We
asked Michael Biggs - the Wine Director of the Peerless Restaurant
to suggets a couple of must try Oregon wines. And to describe
the separating factors between Oregon wines and other new
world wines.
The winner and still champion of Oregon wines remains Pinot
Noir (visit www.oregonwine.org
). The Willamette Valley's climate is more akin to the Burgundy
Region of France than many of the regions of California. Pinot
Noir is a very difficult and fickle grape to grow, preferring
warm not hot regions. At their best Oregon Pinot Noirs are
magic in a glass!
The Willamette Valley is in the midst of two of the finest
back to back vintages in our industries history. 1998 and
1999 gave the winemakers the raw materials to produce spectaticular
Pinot, with 1999 given a slight edge in quality. There are
a bevy of terrific 1999 Oregon Pinots, one of my personal
favorite producers is St. Innocent Winery in Salem (visit
www.stinnocentwine.com
).
Mark Vlossak the owner/winemaker of St. Innocent Winery in
Salem Oregon has always made terrific Pinot Noir’s but his
1999’s are magnificent! His 1999 Seven Springs Vineyard has
it all. Aromas of wildfowers, black raspberries and “pumpkin
pie” spices. It explodes on the palate with youthfully-exuberant
black cherry and berry flavors, then finishes with firm, yet
integrated tannins. (more
on The Peerless Restarant)