Saturday Tasting
"On the Oregon Trail!"
March 29, 12-5pm
The 150-mile long Willamette Valley, extending south of Portland, is known for its fertile soil and moderate climate. The terminus of the famed Oregon Trail, the early settlers, mid nineteenth century, developed dairy farming in the region. The 1960s saw an influx of California winemakers in search of affordable vineyard land and the freedom to go beyond what was becoming the formula for success in Napa. While Napa had looked for inspiration from the Bordeaux region of France, the cooler climate in Willamette demanded other inspirations. Not surprisingly then, the four Oregon wines Patrick has selected for this Saturday represent the great wine-making traditions of Alsace, the Northern Rhone, Loire River Valley, and, of course, Burgundy.
What: 2023 Montinori Pinot Gris: $21
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grapes: Pinot Gris
Planted in 1982, Montinore Estate is a 200-acre Demeter certified niodynamic® and CCOF Certified Organic estate that lies at the northern end of the Willamette Valley appellation along the east-facing slope of the Coastal Range foothills in Oregon. Montinori Vineyard has been inspired to produce Alsatian-styled dry whites, Montinore aimed to make a medium to full-bodied Pinot Gris with this harvest (a grape which is actually a mutation of Pinot Noir). The wine shows golden skin contact coloration and a nose full of dried pear, apricot and fresh flowers. On the palate there is a lovely long finish and a beautiful backdrop of juicy, balancing acidity. Enjoy with slightly spicy Thai basil duck stir-fry w/ jasmine rice or Farfalle w/ broccoli, peas, parsley, tarragon, chives, & garlic butter sauce.
What: 2023 Ilahe Viognier: $27
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grapes: Viognier
Some people are referring to this wine as ‘spring in a bottle’ (watch out Rosé!), and one of the best picnic wines around. Ilahe is an 80-acre, south-facing vineyard of shallow clay soils. Ilahe practices sustainable viticulture. They are based on a dry agriculture model, in which the mature vines are not irrigated, which ensures deeper root systems and higher quality fruit. Eco-friendly, horses are used for vineyard work rather than machine-driven devices. With aromas of white peach, nectarine, dragon fruit, pineapple, jasmine, and sweet pea, this Viognier jumps out of the glass. The palate is clean with vibrant acidity, and it has a refreshing finish. Pair with sunshine and picnics and spicy food.
What: 2023 Beton “Division” Villages: $28
Where: Oregon, USA
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cot, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, Syrah 46/37/14/2/1
Division Winemaking Company is a Portland, Oregon based winery founded in 2010 by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe. They source quality fruit mainly from Oregon but also from Washington. Kate and Thomas learned wine-making in France and fell in love with the wines served in the Paris bistros. One of those quaffable and food friendly wines were the red blends from the Loire Valley’s Touraine-Amboise region. Their “Beton Divisions” is inspired by those wines, and draws on the same varietals and in similar proportions albeit with Oregon/Washington fruit rather than Loire fruit. Their goal was to make a balanced and approachable wine, great for casual dining, of moderate alcohol level. Finger-in-light-socket acidity runs the show, with crisp aromas and flavors of blackberries, cherries, icy mountain streams, beef cheeks and hay-scented ferns.
What: 2023 Vincent Pinot Noir: $32
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Vincent Wine Company in Willamette Valley is located in the Eola-Amity Hils. Owner/winemaker Vincent Fritzsche launched the winery in 2009 after years of apprenticing in wineries in Oregon and California. They focus on low-input wine making, also referred to as natural wine making, working with several sustainably-farmed vineyards around the Willamette Valley to produce small amounts of handmade wine without a lot of fuss. Vincent Fritzsche is proud to note that the 4th century Saint Vincent of Saragossa, Spain, is the patron saint of vintners. St. Vincent was adopted centuries ago by the Burgundians, makers of the Pinot noir and Chardonnay, the grapes of Oregon. On the nose, aromas of fresh red fruits and spring flowers. On the palate, lively and silky smooth.
What: 2023 Montinori Pinot Gris: $21
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grapes: Pinot Gris
Planted in 1982, Montinore Estate is a 200-acre Demeter certified niodynamic® and CCOF Certified Organic estate that lies at the northern end of the Willamette Valley appellation along the east-facing slope of the Coastal Range foothills in Oregon. Montinori Vineyard has been inspired to produce Alsatian-styled dry whites, Montinore aimed to make a medium to full-bodied Pinot Gris with this harvest (a grape which is actually a mutation of Pinot Noir). The wine shows golden skin contact coloration and a nose full of dried pear, apricot and fresh flowers. On the palate there is a lovely long finish and a beautiful backdrop of juicy, balancing acidity. Enjoy with slightly spicy Thai basil duck stir-fry w/ jasmine rice or Farfalle w/ broccoli, peas, parsley, tarragon, chives, & garlic butter sauce.
What: 2023 Ilahe Viognier: $27
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grapes: Viognier
Some people are referring to this wine as ‘spring in a bottle’ (watch out Rosé!), and one of the best picnic wines around. Ilahe is an 80-acre, south-facing vineyard of shallow clay soils. Ilahe practices sustainable viticulture. They are based on a dry agriculture model, in which the mature vines are not irrigated, which ensures deeper root systems and higher quality fruit. Eco-friendly, horses are used for vineyard work rather than machine-driven devices. With aromas of white peach, nectarine, dragon fruit, pineapple, jasmine, and sweet pea, this Viognier jumps out of the glass. The palate is clean with vibrant acidity, and it has a refreshing finish. Pair with sunshine and picnics and spicy food.
What: 2023 Beton “Division” Villages: $28
Where: Oregon, USA
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cot, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, Syrah 46/37/14/2/1
Division Winemaking Company is a Portland, Oregon based winery founded in 2010 by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe. They source quality fruit mainly from Oregon but also from Washington. Kate and Thomas learned wine-making in France and fell in love with the wines served in the Paris bistros. One of those quaffable and food friendly wines were the red blends from the Loire Valley’s Touraine-Amboise region. Their “Beton Divisions” is inspired by those wines, and draws on the same varietals and in similar proportions albeit with Oregon/Washington fruit rather than Loire fruit. Their goal was to make a balanced and approachable wine, great for casual dining, of moderate alcohol level. Finger-in-light-socket acidity runs the show, with crisp aromas and flavors of blackberries, cherries, icy mountain streams, beef cheeks and hay-scented ferns.
What: 2023 Vincent Pinot Noir: $32
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Vincent Wine Company in Willamette Valley is located in the Eola-Amity Hils. Owner/winemaker Vincent Fritzsche launched the winery in 2009 after years of apprenticing in wineries in Oregon and California. They focus on low-input wine making, also referred to as natural wine making, working with several sustainably-farmed vineyards around the Willamette Valley to produce small amounts of handmade wine without a lot of fuss. Vincent Fritzsche is proud to note that the 4th century Saint Vincent of Saragossa, Spain, is the patron saint of vintners. St. Vincent was adopted centuries ago by the Burgundians, makers of the Pinot noir and Chardonnay, the grapes of Oregon. On the nose, aromas of fresh red fruits and spring flowers. On the palate, lively and silky smooth.