★★★1⁄2 Aromas and flavors of black cherry, herbs and spice. Longboard Vineyards, 2011 Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Syrah, 14.5 percent, $29. Layered with herbs and spices, Trombetta is a knockout. The pinot's high-toned fruit also has raspberry and a hint of cranberry. What makes this a standout is its intense Bing cherry fruit. Trombetta, 2012 Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County Pinot Noir, 14.2 percent, $45. Aromas and flavors of raspberry, blackberry and toast. ★★★1⁄2 A tasty zin that's a steal for the quality. Kendall-Jackson, 2012 Vintner's Reserve, Mendocino County Zinfandel, 14.5 percent alcohol, $17. The flight included some knockout wines, and our wine-of-the-week winner is Kendall-Jackson, 2012 Vintner's Reserve, Mendocino County Zinfandel at $17. Wine writer Peg Melnik had a blind tasting this week of mixed red wines, from pinot noir to cabernet sauvignon to syrah. You can reach Wine Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or of the Week: Scouting for the tastiest mixed reds While the Trombetta pinot snagged 4.5 stars, the Kendall-Jackson zin at 4 stars won wine-of-the-week status because the price point makes it a steal for the quality, and it's also in great supply. The pinot's high-toned fruit also has raspberry and a hint of cranberry in the mix, and it's layered with herbs and spices. The winemakers said they've moved away from the over-oaked, over-extracted zinfandel to create a balanced zin they're striving to create one with elegance and power.Īnother wine in the flight that was quite impressive is the Trombetta, 2012 Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County Pinot Noir at $45. But Kendall-Jackson's zinfandel is modest at 14.5 percent. a popular style has been the powerhouse zin, pushing alcohol levels in the 16-plus percent range. What the uninitiated don't know about making zinfandel, Ullom said, is that the best bottlings are often made from old vines, 50 to 100 years old. Tasting through all those barrels and wine lots some 32 years ago was an eye opener.' 'After a few years of making just zin in the Russian River, we decided to make vineyard designates after realizing the distinction that each vineyard offered. Here are her top spots to sip and savor in the region for good vibes and great wine.'We had all of the old vineyards to work with,' Ullom said. “What makes the Willamette Valley unique is where we have the potential to go,” says Bramlett. Our Legacy Harvested hosts a BIPOC Block Party each summer to support its goal of a permanent campus for events, seminars, and more. In addition to her work at Vidon, she’s the founder of Our Legacy Harvested, which aims to “educate, advance and empower the BIPOC community at any career level so that tasting rooms, cellars and vineyards may be welcoming to, and may better represent, the diverse world of wine drinkers and enthusiasts,” according to the nonprofit’s website. The gathering aims to “display the diversity of the Hispanic cultures which span most of Latin America and Spain, and as small business owners give back to the Spanish-speaking community in Oregon,” according to organizers.īramlett, too, is spearheading efforts to advance and celebrate diversity in wine. Winemaker Ximena Orrego and her husband Guy Insley host tasting experiences in English and Spanish at their Yamhill home and vineyard.īoth Alumbra and Atticus are part of Celebrating Hispanic Roots, an annual event at Beacon Hill Winery & Vineyard in Gaston during Hispanic Heritage Month. They produce a Rosé and an estate Pinot Noir. “It’s unlike farming any other crop.”Įlena and her brother, Leo Rodriguez, now co-own Alumbra to celebrate “the Latino culture of the family and farmworkers who embody the soul” of the wines, as they write on their website. Elena’s involvement helped her “understand the skilled work it takes to care for a vineyard,” she says. He was a “true farmer,” Elena says, who planted the vineyard but didn’t make wine. “I felt the vineyard process has been eliminated from the tasting room experience and that is where I saw my intention in winemaking.”Įlena’s father, Baudelio Rodriguez, Sr., left his native Mexico for Oregon more than a decade ago. “ Alumbra means ‘to shine’ in Spanish,” says winemaker and president Elena Rodriguez. Only a few minutes from downtown McMinnville, the family-owned vineyard offers intimate tastings in a tent amid the vines. Tiquette Bramlett is the president of Vidon Vineyard and founder of nonprofit Our Legacy Harvested, which offers education and events to advance diversity in the wine community.
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