These were some of the highlights from this week’s Washington State and Oregon tasting. Some really lovely wines from the Pacific Northwest.

Gramercy Cellars Forgotten Hills Syrah 2014 Walla Walla, Washington State, USA
From the coolest vineyard in Walla Walla this is a deliciously nuanced Syrah made from grapes harvested in October. It’s fresh, livey and peppery with supple black cherry fruit and some black pepper with a subtle, integrated hint of green. A lovely, vital wine. 94/100

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 Oregon, USA
A fifth of this vineyard is on deep sedimentary soils, and this accounts for some of the palate weight. Expressive and quite structured at the same time with rich, spicy raspberry and cherry friuit. Appealing sweet fruit here and some finesse. 93/100

Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée 2013 Red Mountain, Washington State, USA
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed biodynamically. Supple and textured with very fine blackcurrant and black cherry fruit. Good structure here. Very expressive and balanced with lovely supple black fruits. 94/100

Bergström Sigrid Chardonnay 2014 Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
This is lovely: detailed, elegant and mineral with real finesse to the complex, mineral citrus fruits. Nice intensity here on the palate. 95/100

Beckham Estate Amphora Pinot Gris 2015 Oregon, USA
This is remarkable. 40 days on skins results in a full pink/red colour. Powerful, appley and lemony with nice texture and a stony, mineral quality under the fruit. Broad but with fresh acidity. So many details here: tea leaves, spice and herbs. So complex. 94/100

Bow & Arrow Air Guitar Red 2015 Oregon, USA
This is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc, and it’s fabulous. Vivid and pure with bright raspberry and blackcurrant fruit. Purity, structure and concentration with a rasping raspberry finish. Beautiful. 94/100

Minimus Muller Thurgau Pet Nat Vitae Springs 2015 Oregon, USA
Now for something a little different: a methode ancestrale from Muller Thurgau. It’s highly aromatic with sweet, textured, slightly creamy grape and pear fruit. Smooth, pretty and a but grippy. 92/100

Kelley Fox Wines Montmazi Pinot Noir 2014 Oregon, USA
Fresh and fine with juicy cherry and raspberry fruit. Good structure. This is primary and very detailed with nice freshness and purity of fruity. It’s a little fuller than Kelley’s other wines, but still very much on the low extraction, elegant end of the spectrum. 95/100

Ovum Wines Whale Memorista Riesling 2015 Rogue Valley, Oregon, USA
From the south of the state, at altitude, from alluvial clay soils. This is fermented for 6 months in concrete eggs. Very lively with lovely citrus (marmalade and tangerine) notes. Shows great concentration with a lingering, lemony finish. Such lovely texture and intensity here. 94/100

Two Vintners Syrah 2014 Washington State, USA
This is a strikingly aromatic wine with an open, sweet, meaty olive-laced nose. Very floral and enticing. The palate is sweet, meaty and spicy with ripe berries, olive tapenade and warm herbs. Ripe and seductive, flirting with over-ripeness but getting away with it. 93/100

Cadence Ciel de Cheval Vineyard 2013 Red Mountain, Washington State, USA
This Bordeaux-style blend is lively and bright with fresh red berry and black cherry fruit as well as an appealing spiciness. Lovely fruit expression and some subtle herby notes. Ripe but with elegance. 93/100

Domaine Serene Jerusalem Hill Pinot Noir 2013 Oregon, USA
I struggle a bit with the size of Domaine Serene’s Chardonnays, but their Pinot Noirs are very fresh and supple. This is rounded and berryish with a sappy edge to the supple red fruits. Has finesse as well as good concentration. 94/100

The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir 2014 Oregon, USA
This is such a lovely wine, very much in the understated, elegant Eyrie style. Supple with real finesse to the red cherry fruits, coupled with some savoury, grippy structure. Great balance and drinkability. 94/100

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