I pulled 3 Oregon wines, all from the same store, which represent some of the most readily available, and concurrently popular picks—under $20. Both the O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir and Erath Pinot Noir are non-designated AVA (American Viticultural Area) wines, crediting ‘Oregon’ as the grape source. The Adelshiem Pinot Gris is a Willamette Valley wine blended from multiple vineyard sites, some estate grown, but all sourced from within the Willamette AVA.
These are widely carried, easily recognizable labels. Despite my having never tried any of them, they serve as an entry point for those looking to start wading into the Oregon wine scene. Wines like these carry a lot of influence, simply because there are so few Oregon wines, especially Pinot Noir, regularly accessible at an entry price point. 2009 O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir:
Rich and aggressive with sweet muddled fruit and vanilla oak. Generous and assertive but lacking regional nuance. I’m reminded more of mid-grade, Washington State, Columbia Valley, red blends than of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Very dense, cool red fruit with touches of mint and pepper. A decent choice for a palate that favors dense fruit and chewable textures. Easy to find, but watch for overcharging, $16.99.
2009 Adelsheim Pinot Gris:
Snappy and ebullient. Fervent pear, cantaloupe and fish oil aromas. Joined on the palate by apricot, citrus, and pineapple—it’s all here, a serious fruit brew with a considered, even balance of sweet fruit and acid. Can’t miss the underlying creaminess. Best wine of the lineup—little surprise there. $10 for half bottle.
2009 Erath Pinot Noir:
Very delicate. Pronounced orange zest and and almond paste on the nose. Autumn orchard aromas and a dewy leanness. A soft berry flavor complexion edged with tart apple and trace of bite.
Initially, and surprisingly, erratic for a wine of such large-scale production, requiring a good deal of breathing time to assemble and balance on the palate. Not a negative quality, just one that’s more common among young, age-worthy wines that have been opened prematurely. High volume wines, on the other hand, often feel engineered for stability and immediate gratification—often at the expense of nuance and intimacy, which is what I was expecting and weary of. A generous finish of silk and cinnamon. $14.99
Enjoy!
-Rob.
Thanks for the reviews. Gonna be looking for these to try myself.
Thanks for the comment Ria! Let me know how it goes! -Rob
Really enjoyed the grouping review – as a total novice, it helps me gain a little perspective.
Thanks.
Great! Thanks for commenting! You should try both of the Pinot Noir choices, they are entirely different—it would be a great way to get a sense of your Pinot palate. Let me know if you get a chance to do some tasting! Is there anything in particular you enjoy drinking now? -Rob
Have you tried Argyle? I like O’Reilly’s too but it’s my favorite affordable Oregon pinot.
Yes, I just reviewed the 2008 Argyle Pinot Noir a few weeks ago. I agree with you completely, the Argyle Pinot, while a bit more expensive than these, is a better wine. I was just in a grocery store that was selling it for $30. Crazy. But when you consider $18 for the O’Reilly’s and about $22 for the Argyle (in most places) there is no doubt which wine to buy—the Argyle is Willamette Valley to it’s core, a better buy. Thanks Scott!
Here is the Argyle review:
http://www.corksandcaftans.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=15650&action=edit
Great review! Yeah, Argyle used to be under $20, but has been creeping up a bit; still a great deal under $25. I thought their sparkling wine was surprisingly good too.