Acrobat by King Estate
2009 Pinot Gris
Oregon
$12.00
The
previous vintage of this wine won an oyster award from the 16th
Annual Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition - an event I am proud to
have judged since year one. Our recent tasting confirmed that the new
vintage is just as oyster friendly. Look for aromas of pear, grapefruit
and green apple. The palate leans toward the pear flavor and offers a
hint of sweetness balanced by bright acidity. Not everyone's favorite
with half-shell oysters, but many tasters find this off-dry character
attractive.
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
"A-Squared" 2009 Pinot Gris
Horse Heaven Hills
$14.00
This new label from ANC offers a distinct nod to consumer preference
with its off-dry style and perfumy elegance. A hint of woodruff herb
makes me think of Maywine. Flowers and spice and everything nice make
for a better mussel wine than one to accompany oysters. Poach the
mussels in a half cup of A2 for the full effect!
Buried Cane
2008 Pinot Grigio
Washington
$12.00
If
this label didn't say Pinot Gris, I would have guessed this wine was
Sauvignon Blanc. Hints of pear and peach give away the Pinot Gris
profile, but plenty of citrus and mineral (and hints of herbs) speak to
Sauvignon Blanc. The flavors are very nicely balanced with stone
fruits, lemon and green apple. By the way, the name refers to the
occasional practice of burying low-growing grape vines over the winter
to protect from freezing. The canes are exposed in spring to begin
growth.
Ponzi Vineyard
2009 Pinot Blanc
Willamette Valley
$15.00
The
2009 vintage promises to be a real hit with oyster lovers. It seems
that many wines have emerged from that growing year with tangy mineral,
citrus and light-herb character that add to half-shell oyster
enjoyment. The nose is dusty mineral, grapefruit, field herbs and
floral perfume. The palate is light-bodied with citrus and herb flavors
that don't overpower delicate oysters like Kusshi and Kumamoto.
Vin
du Lac LEHM
2008 Pinot Gris
Lake Chelan AVA
$20.00
LEHM is a nod to owner/winemaker Larry Lehmbecker who is the spirited
founder of the winery. This tasty Pinot Gris offers aromas and flavors
of lemon and mineral with hints of pear and floral perfume. Very good
with our steamed mussels. If you are in the Lake Chelan area, stop by
and enjoy the hospitality offered at Vin du Lac. Don't miss the
winery's deli, stocked with cheeses, meats, breads and other
wine-friendly treats.
Sineann
2009 Pinot Gris
Oregon
$18.00
From the softer side of winemaker Peter Rosback comes this oyster- and
mussel-friendly Pinot Gris. Look for aromas of pear drop, candied
ginger and herbs with a fruit-forward palate of spicy Asian pear with a
citrus finish.
Colter's Creek
2008 Pinot Gris
Riverbend Vineyard
Idaho
$10.00
Melissa Sanborn and Mike Pearson brought their shared interest in wine
to a small vineyard for sale in the Clearwater River Valley in central
Idaho. Melissa's background in chemistry and sensory science serves her
well in winemaking, and Mike - a self proclaimed "engineering geek" -
enjoys designing both winery and vineyard systems. Colter's Creek Pinot
Gris offers a nose of pear, floral perfume, juicy fruit and vanilla.
The palate adds lemon custard flavors to the above and is successful in
pairing with oysters and mussels. Check out their story at
www.colterscreek.com.
Redhawk Winery
2009 Pinot Gris
Eola-Amity Hills, AVA
$12.00
As
one follows Wallace Road from West Salem, Oregon, you find yourself
entering the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Redhawk Winery is one of your first
stops on the left, up Michigan City Road. This light and refreshing
Pinot Gris offers aromas of pear, stone fruits and baking spice with
similar flavors and a finish of herb and vanilla.
Left Coast Cellars
2008 Left Bank Pinot Blanc
Willamette Valley
$19.00
Who
knew the Missoula Floods brought minerality to the mid-Willamette
Valley? That scouring event 15,000 years ago scraped Eastern Washington
clean and left much of the topography we now admire. But I digress.
Left Coast Cellars' Pinot Blanc grows in a vineyard where sea fossils
were found when cultivating the land. Look for aromas and flavors of
Asian pear, earthy herbs and citrus - a delightful and crisp oyster
wine.
Firesteed
2008 Pinot Gris
Oregon
$12.00
Pinot Gris can be a delicious oyster wine when the balance favors crisp
acidity to complement the fruit forward aromas and flavors inherent in
the varietal. At first sniff this opulent wine might seem too rich and
fruity for oysters, but the palate delivers ample acidity wrapped around
flavors of white peach, grapefruit and guava. Impress your friends by
sharing this superb seafood wine over a plate of oysters or mussels.
Rex Hill Winery
2009 Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley
$16.00
Rex
Hill Winery helped bring the northern Willamette Valley some
wine-touring credibility in the 1980s and 1990s by offering a showplace
facility surrounded by vineyards and superb wines to boot. Rex Hill is
still one of the area's most visited facilities - stop by and taste this
great Pinot Gris! Seek out aromas of pineapple, mineral and stone
fruits with complementary flavors adding citrus to the mix.
The Eyrie Vineyards
2009 Pinot Blanc
Oregon
$16.50
Look for the upcoming release of this new vintage of Eyrie's outstanding
Pinot Blanc. Our pre-release sample showed a ripe nose of grapefruit,
floral perfume and dusty mineral, and flavors of melon, citrus, baking
spice and earthy mineral. A very nice complement to both oysters and
mussels.
Pend d'Oreille Winery
2008 Pinot Gris
Washington
$15.00
From the panhandle of Idaho comes this tasty Pinot Gris vinted by
owner/winemaker Stephen Meyer. For non-natives, be aware that the
pronunciation of the name of the winery (and region, and lake) is 'pond
- oray.' Look for aromas of green apple, floral perfume and mineral
with flavors of citrus and flinty rock. Crisp acidity makes for great
oyster affinity!
Anne Amie Vineyards
2009 Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley
$19.00
With each passing vintage, Oregon's Pinot Gris wines become more oyster
friendly.
Vinted from vineyard sources in the Chehalem Mountain and
Yamhill-Carlton AVAs, the wine offers bright citrus aromas of lemon,
mineral and floral perfume. The palate is crisp with Asian pear, white
peach, green apple and hints of baking spice.
Stella Fino
2009 Pinot Grigio, Reserve
Columbia Valley
$25.00
Like the fine Stella Fino Sangiovese that I reviewed last week, Matt and
Marlene Steiner crafted this standout Pinot Grigio under the Stella Fino
label. Not the typical light, Italian style, the wine shows more
Alsatian character with aromas of ripe pear and peach, rich earthy notes
and hints of butter. The crisp palate tingles with citrus flavors,
creamy peach notes and a firm finish that accompanies any light cuisine.
Columbia Crest
2009 Pinot Grigio, Two Vines
Columbia Valley
$10.00
Columbia Crest makes wines labeled both Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio.
This version under the bargain Two Vines label is the light, Italian
style Pinot Grigio showing aromas of orchard blossom, pear and light
citrus. The palate opens with light flavors of Asian pear and peach,
finishing with crisp notes of grapefruit and green apple.
L'Ecole No 41
2009 Luminesce
Seven Hills Vineyard
$20.00
A
showcase wine for L'Ecole's estate vineyard, Seven Hills.
Luminesce is a blend of 67% Semillon and 33% Sauvignon Blanc. The
character of each varietal shows through highlighting the floral and
tropical fruit from Semillon and herbaceous, mineral and citrus from
Sauvignon Blanc. The nose shows the mineral and citrus with notes of
herb, and the palate offers melon, fig and herbal flavors with ample
body and texture. Tasty with richer half-shell oysters and mussels.
Ghost Hill
Cellars
2010 Pinot Noir Blanc
Yamhill-Carlton District
$25.00
Grapes from young vines
often produce wines that are lighter and less complex than those from
more mature vines. For that reason, the first fruit from Ghost Hill Cellars Dijon clone
115 vines was diverted to produce this white wine. The
ripe fruit was whole-cluster pressed (no extended skin contact) so the
juice was not tinted with any rosé color at all. The resulting wine
offers aromas of Pinot Noir, but with nuances of mineral, stone fruits
and tropical fruits. Flavors on the palate include apple and pear, as
well as notes of citrus and mineral - very nice with lighter meals or
as an aperitif.
Adelsheim Vineyard
2009 Auxerrois
Ribbon Springs Vineyard
Ribbon Ridge AVA
$22.00
"Auxer WHO?" Pronounced "oaks sair whah" or "oss er whah."
However you say it, it makes a delicious oyster wine. This variety
hails mainly from Alsace and is distantly descended from Pinot Noir.
[Editor's note: also grown in Southern B.C.] Look for aromas of
pear, mineral and fresh herbs with a dry, flavorful palate featuring
notes of citrus, herbs and a freshness that pairs very well with
oysters.
Amity Vineyard
2008 Auxerrois
Sunnyside Vineyard
Willamette Valley
$20.00
Amity Vineyards' talented winemaker Darcy Pendergrass crafted this tasty
wine from grapes grown at Sunnyside Vineyard just south of Salem,
Oregon. This wine combines zippy acidity and citrus notes with the
earthy herb and mineral profile of Auxerrois. The wine works well with
both half shell oysters (we had Kumamotos, Kusshis, and Reach Island
Pacifics) and with steamed mussels (we enjoyed those from Penn Cove on
the east side of Whidbey Island).
Hedges Family Estate
2009 CMS White
Columbia Valley
$14.00
The
CMS of this wine's name stands for Chardonnay, Marsanne and Sauvignon
Blanc which are present in proportion: 20%, 3%, and 77%. A very tasty
oyster wine, it offers aromas of citrus, herbs and earthy mineral. The
palate combines lemon, grapefruit and grassy flavors that are just right
with oysters.
Whidbey Island Winery
2009 Madeleine Angevine
Puget Sound AVA
$14.00
This variety is originally from France's Loire Valley. The grape
thrives at this winery's vineyard near Langley and make a terrific oyster
wine. Aromas of flowers and herbs combine with nuances of spicy Asian
pear and melon, and lead to flavors of citrus and floral perfume with
unique character on the finish of herbs and grapefruit.
Abacela
2009 Albarino, Estate Vineyard
Umpqua Valley
$18.00
In
some vintages the Abacela Albarino is searingly acidic with citrus and
mineral and more citrus. This version is toned down and has met with
great acclaim and many awards. Aromas of citrus and peach mingle with
mineral and herb leading to flavors in the citrus, flint and lean
tropical range. Very nice with oysters on the half shell.
Thurston Wolfe
2009 PGV
Washington
$16.00
This new vintage release of Thurston Wolfe PGV is a blend of 60% Pinot
Gris with 40% Viognier. Aromas of fresh peach, tropical fruit and pear
entice a taste revealing flavors of pear drop, orange blossom and tangy
lemon on the finish. Try this selection with steamed mussels at your
next get together.
Helix by Reininger
2009 Aspersa
Columbia Valley
$16.00
Chuck Reininger blends 65% Chardonnay, 23% Viognier and 12% Semillon to
make this tasty white wine honoring the family's roots in the town of
Helix in Eastern Oregon. Helix also is the genus name of the garden
snail which graces the label. No snail aromas, though, just tropical
notes of citrus, pineapple, pear and floral perfume. Crisp acidity on
the palate highlights flavors of Granny Smith apple, mineral and Asian
pear.
Forgeron Cellars
2008 Walldette
Columbia Valley
$16.00
Winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla crafted this unique blend of Chardonnay,
Roussanne and Orange Muscat for easy sipping and accompanying light
meals. Our tasters favored the wine with steamed mussels, enjoying
aromas of citrus, pear and floral perfume. The palate snaps with
flavors of lemon curd, mineral and tropical fruit melange.
