TN: 2008 Torii Mor Pinot Gris

This is an absolutely lovely wine. It is as clean and pristine as they come. The fruit is a bit oily at first, but really unfolds into a white flower and slate/stone cocktail. This went very well with the Mexican dish tonight, but would be utterly wonderful with seafood. Terrific bargain at @$17 in Houston. I really liked this. Score: 90

Torii Mor makes one of Oregons great Pinot Blancs and a handful of fine Noir. I can't remember tasting the Gris though. Thanks for the note!

Cheers,
Bill

Torii Mor makes one of Oregons great Pinot Blancs and a handful of fine Noir. I can't remember tasting the Gris though. Thanks for the note!

Bill,
Has this latter continued to be true since the departure of Patty Green as winemaker? (not recent news, I realize). I have some good memories of late '90s/early '00s PNs from them.

Mark Lipton

Torii Mor makes one of Oregons great Pinot Blancs and a handful of fine Noir. I can't remember tasting the Gris though. Thanks for the note!

Bill,
Has this latter continued to be true since the departure of Patty Green as winemaker? (not recent news, I realize). I have some good memories of late '90s/early '00s PNs from them.

Mark Lipton

Hi Mark,

I like the new guy and his wines (French gentleman, I can't recall his name.) My notes tell me that The '06 Dundee Hills, Olalla Vineyard, and Hawks View were my favorites when I visited in 2008, and I've tasted a wine here or there since then with good results even from a disparity of vintages. That Pinot Blanc though! ALMOST as good as Mark Vlossak's Freedom Hill.

-Bill

I like the new guy and his wines (French gentleman, I can't recall his name.) My notes tell me that The '06 Dundee Hills, Olalla Vineyard, and Hawks View were my favorites when I visited in 2008, and I've tasted a wine here or there since then with good results even from a disparity of vintages. That Pinot Blanc though! ALMOST as good as Mark Vlossak's Freedom Hill.

Thanks, Bill. I'm a bit of an outlier in that I generally prefer Pinot Blanc to Pinot Gris in Oregon, so your endorsement is a meaningful one for me. On the whole, though, I'm waiting to see what Oregon can do with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Harry Pederson-Nedry is playing with them at Chehalem, for instance.

Mark Lipton

I generally prefer Pinot Blanc to Pinot Gris in Oregon, so your endorsement is a meaningful one for me. On the whole, though, I'm waiting to see what Oregon can do with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Harry Pederson-Nedry is playing with them at Chehalem, for instance.

Mark Lipton

I'm with you on the Pinot Blanc in Oregon (though I REALLY like the Pinot Gris at Bethel Heights and of course Eyrie.) Evesham Wood has some Grüner planted. It all gets blended into the Les Puits Sec Blanc (though the label doesn't indicate that fact.) Russ Raney also has some Rieslaner planted there -the bottle I had was a delicious go of it. I have searched high and low for a great bottle of Oregon Riesling and just haven't found it. There is never enough intensity, firmness, mineral, aroma or acidity. It might just be too warm. GV has a better chance.

Cheers,
Bill

I've always thought that Pinot Gris was Oregon's best shot. A really world class effort! But they (and understandably so) want to hang their hats on their Pinot Noirs. It is a shame that they don't promote this lovely wine more, it is great with the local oysters and crab. The Pinot Noir's don't seem to be what Burgundy is, at least below the $50 price tag, IMO.