Portland is one of the USA’s most interesting cities. Famous for its coffee (I’ve had the best coffee in my life here), hipsters, the thriving restaurant scene and craft breweries,…
Exploring Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
This year, the theme for the formal tasting at the Central Otago Pinot Celebration was Pinot from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The session was ably led by Elaine Brown,…
Oregon Pinot Noir: tasting 11 top examples blind
For the last few days I’ve been at the Southern Pinot Noir workshop at Hamner Springs. It’s an event that brings together winemakers from across New Zealand to taste and…
IPNC: notes on 33 Pinot Noirs from Oregon
The International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) is held each July in McMinnville, Oregon. This was my third time at this remarkable event, which brings together consumers and trade in a…
Brooks: Pinot Noir and Riesling from this top Oregon estate
Brooks is one of Oregon’s unsung stars. Their 14 000 case production is split among many small lots, with the largest fermentation in the winery occurring in 2.5 ton fermenters….
Texsom: some Oregon whites
Today’s team lunch at Texsom featured Oregon wines. But no reds! This was a chance to look at some of Oregon’s whites, and also to branch out beyond the Willamette…
Tasting Eyrie, Oregon’s Pinot pioneer, with Jason Lett
This week while I was in McMinnville I had a chance to taste through the Eyrie range with Jason Lett. Back in the mid-1960s Jason’s dad, David, planted the first…
Highlights from the Washington State and Oregon tasting
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…
Wines of the year (7) top wines from California and Oregon
Arnot Roberts Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 Santa Cruz Mountains, California This vineyard was planted in the 1940s by Rusty Ray, and the vines that make this wine…