May's Case of the Month is assembled in honor of Oregon Wine Month! Not just Pinots and Chardonnays, we highlighted the breadth of innovation and creativity in Oregon wine-making, as well as our state's history and unique landscape. Here is a taste of what's included.
Van Duzer Estate Pinot Gris, 2023
This wine highlights the unique AVA of the Van Duzer corridor, a geographical feature west of the Willamette Valley that allows cool Pacific winds to descend upon the vineyards each evening. This cool air creates more hearty and thick-skinned fruit, which informs the complexity of the wines produced here.
Patricia Green Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, 2023
The team at Patricia Green always deserves a shoutout for what they do with Sauvignon Blanc in the Willamette Valley. Less than 100 acres of the variety are planted here (compare that to over 5,000 acres of Pinot Gris!), making it a rare and exclusive treat for those in the know to experience the light-hearted complexity of these wines. The fruit for this bottling comes from all over the Valley and lends itself to a sophisticated and aromatic expression that one could see themselves crushing all Summer long.
David Hill Winery Farmhouse Red Blend
While fruit for the Farmhouse Red Blend is sourced from vineyards in Oregon and Washington, David Hill Winery is a site of profound historical significance in the north Willamette Valley. The Farmhouse, now their tasting room, was built in 1883 as part of the Reuter Family homestead. Before the era of American prohibition, award-winning Alsatian-style wines were produced here. In 1965, a UC Davis graduate named Charles Coury replanted the vineyards with rootstock from Alsace and Burgundy. These are now some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley, a testament to the rich and enduring history of Oregon's wine industry.
Joe Swick Gamay Noir
Joe Swick produces "naked wines," exemplified by this unexpected Gamay Noir. Swick creates fascinating and fun wines that maintain their finesse by using exclusively organic and biodynamically grown fruit and employing minimal-intervention techniques. These wines highlight cooler climate sites in Oregon, and through them, Joe hopes that people can "taste the Pacific Northwest." This whole-cluster Gamay may look feather-light, but it packs a punch and deserves a light chill and some protein-focused small plates to accompany it.
Peter William Vineyards Syrah, 2018
Another favorite is the Syrahs produced by the team at Peter William. Winemaker Eric Weisinger produces sophisticated and ageable Syrahs in the warm climate of the Rogue Valley for an excellent price. We encourage you to pick up an extra bottle of this one to hold onto for a couple more years!
The case also features some other beautiful Pinot Noir and Chardonnays. We curated this case to share a taste of what there is to celebrate within our 23 AVAs in honor of Oregon Wine Month!
Come pick up a case, stop by to see what else we have on the shelves, or attend one of our weekly tastings on Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30!
We at the Portland Bottle Shop and the Oregon wine industry appreciate your support of Oregon wine. Cheers!