Monday, October 17, 2005

Oregon Wines

Beaux Freres

Following the classical Burgudian winegrowing practices, Beaux Freres strives to produce high quality wines from Pinot Noir grapes. Located on an 86 acre farm at the top of Ribbon Ridge in the Chehalem Mountains of Yamhill County's Willamette Valley, Oregon, the vineyards cover approximately 30 acres. Owner/winemaker/vineyard manager, Michael Etzel, is committed to his intense vineyard management practices as he sees this as the most important aspect of producing a quality wine.

Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, vintage 1995 is consistently surprising. Excellently balanced with beautifully integrated acidity and tannin. Garnet in color with a sweet nose giving aromas of plums, cherries, currants and spice. A lighter styled Pinot Noir. Vintage 1998 produced a super concentrated, deep purple wine with full body. Hints of toasty oak in the background with aromas of spice, vanilla and earth make this wine flavorful, textured and intense. Vintage 2000 offers another excellent choice with medium to full body, good acidity and ripe tannins

Argyle Winery

Located in Dundee, Oregon, Knudsen Vineyards is the primary vineyard of Argyle Winery, although it is not the only vineyard producing grapes for these wines. Primary production is on the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling.

Argyle Nuthouse Pinot Noir carries a concentrated fruit flavor supported by firm fruit tannins. All Argyle Pinot Noirs are bottled and unfiltered. Integrated oak nuances and a long, structured finish make this a graceful wine. The 2002 Vintage is bright and remarkable for its pure blueberry, plum and white pepper flavors. Other good vintages include 1999 and 2000.

Owen Roe Winery

Owen Roe is owned and operated by Irishman, David O'Reilly who believes everything must be meticulous to achieve the best possible results. As a result, his wines have become sought after. Everything O'Reilly does is also thoroughly Irish. This heritage is an important part of his work and legacy.

Owen Roe Abbot's Table, Vintage 2004, is considered a wine for all occasions. Lush with a big core of fruit and dark opulent flavors. Complex with multiple layers, Abbot's Table is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and very nontraditionally - Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Syrah. An unusual blend creates a fascinating wine. Try Vintages from 2000 and 2002 as well.

St. Innocent Winery

Mark Vlossak began training as a winemaker when he was young. Mark's father was a wine importer, and so he came upon this profession as a natural outgrowth of childhood. St. Innocent produces small lots of handmade wines. The philosophy behind the wine making is that the function of a wine is to complement and extend the pleasure of a meal.

St. Innocent's Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Vintage 1999 is a medium to dark ruby wine. Bursting with cherry and blackberry, this is a medium to full bodied wine with a long finish and solid backbone. The 2000 Pinot Noir is sultry and packed with fruit and intensity. Medium bodied with a long elegant finish. Vintage 2001 is also remarkable.