ROAD TRIP... DREAMING OF OREGON PINOT NOIR
Road trip? It always sounds like fun, until reality hits you like a ton of bricks. Did someone say whining? My kids have taken whining to a new art form. Our latest road trip, and by road trip I mean driving from the airport to our destination, includes crying, “don’t touch me”, “she touched my car seat”, “I’m hungry”, “I’m thirsty”, “She’s looking at me”, and, my favorite, “when are we going to get there”, asked over and over and over and over again. It was a blast.
Wine doesn’t require a road trip. You can just stroll through the wine aisle, and you can pick it up anywhere. No whining, just WINE. Next time, maybe I buy wine, I’ll just educate my kids on the origin and feel like I’ve traveled without all the whining.
I may as well start with Oregon (of the USA), which has been making a big splash the past few years on the wine scene. Recently, I’ve found myself buying more and more of this region’s offerings, so I thought I would give a brief overview.
Oregon Pinots tend to be more rustic and earthy than their California counterparts. Although there are a few examples of fruit forward wines in Oregon, especially in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA where it stays hotter in the afternoons, in general you find more rustic examples of PN. Given the cooler climate, the three major grapes grown in Oregon wine country are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. I would compare the region to Burgundy, given similar climate and grapes selection, but this really is a different wine, due to soil structure, types of grape vine clones they typically use and climate (not to get all geeky). But if you want something similar to Burgundy in terms of taste, this region would be my pick. The biggest heartache for me with PN is that the wine tends to be expensive; given the fussiness of this grape, it is expensive to produce. I recently tasted some amazing wines at the recent IPNC conference www.ipnc.org and also check my latest blog on my recap after visiting Oregon.
Oregon’s Willamette Valley is considered an AVA (American Viticultural Area) with six subregions, which specifies a geographical location in California and Oregon, meaning 85% of the grapes must be grown from that location. Willamette Valley’s six subregions are:
Chehalem Mountains
Ribbon Ridge
Dundee Hills
Yamhill-Carlton
McMinnville
Eola-Amity Hills
The Willamette AVA stretches from Portland to Eugene, because Pinot Noir is a tricky grape to grow and requires a cooler climate. It is very fussy with growing conditions, kinda like a princess, I have one of those. Delicate but gorgeous! Which is why I appreciate the Pinot Noir grape. The amazing thing about Pinot Noir is that it can have so many different expressions: cranberries, currents, cherry, rustic earth, vanilla, cola… You name it. This grape can give you so much. The wine maker can take this wine anywhere he/she wants. Before I recap some of my favorites, I just want to highlight the vintage overview, because that matters. Warm: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2103. Cooler: 2010 and 2011 (meaning these wines will be lighter bodied with higher acidity). 2012 produced some outstanding wines, pick them up while you have a chance. The 2013 vintage had a lot of rain during harvest, which can affect certain wines depending on when the grapes were harvested.
I would say my top three (and I couldn’t taste everything) would be Domaine Serene, Domaine Drouhin, and Lumos.
My Favorites: Adelsham Vineyards, Argyle Winery, Beaux Freres, Bethel Heights Vineyard, Crowley Wines, Evesham Wood, The Eyrie Vineyards, Kelly Fox Wines, Penner-ash, Ponzi Vineyards, Bergstrom, Wildaire, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Cristom, Purple Hands, and R. Stuart
DOMAINE SERENE. I met Erik Kramer the winemaker for Serene and besides making a quality wine with ripe red fruit on the palate with more earth than fruit, he is a remarkable guy. He has a passion for wine making, and obviously has a talent, it will be a wine I will buy for years to come. I tasted the Evenstad Reserve 2012 $80 http://www.domaineserene.com
DOMAINE DROUHIN I had the 2012 Edition Limited $85, the family is from Burgundy with the vineyard established in 1987. This wine is excellent quality, a pleasant surprise and I look forward to trying more from this vineyard. Had a nice blueberry, spice, cassis while being smooth with a long finish. I went back for seconds! http://www.domainedrouhin.com/en/our-wines
LUMOS was a fuller wine than the other two with an excellent price point. I highlight this wine due to quality and price point. On the palate it had dark berries, rose and spice. If you like a more fruit forward and fuller bodied PN, this wine is for you. I had the 2012 Temperance Hill $38.00 http://www.lumoswine.com
BEST WINES UNDER $45
BETHEL HEIGHTS VINEYARD $42 2012 Eolian Loved this wine and the passion behind this winery is evident. Black berry, plum, black pepper, was a little tight but will age well. Also, try the Chardonnay, its delicious! https://www.bethelheights.com
EVESHAM WOOD $39 2012 Le Puits Sec, This vineyard has an Organic certification. This wine was a lovely expression of a Pinot Noir. http://www.eveshamwood.com
The EYRIE VINEYARDS $38 David Lett planted this vineyard in 1965 in the Dundee Hills. I like pretty much everything I have tasted from this vineyard. http://www.eyrievineyards.com
WILDAIRE $35 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir http://wildairecellars.com
R. STUART $19 this winery makes an everyday Pinot Noir, which makes my heart happy. You can get anything from here $19 fro Big Fire to more sophisticated PN. This winery also makes a kick-ass Bubbly.. an everyday Sparkling Wine. http://www.rstuartandco.com
BEST ABOVE $45
ADELSHEM VINEYARDS $60 2012 Elizabeth Reserve
ARGYLE WINERY $50 2013 Nuthouse
BEAUX FRERES $90 2013 The Beaux Freres
CROWLEY WINES $60 2012 La Colina
KELLY FOX WINES $60 2012 Maresh Vineyards
PENNER-ASH $65 2013 Estate Vineyard **Loved meeting wine maker Lynn, not only is she fun, but she makes an excellent wine!
PONZI VINEYARDS $60 2012 Reserve
BERGSTROM ** this wine has examples of both fruit forward PN to more rustic styles. Worth a visit or picking up. Price ranges from $50 and up.
CRISTOM $65 2012 Majorie Vineyards
Let me know what you like!