Southern Oregon winery has a reputation for stellar Pinot Noirs
By Janie H. Pace | Photo by Janie H. Pace~
Oregon is listed third amongst the top ten wine regions in the United States, behind California and Washington State. With 774 wineries, Oregon has double the number of wineries found in Texas.
Both Forbes Magazine and Wine Enthusiast designate Rogue Valley AVA, the southernmost winegrowing region near Medford, Oregon, as a Top Ten Global Wine Destination.
I have chosen three wineries to feature, one each from three Rogue Valley wine trails:
• Anchor Valley Wine: 150 S Oregon Street, Jacksonville, OR. (541) 702-2355
• Irvine & Roberts: 1614 Emigrant Creek Rd, Ashland, OR. (541) 482-9383
• Troon Vineyard: 1475 Kubli Road, Grants Pass, OR 97527. (541) 846-9900
Anchor Valley Wine, mastered by the rock n’ roll duo Moxley and Herrera and infamous winemaker Matthew Cates, offers three wines from the Agate Ridge Vineyard and one from Anchor Valley Vineyard, both in Eagle Point.
The 2017 Pinot Noir is “elegant, sexy and seductive,” with perfumes of cranberry and raspberry, swirling tobacco smoke, pomegranate seeds, and tannins. Violets, roses, and vanilla finish silky soft. $30
The 2017 Petit Syrah is “big, bold, and beautiful,” boasting layers of juicy plum, blackberry, anise, and Earl Grey tea with chocolate hints. Perfectly balanced tannins yield a velvety texture. $35
The 2017 Viognier is tropical with bouquets of honeysuckle, vanilla, and hints of banaa. Crisp pear and pineapple finish the palate. $28
The 2018 Pinot Gris is “fresh, concentrated, and dry.” Find notes of Meyer lemon, wet stone, and green apple on the nose, with sweet nectarine and jicama flesh finishing the palate. $25
Join Anchor Valley’s quarterly wine club for discounted bottles shipped to your home, or buy online with free shipping.
Irvine & Roberts Vineyards is committed to the ecological sustainability of the vineyard and surrounding valley, practicing organic grape-growing methods. They hand-hoe and use an in-row cultivator, forego the use of herbicides, and cultivate cover crops for soil management. Winemaker Vince Vidrine, is famous for his world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The 2017 Estate Pinot Noir possesses find bright cranberry, red cherry, dried hibiscus, and wet fir needles on the nose, backed by orange peel and grated nutmeg. Ripe raspberry, leather, and rooibos tea finish the palate. This wine scored a 92 from Wine Enthusiast $35
The 2017 Convergence Pinot Noir debuts with layers of red and black plum, wild blueberry, and black cherry, joined by spices of black pepper, clove, cardamom, and cacao. Flavors of bright cherry, porcini, and forest floor finish the eloquent palate. $50
The 2018 Estate Chardonnay offers aromatic notes of crisp peach, lilac, sunflower, and tarragon. The granite finish rounds out this precise and elegant palate. $32
The 2019 Rose of Pinot Noir opens with springtime wild strawberry, honeysuckle, and grapefruit, with a hint of spring flowers, honeycomb, and fresh raspberry. The palate finishes with rosewater and wet stones. $30
Join the Irvine & Roberts wine club or buy individually online.
Troon Vineyard Estate Wine, from Oregon’s Applegate Valley, is Organic Certified. The winemakers practice biodynamic regenerative agriculture, where they put back more than they take from the plants and soil.
The 2019 Kubli Bench Amber, Estate Orange Wine, Applegate Valley, is a series of unique blends of Riesling, Vermentino, and Marsanne. Fermented on the skins, it yields a beautiful amber color. Winemaker Craig Camp refers to the wines as amber wines made for thousands of years in the Republic of Georgia. $30
The 2019 Kubli Bench Rose, Estate Applegate Valley, is a pretty pink wine made from tinta roriz and primitive grenache varieties, delicately whole-cluster pressed then barrel-fermented, with native yeasts in seasoned French Oak barrels. Touches of flowers and spices produce a wine that is both creamy and delicate. $25
The 2018 Cotes du Kubli Rouge, Syrah/Grenache, Cowhorn Vineyard, Applegate Valley combines wildflowers and spices with layers of dark fruit, earth, and herbs, creating the complex personality of the syrah and grenache. This blend of biodynamic grapes comes from neighbors in the Applegate Valley. $45
Order online or join the Applegate Wine Club or the Siskiyou Wine Club.
