Along the lines of 6 bottles to learn Port…but I think a case is more realistic. I think it’s important to include well known producers, benchmark wines, each of the AVAs (there’s 10…so that leaves little room if you’re going to include on from each AVA. I think each choice tells a story, mine won’t cover each AVA…because I’m unfamiliar with some of them. Looking at the case I’d recommend, I’ve made specific efforts to not select more than one wine from each producer that I think is key to my love of Oregon Pinot Noir. I’ve left out wines that I love…like Thomas. Because I’ve had enough “off bottles” now that I’m unsure about the reliability of the wine. I’ve included wines that I’ve enjoyed in the past, and may not have a recent experience with, and wines I trust the producer…but may not have had that specific bottle. I’ll be curious to see what others select, and who knows…I may even need to try a few new wines. What are your thoughts??
Start by reading this first. It’s dated as AVA’s have changed, but a good base. Ideally I would do across the region tastings with makers that have similar styles. Perhaps select one that covers most AVA’s. (St I, Ken Wright, PG, etc)
Full bodied together and then an AWFE grouping.
Thanks. Interesting list, and I think I’d agree with you on most. From Goodfellow, I’d personally pick one of his Whistling Ridge bottlings as his more or less flagship vineyard or his Temperance (Megan Joy who worked at Temperance now co-produces the Goodfellow wines) and Evesham Wood’s LPS. What makes you pick Lewman, Kirk?
Great post! I would probably trade out #8 (St. Innocent Momtazi) because I am neither sure teaching the McMinnville AVA is as valuable as the suggestion below nor that Momtazi is representative. I like Momtazi wines, but they do not represent much other than Momtazi. In its place, I would add another Eola-Amity wine with the goal of teaching more about that AVA’s subtleties: maybe one of the Seven Springs wines (Evening Land or Walter Scott).
I think I’d approach this a little differently. With part of the case, I’d like to showcase what a winemaker does with fruit from two AVAs. I tried to look at long term vineyards and long-time winemakers. Many may not be familiar with Resonance, but this is the Jadot people’s project, and is a very well regarded vineyard that used to be owned and farmed by Kevin Chambers. I would consider these to be more on the AFWE side of things, with the Resonance probably being the biggest wine in the case. I probably over emphasized Dundee Hills, but as many here know, I really like Dundee Hills pinots. I did want to get several different exposures in Ribbon Ridge (and I like those wines as well). I didn’t include anything from the McMinnville AVA because I haven’t been as impressed with the wines from that AVA, though if I had to pick one, it would be the Brittan Estate Pinot Noir. I also didn’t include a Chehalem AVA wine either, and if I was to add one, it would be the McKinlay Pinot Noir Special Selection. In addition, I could swap Walter Scott for Belle Pente as well, and would feel that I wouldn’t be losing anything.
From Goodfellow, I’d really want Whistling Ridge, but it’s hard to argue with PGC.
Same thing with Kelley Fox. I really like her Maresh wines best, but umm, Arterberry Maresh owns the vineyard.
Who are you putting in for our newest AVA’s, the Van Duzer Corridor, the Tualatin Hills and Laurelwood District? Surely they wouldn’t be AVA’s if they lacked good wines?
I’m actually making a 2019 case (+) of my favorite producers as a birth year case for my daughter. I have a few large formats but from memory what I’ve purchased or plan to:
Thomas
Goodfellow WR Heritage and I think long acre
Evesham Wood Cuvée J
Cameron CE
Martin Woods Jesse James
Kelly Fox Maresh
*Et Fille Maresh
Arterberry Maresh Estate
Crowley Four Winds
White Rose Guillen
*DDO Louise
*Eyrie Original Vines
Brickhouse Les Dijionnase
*plan to get.
If I had to just pick 12 I’d take out a GF and MW.
Doing a Chardonnay case w many of these producers too. Add WS XNovo.
So many to choose, it’s hard to pick 12.
I do make an effort to support DRC/sustainable wineries.
Suzanne - Welcome to the board! It’s great to have more women join the community.
Most of the wines Kirk lists can be found on Wine Searcher. I’d suggest putting in the time to look them up for prices, as you will also learn what vintages are available and where.
Welcome to the forums! It’s always nice to have new folks joining us here. I put prices with “ish” at the end as they will shift a few dollars depending on where you are in the country. I live in Maine, where prices tend to be a tad higher than on the West Coast…so my guesses could be a little off.
What are some wines you enjoy, and where are you in your journey in the discovery of wine? Do you have any favorite producers, regions, or styles of wine?
I think I was trying to make sure that Temperance wasn’t the only Eola - Amity Hills wine, as it’s such a singular wine, I wanted another vineyard from the AVA to highlight Temperance. Keeping it to 12 bottles was actually a challenge for me, as I wanted to include multiple bottles from some of the same producers, and my goal really was to not highlight specific producers, but rather the grape and the diversity of the region.
There was part of me that wanted to pick one wine from each AVA that Patricia Green does, as I think that’s one of the best ways to learn the differences in the AVAs from a producer…but that’s also more about personal taste I think.
I also think it’s interesting that absolutely no one where has picked a wine from Shea Vineyard. It’s such a “famous” vineyard, but I’ve rarely had wines from that vineyard that “spoke to me”.
Good point - I cut my teeth on the St Innocent wines of the late 90’s and Shea was certainly on the list. But definitely a different expression from the Seven Springs/Anden wines of that era. As I’ve evolved, for my tastes, many of the Shea vineyard wines have a bigger, more lush style and I don’t think are as broadly representative of how things are playing out in the Willamette Valley.
Interesting though experiment. As I perused your list (and others) I think you’ve got a lot of great choices. A couple of my thoughts, some of which mirror other comments:
I would omit Adelsheim and Ken Wright
Would include one or two others from Ribbon Ridge. Brick House would be my choice as stylistically it lines up better with my tastes - others might suggest Beaux Freres.
Include Walter Scott for Eola-Amity representation - I’d pick X-Novo or Seven Springs
I too would think one of the Goodfellow Whistling Ridge bottlings are the archetype of their production
The suggestion of Cristom I would second as the longstanding stylistic leader of whole cluster vinification
Would include a few things at more modest price points that might give a broad representation. Things like DDO Dundee Hills instead of Laurene, Brick House Les Dijonnais, Crowley Four Winds another good suggestion
Thanks for the price edits, Kirk
I’m maybe six months into this, and making progress away from the usual resto house Sauv blanc/PG and whatever random bottles are on sale at my local chain store. Max price for me is $25. Been liking Garnacha, PN and chenin blanc. Took a leap of faith in BD with a case of Alicante (not tried yet)
Still not a fan of noticeably oaked wine
I hate to be a PGC pumper…but I tend to think I would select one producer who has a bottling in each AVA, then it takes the winemaking out of the picture.
Second the Thomas (with age), McKinlay (to demonstrate what Oregon can deliver at the ~$30 range), and White Rose (to show effect of whole cluster) suggestions.
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