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Quilceda Creek, Andrew Will, Mark Ryan, Cadence ... Soos Creek?
These five Washington wineries might not seem like peers at first glance. But consider the vineyards that provide their coveted wines: Champoux and Ciel du Cheval. While the first four are synonymous with Washington wine, Soos Creek flies under the radar, turning grapes into purple gold. From the same vineyard that makes Quilceda Creek Cab and Andrew Will Sorella comes this indie-sensational Champoux Cab. Delivering lipsmacking, balanced, age-worthy Cab for $36 isn't easy, but Soos Creek nails it. The 2006 Soos Creek Champoux Cabernet rocks. To me, the hallmark of Champoux Cabernet is the big, beautiful black cherry core. Soos Creek's Cab adds sweet blueberry and blackberry with vanilla mocha and dried herbs. Supple and totally delicious.
Winelovers in Oregon have one of the best selections of small, artisan made Italian wines in the country, at bargain prices. Some highly regarded small Italian wineries, whose production might be too small for the big importers, are directly imported by committed, dynamic individuals of the Oregon wine industry.
On March 11, 2009, Wine Spectator's "Insider" named Andrew Will Sorella 06 one of their "HOT WINES" and gave it 95 points. Wine Spectator said: "Tight, focused and distinctive, this sharp-edged wine shows ripe currant, spice, tobacco and coffee flavors that sneak up on you. They start slow but swirl through the mildly grippy tannins into a long, expressive finish, making for a beautifully compact and complex wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2011 through 2018. From Washington." - H.S.
The Carter Vineyard Pinot noir Hillblock 06 received 93 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Pinot Noir Hillblock was made by Ken Wright from a vineyard planted in 1983. Wright also makes a Carter Vineyard designate under his own label which I found to be equally uplifting. The Hillblock was aged in 70% new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. Cherry red in color, it has a superb perfume of pain grille, spice box, red and black cherry and black raspberry. This is followed by a layered, velvety-textured, succulent wine with great depth, concentration and structure for this vintage. It will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2010 to 2018."
Now is your time to beat the critics to the new Ex Umbris Syrah. Stock up before the frenzy. Gobs of Marionberries and black raspberries are interspersed with licorice, milk chocolate, and coffee. A superbly rich, supple texture helps carry lingering sweet fruit, violets, and white pepper through the finish.
After 20 years making Pinot noir from celebrated vineyards, and dozens of 90+ ratings, their top price for a bottle is under $50. In 2002, Robert Parker named Mark Vlossak (pictured at right) a "Wine Advocate Hero" and said his Pinots: "were the finest Pinots I tasted ... yet were some of the cheapest wines in my report.
During Maggie Harrison's decade long position as assistant winemaker at Sine Qua Non, she helped make legendary, 100 point wines. We are lucky to have Maggie making Pinot noir in Oregon..
We're standing by last year's provocative statement: we'd rather drink the Andrew Will Sorella than the 100 point Quilceda Creek Cab. Besides the obvious $50 saved for each bottle, the Sorella is powerful and refined. The two wines share the same fruit pedigree - Washington's Champoux Vineyard. This is the pinnacle of Washington wine.
Winelovers in Oregon have one of the best selections of small, artisan made Italian wines in the country, at bargain prices. Some highly regarded small Italian wineries, whose production might be too small for the big importers, are directly imported by committed, dynamic individuals of the Oregon wine industry.
Winelovers in Oregon have one of the best selections of small, artisan made Italian wines in the country, at bargain prices. Some highly regarded small Italian wineries, whose production might be too small for the big importers, are directly imported by committed, dynamic individuals of the Oregon wine industry.
Wine Spectator rates Washington's 2006 vintage as an "A-" and says: "Even jaded winemakers had little to complain about when it comes to assessing the 2006 vintage in Washington. The weather was nearly ideal."
Wine Spectator's latest issue gives 93 point scores to a handful of worthy Washington reds.Gorman, Buty, Cadence. Fielding Hills
Antica Terra Pinot noir 2003 was a sensational hit. Picked by the Wall Street Journal's Dow Jones Oregon Pinot Noir Index as the best of 50 Oregon Pinots tasted, it flew out our door faster than any Pinot we've seen in five years.
1-19-09 Out with the old, in with the new...Sineann's new BIG reds include two wines from the wonderful Champoux Vineyard: Champoux Merlot 07 and Baby Poux Cabernet Sauvignon 06.
1-11-09 Burgundy fans take note! Some of the best early-release 2007 Oregon Pinots are here, delivering elegance and balance, ripe and juicy fruit. If you like to pair Pinot with food, you'll love these wines.
1-9-09 2008 was a great year for devotees of Northwest wine. it's easy to recollect memorable Oregon and Washington wines worthy of serious wine collections..
12-9-08 2008 was a great year for devotees of Northwest wine. it's easy to recollect memorable Oregon and Washington wines worthy of serious wine collections.
The outstanding Indie wines of 2008 are also easy to remember. A few startup garagistes and under the radar indies made wines so good they qualify as memorable.
11-25-08 Fall Line Winery offers the best value-priced line-up of Washington reds on the market. Owner and winemaker Tim Sorenson cut his teeth in the cellars of Cadence winery, where he learned to craft Bordeaux blends from some of Washington's best vineyards. Who isn't looking for lush, structured, and refined reds for $30?
Latest Newsletters
2-6 O'Shea Scarborough
Our Style? Kickass! Duh.
2-1 New Big Reds from Washington:
Mark Ryan, McKinley Springs, Gilbert Cellars
1-22 Avalon Wine's Winery of the Year
Westrey Wines
1-15 Evening Land Vineyards
2008 Wines, New Lower Prices
1-6 Top Under $25
2008 Oregon Pinot noirs
12-30 Oregon's Remy Wines
"Hooked on Italian Varietals"
12-8 December - Best New Wines
Et Fille, Haden Fig, Amalie Robert, Capitello, Owen Roe
12-5 Best of the Best
Oregon & Washington Collector's Cases
12-2 Washington's Best Vineyard
Champoux - Andrew Will, Soos Creek, Sineann
11-29 Wine Gifts They'll Love
The Best of the Northwest
For your friends and family
11-29 - Haden Fig
Pinot noir Reviewed
11-28 Bergstrom Pinot noirs
Introductory Big Price Reductions
Shea, de Lancellotti, Bergstrom Vineyard
11-22 Crowley Winery
Indie Pinot Exceptional
11-20 Dusky Goose 2007 Pinot noir
Bold and Beautiful
11-19 Beaux Freres Second Generation
Coattails Winery
11-15 - Under $25 Values
Washington 2007 Reds
Oregon 2008 Pinot noirs
11-6 Owen Roe's Flagship Cabernet Sauvignons
Dubrul 07, Red Willow 1973 Block 07
10-23 Reynvaan Family Vineyards
Cayuse's Christophe Baron's Consulting Project
10-20 Beaux Freres Second generation
Coattails' "Horsetail" Pinot noir
10-20 Ken Wright 2008 Pinot noirs
10-20 Beaux Freres' Sons Winery
10-14 2008- Benchmark Vintage
10-6 Betz- Master of Syrah
9-29 Gestalt of Pinot - Brittan Vyds
9-23 Steady as the Seasons- Fielding
9-17 $20 Pinots Better than Keno
9-15 Russ Raney's New Pinots
9-12 Yak Back
9-2 NYTimes on Oregon Wine
9-1 Kilmore, Sinister,Lady Rosa
8-18 Sineann 2008
7-23 Westrey Wine - New Pinots Reviewed
7-20 720 Cellars Pinot noir, Pinot gris Special Deal
7-18 Oregon's 2008 "Bruno" Pinot - Under $20
7-17 Thomas Winery's Acme Pinot noir Reviewed
7-15 Owen Roe Abbot's Table 08
7-9 Thomas Winery Profile
7-9 Owen Roe's Lady Rosa Syrah Reviewed
6-28 Nuthatch Cellars' Bold Wines
6-22 McKinlay 07 WV Pinot Reviewed
6-17 Oregon 2008 Rose Reviewed
6-11 Wine Spec 93 Efeste Syrah
6-9 Sharecropper's, O'Reilly's 2008 Pinots
6-8 McKinlay's Super $15 Pinot noir
6-7 WA Highest Rated Reds- Leonetti, Feather
6-5 St. Innocent's Single Vyd Pinots Reviewed
6-1 Avalon's June 2009 Newsletter
5-25 Trust These Trust Cellars Syrahs
5-20 Rising Star Wineries, Under $25 Pinots
5-18 Oregon's Italian Wine Connection - Martinozzi
5-16 Big Reds that Over-Deliver
5-15 New Lower Prices - Lemelson, Boedecker, Rich
5-14 Ayoub "Memoirs" Pinot noir
5-12 Washington 2007 Walla Walla Vintage- World Class
5- 9 Oregon Chardonnay - No Butterballs Here
5- 4 Saviah's Walla Walla Reds
5- 2 Stevenson Barrie's 2006 Pinots - Shea, Temperance
4-28 Owen Roe Abbot's Table 07
4-16 $20 Washington Zinfandels- Three Angels
4- 9 Cordivae Wines from Owen Roe
4- 7 Black Cap Pinot noir 06 Review
4-2 Podere Ruggini Corsini
3-30 J. Albin Winery- Motorhome to Mini
3-27 Evesham Wood Pinot noir Reviews
3-24 Arterberry Maresh- Best Young Winemaker
3-19 Mark Ryan's "Dissident", Winning Streak
3-18 Whistling Dog - Nuestro Sueno
3-30 J. Albin Winery- Motorhome to Mini
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Since 2000, Patty's followers snap up her wines based exclusively on word-of-mouth. Her best Pinots, the "Notorious" and "Goldschmidt Vineyard" are joined here by six of our favorite Patty Green wines. Distinctive and memorable, all are exceptionally big and full bodied in the distinctive Patty Green "House Style". And for the first time in years, Patty made her hoot of a value Pinot, Dollar Bills! Her gift to her local customers, it's only sold in the nieghborhood, or from us online.
The best Washington Cabs stand toe-to-toe with big name California Cabs, but you won't find dinky allocations, inflated prices, and mailing list hassles with most Washington Cabs. What you do get is huge, rich, complex reds from 20-30 year-old vines that are often more approachable, yet with balance to age for years. A couple steaks on the grill and any one of these wines...
it doesn't get any better!
$15 to $25 Finds - Stock the Cellar. We're constantly tracking down unknown Washington big reds at tiny prices - following a rumor, a recommendation, a hint - and tasting dozens of wines to find the best few from all of Washington State.
O-S, Guardian Cellars, Substance, McKinley Springs, Sineann.
The Wall Street Journal lauded Washington Syrah:
"As a group, these are the most exciting red wines being made in America today.....we were, quite simply, blown away. When these wines got it right, they were intense experiences, with purple-black color; massive, tightly wound fruit; hints of all kinds of herbs; great acidity; a dark core of fruit that, more than once, made us think of crushed coal; and a genuine sense of excitement."
Antica Terra Pinot noir 2003 was a sensational hit. Picked by the Wall Street Journal's Dow Jones Oregon Pinot Noir Index as the best of 50 Oregon Pinots tasted, it flew out our door faster than any Pinot we've seen in five years.
Andrew Rich Coup d; Etat 06, Trust Cellars Syrah 06, Quercus Hyperion Syrah 06: if you like the exhuberant, broadly flavored style of Northern Rhone, you'll love these wines.
Three of Owen Roe's highest rated wines, the Owen Roe Dubrul Cabernet Sauvignon 06, the Yakima Red 06, and the Lady Rosa Syrah 07, are now available. Also released is the great value Sharecropper's Cabernet Sauvignon 07. Sharecropper's is a value label from Owen Roe - some of the Northwest's best quality and value are made under the "Sharecropper" label.
f you seek out the best value in Oregon wine, check out Territorial. Virtually every restaurant in Corvallis and Eugene, from James Beard award winner Marché to Squirrel's Tavern, pours at least one of the Territorial wines. In the heart of the Willamette Valley, it's what the locals drink.
Washington State has three Robert Parker rated 100 point wines -- Quilceda Creek Cabs -- all made from Champoux Vineyard fruit. Andrew Will's Champoux Red 06 tops our list for quality and value.
Mark McNeely defies convention to craft Dead Horse, Long Haul, and Water Witch to suit his own sensibilities.
Here's your last opportunity to purchase St. Innocent Seven Springs and Anden Pinot noirs- the 2006 vintage.
Monumental and mezmerizing, Dusky Goose delivers on all of the promises of past vintages.
Wine Spectator 93 for Cab, 92 for Cab Franc - "The wines are supple, silky, polished and rich in flavor". "...luscious, plush reds." - Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator
Marcus recommends three recent releases: Evesham Wood le Puit Sec Pinot noir 06, Westrey Willamette Valley Pinot noir 07, and J. K. Carriere Willamette Valley Pinot noir 06
Four of Owen Roe's fastest-to-sell-out wines
9-15-08 Here are single vineyard Shea wines from St Innocent, Stevenson barrie,and Boedecker.
Todd Hamina makes wines with "fine structure, lovely perfumed aromas, and viscous density -- coupled with staying power".
Intriguing and sophisticated, Et Fille's 2007 Pinots deliver sweet fruit, enhanced by an array of layered complexity.
Every year, we tuck a bit of the hardest to get wines away in the cellar for the holidays. Then Marcus and Jean create a limited number of cases of incredible, cream of the crop collectibles. Here are the finest of Oregon's Pinot noirs in a gift case for serious wine collectors.
St. Innocent's 2006 Pinot noirs (93-94 points) are big winners in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 2006 Oregon Pinot noir article. The St. Innocent Shea, Momtazi, and Anden (94, 93, 92 pts), Black Cap (93 pts), Carter (93 pts), Eyrie Estate (92), Soter Beacon Hill (92 pts), and Matello Souris (92 pts) are our picks for the best of the report.
The 2006 ROCO wines are intense Pinot noirs with notes of blackberry, huckleberry and spice that show plenty of promise for cellaring through 2015. For the second year in a row, Private Stash received 94 points from Wine Spectator and Willamette Valley received 92 points!
Avalon Tasting Note Archive
2008
2005-2007
2000-2004
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It's a Great Time 
Latest Washington Big Reds
Best New 2007 Pinot noirs 
Avalon Selections 
Memorable Wines of 2008
Washington State Syrahs
A Clone of the Rhone and Rhone to the Bone:
Owen Roe 
Territorial Vineyards 
Andrew Will Champoux Red 06 Washington's
Mark Ryan's Rock & Roll Reds: 2006 Long Haul, Dead Horse, Water Witch
St Innocent Seven Springs,
Anden, Zenith, Momtazi 2006 Pinot noirs
Dusky Goose 
Wine Spectator Loves 
Three Pinots for You-
Owen Roe Sinister Hand, Sharecropper's Pinot noir, Lady Rosa Syrah, Kilmore Pinot noir
Shea Vineyard 
Biggio Hamina
Ana, Momtazi, Deux Vert, Willamette Pinot noirs
Once a Year
Robert Parker's
