspired by the movie Bottle Shock, Roger Lemstrom’s midlife introduction to wine has led him to a 7-acre vineyard in “The Rocks” — so he used the Spanish translation for his project in Milton-Freewater, Ore., which has him selling most of his grapes to boutique wineries in the Walla Walla Valley. This non-traditional blend of Garnacha (in that spirit we’ll use the Spanish word … [Read more...] about Los Rocosos Vineyards 2020 Arenas Suaves Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley $48
Coventina Vineyards 2016 Tempranillo, Rogue Valley $35
This Southern Oregon boutique vineyard and winery remains a passion project of Chris Amen, whose late father, Lou, led the Certified Grocers of California. She wisely placed her wine production in the hands of renowned grower/winemaker Herb Quady and his Barrel 42 team in Medford, and that relationship has now led to a trio of Platinums. Two of those have been for Tempranillo … [Read more...] about Coventina Vineyards 2016 Tempranillo, Rogue Valley $35
Spangler Vineyards 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon $49
This self-taught Roseburg, Ore., grower/ winemaker prides himself on his Bordeaux program, and of his 26 career Platinums, 18 of those have been for work with those varieties. Here is the fifth for Cabernet Sauvignon, a list that began in 2007 from the 2004 vintage. Dark plum, Craisin, cherry pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and peppercorns lead to a full-bodied Cab with soft … [Read more...] about Spangler Vineyards 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon $49