Bright aromas, ripe flavors, a full body but rather light tannins give this wine an easy drinkability. Red cherries and sunny strawberries on the nose, then a palate of good acidity with fresh red currants and light baking spices. Blended in are 8% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% merlot. Drink or hold.
Lavish aromas of buttered popcorn, spiced apple jam and white flowers dominate the nose of this wine. The palate brings more citrus energy and bright acidity along the midpalate, with chalky minerality and salty lemon peel flavors echoing on the finish. —T.R.C.
Damp earth, dark berry and forest wood aromas show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is very dry and mineral driven, snapping with tightly wound fruit flavors as well as turned earth, charred meat and purple flower elements, with mint popping on the finish. —M.K.
Lightly colored in the glass, this wine shows baked cherry, cola, clove and sandalwood on the spicy nose. The palate is softly textured, offering warm strawberry, cherry and damp earth flavors. —M.K.
Ample herb aromas of anise and thyme show on the nose of this bottling, which also brings strawberry and cranberry fruit elements as well. Pomegranate and blood-orange-rind flavors are sharp on the palate but rounded by a softer rose petal touch. —M.K.
Very deep, bright and bold red-purple colour with vanilla, chocolate and dark-plum aromas. The palate is rich and supple, the tannins smooth and fleshy, almost glossy in texture, the whole lingering long on the aftertaste. Chocolate-coated licorice bullets. Smart wine.
The wine shows exceptionally pure notes of poached pears, ripe peaches, and Golden apples. Although made without oak, it is more complex than many oaked Chardonnays at this price because the fruit’s nuances aren’t smothered beneath wood-based notes.
A fruit-driven, Rhone-style white blend with aromas of lemon peel, grapefruit pith and orange blossoms. The palate is medium-bodied with focused acidity and a phenolic grip, showing notes of lime zest, honeydew melon and green apples. A blend of 25% grenache blanc, 25% clairette, 22% piquepoul blanc, 18% bourboulenc, 8% roussanne and 2% grenache gris. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
A Pinot with freshness and verve, this offers a backbone of lively acidity and minerality framed by cranberry, cherry and dusky spice flavors that finish with steely tannins. Drink now through 2031. 240 cases made.
The 2022 Siduri ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir comes from two vineyards that are on the western portion of this AVA, the Seascape and Sealift Vineyards. This is very fresh wine with a great purity of guava, strawberry and red cherry fruit flavors with plenty of salty nuances. Drink 2024-2034
The 2022 Siduri ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine at the 40 dollar mark. This offers good concentration with ripe red fruits that parade with salty minerals, rocky soils and suggestions of cola. Drink 2024-2030
The 2022 Siduri ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sites throughout this region. Medium-bodied this offers bright red fruits with orange peel, salty soils and suggestions of wild mushroom on the palate. This shows good tension considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2024-2031
Sourced from several top vineyards in the region, the 2022 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir is deeply colored and perfumed in the glass, offering red currants and red rose petals alongside menthol and stony notes. The palate is soft and very approachable with a generous core of bright red fruits. This is a steal as an entry level WV Pinot. Drink now and over the next several years. Drink 2024-2030
The outstanding 2022 Siduri ‘Willamette Valley’ Chardonnay comes from Gran Moraine as well as Cantwell Vineyards as well as some from Zena Crown. The wine was stored in 20% new French oak before bottling. This is fresh and polished wine that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2024-2030
When Penner-Ash started in 1998, the goal was to focus on Pinot Noir. They added Chardonnay (and an excellent Viognier) and over the years the Chardonnay has hit its stride. This 2022 iteration offers light apricot, guava, green apple, Asian pear, mild honeysuckle, and a hint of fresh wildflowers. It holds in the palate nicely, lingering a while before the next sip. The bright acidity holds up to its ageing program of a scant 10 months in barrel with 41% of those being new French oak barrels. This allows for a foundation of tactile mouth feel and structure to the wine. The fruit was sourced from three vineyard sites across the Willamette Valley: Gran Moraine Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton, Jory Hills Vineyard in Dundee, and Zena Crown Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. Therefore this Chardonnay truly is an expression of some of the best vineyards Willamette has to offer. ORIGIN: Willamette Valley, Oregon. ALCOHOL: 13.5%.
A mid-weighted pinot noir with firm, rather brusque tannins, especially in the context of an estate bottling. Bing cherry, orange peel and a hint of typically Yarra sassafras. The tannins, oak and whole-bunch-derived, as evidenced by their shape, are a bit pinched and herbal. I much prefer this to the chardonnay opening act, although strongly suggest that this, too, needs a few years to mesh. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Heavy Bottle (606g; 21.3oz). Another gorgeous nose, but a bit more subtle and a little darker. A lovely palate with great fruit, and a balancing tartness, with a lasting finish.
Very Responsible Bottle (471; 16.6oz). A classic nose of ripe black cherry and a touch of earth, wonderful. The palate does not disappoint either. Rich, voluptuous, silky, smooth.
An approachable wine that captures the essence of Willamette Valley, with supple raspberry and cherry flavors that are laced with cinnamon and smoky spices as this persists toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 26,250 cases made. From Oregon.
Precise and filled with tension, this red slowly reveals notes of raspberry, pomegranate, dusky spices and mint while building toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. 230 cases made.
The nose of this Pinot explodes with aromas of roasted cherry, spiced raspberry compote and black tea. The palate is dripping with red berry fruit and bright orangepeel acidity, finishing with whispers of sandalwood and clove. Best from 2025–2035.
Aromas of juicy pear, white flowers and baking spices mingle on the nose of this wine. The palate brings flavors of roasted apple, brioche and honeysuckle, with a streak of pithy lemon acidity providing lift and structure. Drink this with scallops or cod in rich sauces.
This wine is blood-orange hued and lush, with aromas of strawberry cream, guava, citrus and potpourri on the nose. Flavors on the palate are raspberry-orange coulis and pink grapefruit cream, interlaced with mineral, white pepper and a juicy, supple finish. Pair with grilled octopus.
A juicy red on a velvety frame, with violet, palo santo and Szechuan peppercorn notes complementing the core of blueberry preserves and wild blackberry compote. Shows toasted herb and tobacco details on the finish. Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat. Drink now through 2033. 300 cases made.
Lively and juicy, with a core of cherry, plum and raspberry flavors that are bright and expressive in this white. Details of oolong tea, dried violet and white pepper add complexity, with cigar box and hickory accents on the long, velvety finish. Drink now through 2034.