Oregon Orogeny

Eden, I've been holding my tongue. I hear Vincent wines are pretty good, but what do I know.

Seriously, many usual suspects have been named. I'm too close to some people to talk about them, and with others I'm friends but wouldn't say anything if I didn't like the wines. So...

Tyson Crowley of Crowley is doing terrific things with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. I tried his three of his '08s among others from the vintage and they were all really good. The Gherts is my favorite, and his '07 Gherts is really good.

Byron Dooley at Luminous Hills and Seven of Hearts is also doing some really good things. Luminous Hills is his estate vineyard high in the coast range outside of McMinnville, but curiously in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Seven of Hearts is his label for purchased fruit. Byron's '08s are very good across the board. His '09 Roussanne from Washington grapes won't make us forget Edmunds St. John, but it's still a really good example of the grape.

Of those mentioned above, I particularly like Evesham Wood and Westrey.
 
I have a friend who's into Le Cadeau and those wines are quite nice. Definitely worth checking out.
I also like Belle Pente, both reds and whites. And another vote for Stoller.
I like Domaine Serene but their prices have gone through the roof in the last few years, at least where I can buy them. They're riper. Jancis Robinson recently tasted a lot of non-French pinot noir and loved the 2007 Domaine Drouhin.
Sineann makes some nice whites.
If you can afford them, Beau Freres is nice, too.
Anticipating possible criticism for recommending wine made by Parker's brother in law, I say, "Bite me."
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
originally posted by Arjun Mendiratta:
I've been very impressed with everything coming out of the biodynamically-farmed Momtazi vineyard.
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That is Maysara, right? Or do others source grapes from there?
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Maysara owns the vineyard and makes a number of wines from it, but they also sell fruit to Scott Paul, St. Innocent, Kelley Fox, and a bunch of others that I can't recall at the moment. It's a very large vineyard.
 
Vincent, have you tried the Evesham Wood Gruner Veltliner yet?

I drank a bottle of 2001 Belle Pente Estate reserve that was fabulous last week, it is aging in a spectacular way.
 
I have a bottle of the '09 in my queue, but haven't tried it yet. The '08 was excellent, the '07 very good. I remember the first harvest off the vines in '05, which were blended into a broader white wine. The clusters going into the press smelled like white pepper. Very cool.
 
Evesham Wood, Cameron, Crowley, Brick House, St Innocent(especially Temperance Hill bottling), Belle Pente, and J Christopher all already mentioned. Most of these guys are part of Deep Roots Coaliton, and make balanced wines consistently.

I'd add Ayres up in Ribbon Ridge and J K Carriere in Chehalem Mt.

I've tasted Cameron Abbey Ridge 2007 and J Christopher Sandra Adele 2006 (also mainly Abbey Ridge fruit) recently and enjoyed both for their Burgundian qualities.
 
Pinot: JK Carriere, Evesham Wood (at least from the days of Russ Raney), Cameron, DDO - although, Louise tends to be more forward and showy and is not really my thing.

Matello Whistling Ridge (Alsatian blend), Crowley Chardonnay
 
How could I forget about Marcus's wines. The 2008 Matello Pinot Noirs are revelatory. They are built to age. He made a tiny amount of Syrah that I had a chance to have a sample. I'm sure there is none left to be had, but it was quite nice too.
 
originally posted by Marc D:
Vincent, have you tried the Evesham Wood Gruner Veltliner yet?
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I'm not Vincent, but I've had the Evesham GV. I thought it was nice but needed more time and it was difficult to judge just how good it was. WAY back in the day, they made a gewurtz that was very good. I've got a couple of bottles of their white blend, but have yet to try one.
 
originally posted by Bill Averett:
How could I forget about Marcus's wines. The 2008 Matello Pinot Noirs are revelatory. They are built to age. He made a tiny amount of Syrah that I had a chance to have a sample. I'm sure there is none left to be had, but it was quite nice too.
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Just finishing up an absolutely gorgeous 2007 Matello Souris. Marcus is the real deal.
 
Yes, Matello is some of my favorite local stuff. How could I forget. Really good chard too, aged over two winters in barrel and sub-$20. Don't pass it by because it's not expensive, seriously. I'm really excited but a little nervous to be pouring with Marcus and Tyson at Garrison's Fine Wines' third anniversary event a week from Friday. Locals should come on down.
 
So much to work with here. It seems like only a few get wide distribution, though; the big names, I guess.

Is there a good alternative to paying $4-5/bottle for ground shipping from Oregon?
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
So much to work with here. It seems like only a few get wide distribution, though; the big names, I guess.

Is there a good alternative to paying $4-5/bottle for ground shipping from Oregon?
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Drink local???

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

Is there a good alternative to paying $4-5/bottle for ground shipping from Oregon?
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Surrogates. We'll do the drinking and report back how everything is. You'll love it.

Seriously, buy some Matello and Crowley from a good local retailer and pay the ground shipping. It's payback for west coasters who shop at Chambers Street.
 
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