Summary of the best PN producers in Oregon poll

[ChrisBeacham]

I think most people have voted so I’ve summarized the results below. I will follow this post with a comparison to the results on the Parker board. Just like I did for the other results I have made arbitrary breaks to create 3 Tiers – I’ll compare them to the arbitrary Parker Tiers FWIW.

Before anybody says anything…I claim nothing about this having any validity or value. It is for entertainment purposes only!

[ChrisBeacham]

@ChrisBeacham

There has been an interesting thread on the Parker board answering the question “Who are the top 5 PN producers in Oregon?” Most people followed the rule, some had less than 5 and some more. Some ranked them, many didn’t. There were 355 votes for 66 wineries. I ignored the top 5 rule and just included all the votes. There were about 70 responses. I am not suggesting this is anything definitive but there are some knowledgeable and passion folks there just like here. So FWIW…

http://dat.erobertparker.com/bboard/showthread.php?t=218351&page=1&pp=40" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The left side are the Parker results, the right side WB results. The numbers are the total votes each received. The colors represent the three Tiers.

The top picks in both polls (there is 1 more Tier 1 in the WB poll because of tie cutoffs) were represented in both polls, i.e., Tier 1 in RMP was somewhere on the WB list but maybe not Tier 1. Actually all 1s in the two polls were either 1s or 2s in the other poll.

These made Tier 1 in both polls
Thomas
St. Innocent
Cameron
Antica Terra
Cristom

These were Tier 1 in Parker but Tier 2 here:
Patricia Green
Shea
Beaux Freres

These were Tier 1 here but Tier 2 at Parker:
Brick House
Ken Wright
Belle Pente
Evesham Wood

Thomas is the big winner in both polls by a big margin. Oregon’s cult I guess it is. Antica Terra is the biggest surprise here supporting my “hot winemaker gets extra points” theory.

Some differences were Beaux Freres, Shea, Argyle and Bergstrom (Parker favs) and Belle Pente and Scott Paul (WB favs). Soter, a big fav at Parker didn’t make the list here! Chehalem was Tier 2 here and nowhere on Parker. Those without arrows are obviously wineries that showed up on only one of the boards.

Thanks for playing!

[bob_poirier]

[ChrisBeacham]

@bob poirier

I’m expecting my analysis to be codified into the very first Grand Cru Classé system in Oregon history by the end of the year.

As a result I will expect all Oregon First Growths to send me a case every year until my death though I will donate the case from Evesham Wood to charity.

[J_Diven]

While I may have expressed some skepticism on the summary in your original thread, I think this comparison shows an interesting outcome. I guess it does display to some extent the WA loyalty, or perhaps stated more positively - style identification - of the ‘other board’.

It also seems to show why I find the Pinot Noir discussion more interesting over here - I buy 10 of the top 12 on the WB side (not Antica Terra or Ken Wright - combo of price and style), but only 7 of the top 12 on eBob. Back on the WB side, I also buy Ayres, Westry, plus a smattering of JK Carriere and Hamacher as $$ allows. Three of these don’t show up on eBob and Westry was dead last.

Over all it helps reinforce for me why a discussion board is probably best ‘non-aligned’ with a major critic.

BTW - Maggie, while seemingly quite pleasant is definitely not hot.

[J.K.Kalina]

Nice work. While admittingly not a huge pinot fan, none of the top tier producers are available in PA anyway

But I am willing to try…twice.

[Mark_Y]

Thomas and Cameron are both kinda hard to find…

[ChrisBeacham]

@J Diven

While I may have expressed some skepticism on the summary in your original thread, I think this comparison shows an interesting outcome. I guess it does display to some extent the WA loyalty, or perhaps stated more positively - style identification - of the ‘other board’

Thank you. After 30 years it’s a little early to be declaring winners and losers in OR but there is nothing wrong with a non-scientific point in time check-in. I’ve learned an amazing amount of info on OR PN here and my palate has told me that I generally prefer OR to CA when it comes to this elusive grape.

BTW - Maggie, while seemingly quite pleasant is definitely not hot.

If there is one thing that is more personal and idiosyncratic than wine taste it is taste in the flavor/type of human being one prefers. You keep Julia Roberts, Heidi Barrett or Roseanne Barr, whatevah, but I find her smokin’ even if I’ve never met her in person.

[AlexHay]

What a fun analysis, thanks!

[J_Diven]

@markye

Thomas and Cameron are both kinda hard to find…

And even hard to know about it seems. The WA Oregon specialist is at it again over on that other board…

http://dat.erobertparker.com/bboard/showthread.php?p=2859651#post2859651" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bob_Wood]

@J Diven

@markye

Thomas and Cameron are both kinda hard to find…

And even hard to know about it seems. The WA Oregon specialist is at it again over on that other board…

http://dat.erobertparker.com/bboard/showthread.php?p=2859651#post2859651" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Speaks to a complete lack of preparation on MrBigJay’s part. I can see not tasting Thomas (hard to find) but “haven’t heard of it”? Oy.

Interestingly, Mr. Squirrel has decided that I have nothing further to contribute to that thread that’s worthwhile. He’s declined to approve my last three posts (one of which was an apology to Lew Dawson for my snotty tone) and I don’t expect him to approve the fourth, either - which is a dig at S. Pohlman for being condescending.

[Richard_T_r_i_m_p_i]

Bob, I know it distresses you but why pay much attention? Based on my experiences, it’s not worth reading their reviews or taking any stock in the points awarded to OR wines by either JM or HS…although the WS photos can be kind of nice. I’d be very happy if they ignored (or never even researched) my favorite 10+ OR producers. Good wine can speak pretty well for itself.

RT