Revisiting the White Wines of 2010

As the end of 2010 is nearing, I’ve been reading through many of my tasting notes from this year. My first full year in Oregon I realize that I’ve tasted a lot of wines, and had the opportunity to meet lots of wonderful people around Portland, the Willamette Valley, the Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, and Bainbridge Island. Hopefully in the coming year I will have ample opportunity to visit even more of the tasting rooms in these regions and visit some new ones as well (I’m determined to get to both Idaho and BC in 2011!).

So as I review all the scribbled descriptors, aromas, flavors, and abundant adjectives I wanted to write about and share some of my favorite white wines tasted along the way. Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting a series of articles about tasting experiences I’ve had since arriving in the Pacific Northwest. Some of these wines are sold out, and some you’ll still be able to find. Regardless these are all wonderful producers.

We’ll start things off with three visits I made during the month of January: Soléna Estates, Seven of Hearts, and Sineann Wines.

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Soléna Estates 2008 Pinot Gris, Willamette & Rogue Valley
Clear, pale soft golden yellow in color. A clean nose with medium intensity aromas of citrus, lemon, grapefruit pith, soft pineapple, and light stone fruit. Dry on the palate, medium-full body, medium-high acidity, medium alcohol. Intense, fresh flavors of green apple, citrus, lemon, and lime. Medium-long finish.

This is by far one of my favorite Pinot Gris in the entire valley. Anytime I have a conversation about the grape this wine is bound to come up. Perhaps it was the allure and romance of the first wines I had after driving cross country, but I think it has more to do with acidity. My palate trends towards white wines that offer crisp, refreshing acidity and this Pinot Gris offers quite a lot compared to others I’ve tried. (www.solenaestate.com)

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Seven of Hearts 2008 Chardonnay, ElvenGlade Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton
Clear, pale light golden yellow in color. A clean nose with medium intensity aromas of lemon, soft apple, sea salt, herbs, and mustard seed. Dry on the palate, full body, medium-low acidity, medium alcohol. Medium flavors of vanilla, citrus, and poached yellow apples. Medium-long finish.

Seven of Hearts 2008 Chatte d’Avignon Viognier-Roussanne, Columbia Valley
Clear, medium golden yellow. A clean nose with medium intensity aromas of ginger, citrus, fresh flowers, green apple, and peach pit. Dry on the palate, medium-full body, medium-low acidity. Medium intensity flavors of stone fruit, citrus, and ripe apples. Medium finish.

Quirky and endearing, I immediately liked Byron Dooley and his wife Dana when we met them in Carlton. They are truly passionate about their hand crafted products—he his wines, and she her amazingly decadent chocolate confections. It has been wonderful to try these two wines several times this year after initially sipping them in early January, and exploring their development. (www.sevenofheartswine.com)

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Sineann 2007 Pinot Gris, Columbia Gorge
Clear, pale golden yellow in color. A clean nose with medium intensity aromas of pear, citrus, caramel, slate, and chalk. Dry on the palate, medium body, medium acidity. Medium-full intensity flavors of stone fruit, pear, yellow apple, and minerality. Medium-long finish.

Sineann 2008 Riesling, Willamette Valley
Clear, medium golden yellow. A clean nose with medium-full intensity aromas of sweet yellow apples, tangerine, citrus, orange blossom, and honey. Dry on the palate, medium body, medium-high acidity. Medium-full intensity flavors of apricot, tangerine, citrus, and green apple. Long finish.

Tasting at Sineann was definitely a task of endurance that shows itself in the quick, slanted handwriting and terse descriptors in my notes. Faced with fourteen wines and a daughter to be retrieved from school, this was more like speed-tasting. That said, the wines being produced by Peter Rosback—someone a friend in Cleveland insisted I had to meet, and for good reason it turns out—are as diverse as they are delicious. (www.sineann.com)