The Hedonistic Taster
Oregon Wines for COVID-19
by L.M. Archer
Wine should not be regarded simply as a beverage, but as an art of living, a pleasure.” – Henri Jayer
The Hedonistic Taster provides an intimate format to share industry trade samples with you.
How are you grappling with the stranglehold of this COVID19 pandemic?
Here’s my antidote to sheltering in place:
A tipple through my happy place: Oregon wines.
Stay safe.
Disclaimer: No compensation is received; all opinions expressed are that of the author.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Chenin Blanc – Ribbon Ridge AVA, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 13.2%
Suggested Retail: $ 30 / 175 cases.
Robe: Pale lemon robe.
Nose: Delicate white flowers and stone fruit aromas.
Palate: Lithe lushness from start to finish.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem INOX Chardonnay – Willamette Valley AVA, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.9%
Producer Specs: Sourced from 2 estate vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel; aged 5 months in tank.
Suggested Retail: $ 20
Robe: Pale straw hue.
Nose: Yarrow, yellow flowers, fleurs blanches on the nose.
Palate: Wow. Frontal attack of citrus, bosc pear, followed by golden apple and gooseberry mid-palate, and a satisfying dusty, mineral finish. A light-bodied, vivacious, lively pour.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Reserve Chardonnay – Dundee Hills AVA – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 12.9%
Suggested Retail: $ 40 / 250 cases
Robe: Pale lemon robe.
Nose: Golden apple, yellow rose, vanilla aromas.
Palate: Golden apple, ripe pear, quince notes. Trips lightly on the tongue, solid, sublime structure. Reminds me of a Côte Chalonnaise blanc.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Mountains Pinot Gris – Chehalem Mountains AVA, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 14.4%
Suggested Retail: $ 20
Robe: Pale straw robe.
Nose: Pear, acacia notes.
Palate: Pear notes carry through on the palate. Light body, harmonious acids, finish.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Mountains Rosé of Pinot Noir – Chehalem Mountains AVA, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 13%
Suggested Retail: $ 25
Robe: Appealing pale rose petal pink hue.
Nose: Pamplemousse, marsh rose, hint of strawberry on the nose.
Palate: Fresh, light-bodied, soft finish.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir – Chehalem Mountains AVA, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.5%
Producer Specs : Aged 11 months in barrel.
Suggested Retail: $ 30
Robe: Clear ruby robe.
Nose: Blue fruit, red cherry, raspberry aromas.
Palate: Surprisingly light bodied, well-structured spice and red fruit-marled sipper.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Reserve Pinot Noir – Ribbon Ridge AVA, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.7%
Suggested Retail: $ 70 / 500 cases
Robe: Dark ruby robe.
Nose: Floral, red fruit, plum aromas.
Palate: Red cherry, currant bouche; light body, muted acids, tannins, finish.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Chehalem Limited Edition Ribbon Ridge Trousseau Noir – Ribbon Ridge AVA – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 13.9%
Suggested Retail: $ 35 / Only 75 cases produced.
Robe: Clarion ruby robe.
Nose: Black pepper, dried herbs, dusky red fruit notes.
Palate: Feathery body, supple tannins, whispery finish. Deft rendering of an obscure grape that begs more recognition.
More about Chehalem Wines here.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Stoller Family Estate Single Acre Aligoté – Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.5%
Suggested Retail: $ 30 / 254 cases
Robe: Pale lemon hues.
Nose: Citrus, pear, apple blossom aromas.
Palate: Lovely, light, zesty pour. Bouzeron-inspired structure, new-world freshness.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Stoller Family Estate Dundee Hills Chardonnay – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.5%
Producer Specs: Whole cluster, unoaked.
Suggested Retail: $ 25
Robe: Pale lemon hue.
Nose: Pear, vanilla, tight-grained oak aromas.
Palate: White flowers, citrus, golden apple bouche; light-medium body; well-balanced.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Stoller Family Estate Reserve Chardonnay – Dundee Hills – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.2%
Suggested Retail: $ 40
Robe: Pale straw robe.
Nose: Oak, pear aromas.
Palate: White stone fruit, lemon curd notes; muted acids, finish.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Stoller Family Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Rosé
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.5%
Suggested Retail: $ 28
Robe: Tantalizing watermelon hue.
Nose: Watermelon, strawberry, white cherry aromas.
Palate: Whoa. Whole cluster fermentation in stainless steel! Interesting aromas carried through to textured flavors on the palate. Animated acids electrify palate and soul from start to finish.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Stoller Family Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.5%
Suggested Retail: $ 35
Robe: Deep ruby robe.
Nose: Rose, cherry cola aromas.
Palate: The cherry cola carries through on the palate, almost reminiscent of a Russian River pinot noir, but an earthy note that screams Willamette Valley. Light body, solid structure.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Stoller Family Estate Reserve Pinot Noir – Dundee Hills – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 14.1%
Suggested Retail: $ 50
Robe: Deep ruby robe.
Nose: Red berry, red cherry, red stone fruit aromas.
Palate: Oregon iteration of Pommard that pays homage to both its local roots, and Burgundian heritage. Dark red fruit palate underpinned by discrete acids well-integrated tannins that gather to a lush finish.
More about Stoller Family Estate here.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Troon Vineyard Grenache – Kubli Bench, Applegate Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.6 %
Suggested Retail: $ 35
Robe: Pellucid ruby robe.
Nose: Black pepper, red fruit aromas.
Palate: A complex mélange of cranberry, currant, pomegranate, red cherry, raspberry, sous bois. Light body; elegant, ethereal, lithe, graceful pour.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Troon Vineyard Côtes du Kubli , Applegate Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.9 %
Suggested Retail: $ 45
Robe: Deep blue-black tinged garnet robe.
Nose: Dark blue and red fruit, black olive aromas.
Palate: Pomegranate, red currant, raspberry, cherry, savory notes. Well-balanced, well-structured, sumptuous; light-bodied. Opens like a flower over the course of a meal. Excellent paired with lamb shank or swordfish with black olives and capers.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Troon Vineyard Cuvée Pyrénées – Kubli Bench, Applegate Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.7 %
Suggested Retail: $ 65
Robe: Dark garnet hue.
Nose: Black pepper, umami, wood smoke, pomegranate and bramble nose.
Palate: Leather, sous bois, coffee notes. Light/medium body, slightly ‘stemmy’ tannins, solid structure.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Troon Vineyard Tannat – Kubli Bench, Applegate Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 14.1 %
Suggested Retail: $ 40
Robe: Deep purple hue.
Nose: Leather, dark plum violets, fleshy red apple nose.
Palate: Light body, bright acids, soft tannins, supple finish.
More about Troon Vineyard here.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Flâneur La Belle Promenade Chardonnay – Chehalem Mountains – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 12.9%
Suggested Retail: $ 55 / 377 cases
Robe: Dusky gold robe.
Nose: Fleurs blanches, lemon, vanilla aromas.
Palate: Light-to-medium body, solid structure. Côte Chalonnaise-style mouthfeel, weight, structure.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Flâneur La Belle Promenade Pinot Noir – Chehalem Mountains – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 14.3%
Suggested Retail: $ 50 / 487 cases
Robe: Dark black-ruby robe.
Nose: Blue, black fruits, stems, earthy aromatic aromas.
Palate: Brambleberry, blackberry, blueberry notes; light body, smooth finish. Pleasant, food friendly, Côte de Beaune-style wine.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Flâneur Flanerie Vineyard – Ribbon Ridge – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 14.3%
Suggested Retail: $ 50 / 470 cases.
Robe: Dark ruby robe.
Nose: Red currant, pomegranate, blueberry aromas.
Palate: Ripe red and blue fruit bouche. Light bodied, well-balanced.
More about Flâneur Wines here.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir – Dundee Hills – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.8%
Suggested Retail: $ 55 / 375 cases
Robe: Clear ruby robe.
Nose: Red currant, red fruit aromas.
Palate: Red fruit, cranberry bouche; light body, well-balanced.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve – Dundee Hills – Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 13.8%
Suggested Retail: $ 70 / 200 cases
Robe: Clear ruby robe.
Nose: Spice, bright red fruit aromas.
Palate: Cherry, cranberry, pomegranate bouche. Light bodied, well-structured.
More about Knudsen Vineyards here.
More The Hedonistic Taster here.
Copyrighted 2020 L.M. Archer | All Rights Reserved.