Best Buy! The namesake behind the 2015 Oregon Winery of the Year crafted two of the top examples of Pinot Gris in our tasting. For this one, Terry Brandborg had a short drive from his downtown Elkton winery to the two vineyards he pulled from on Sept. 15 — Anindor and Elk Valley. The nose of Meyer lemon, caramel corn and facial powder transitions to succulent flavors of … [Read more...] about Brandborg Vineyard and Winery 2021 Pinot Gris, Elkton Oregon $19
pinot gris
Chemistry Wine 2020 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $16.99
Best Buy! The Stoller Wine Group describes this young brand as a collaborative effort among the winemakers at Chehalem Winery and Stoller Family Estate, and there’s definitely synergy at play. Bill Stoller’s myriad plantings of Pinot Gris include Corral Creek and four clones at Chehalem Estate Vineyard, so there are options available to Melissa Burr, Kate Payne Brown and Katie … [Read more...] about Chemistry Wine 2020 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $16.99
Julia’s Dazzle 2021 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $18
Best Buy! During the past decade, winemaker Gilles Nicault has methodically nudged up the production while also gradually making it more snappy. For example, the 2013 vintage of Julia’s Dazzle carried nearly 9 grams of residual sugar. This latest release has no perceptible sweetness at a scant 3 grams (0.3%). As a result, it might be the best resemblance to those rosés from … [Read more...] about Julia’s Dazzle 2021 Rosé, Columbia Valley, $18
SMAK Wines 2020 Summer Rosé, Columbia Valley $18
Best Buy! Fiona Mak’s rosé house — inspired in part by her trips to the French Riviera — relies on Pinot Gris for her “Summer” program, so she submitted her two most recent vintages. Both merited gold. Here, its theme of starfruit and cantaloupe creates an appealing sense of fleshiness on the midpalate that’s whisked away with a racy burst of blood orange, lemon zest and … [Read more...] about SMAK Wines 2020 Summer Rosé, Columbia Valley $18
Sidereus Vineyard & Winery 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $25
The plantings of the late Jim Witte live on in this bottling from A Blooming Hill Vineyard fruit by longtime Willamette Valley winemaker Jason Bull. Ruth and Skip Tarr recently took over the 20-year-old site just south of Cornelius, Ore., and have relaunched the brand as Sidereus - Latin for stellar. Their site in the Chehalem Mountains made up most of this bottling. It’s a fun … [Read more...] about Sidereus Vineyard & Winery 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $25