WTN: White Out

[Jenise]

For this month's neighborhood tasting, I chose four slightly-off-the-beaten-path 2014 Pacific Northwest whites for the warm-up session. IOW, no pinot grigio, no sauvignon blanc, no chardonnay--but rather the grapes less travelled. My participants aren't neccessarily risk averse, but they would not usually discover grapes like Mueller-Thurgau on their own. All the wines showed very well and were chosen on the recommendations of a local retailer--only the Chenin was previously known to me.


2014 Powers Winery Viognier Columbia Valley WA
Powers is an interesting winery. Their wines are all made from estate grapes, and their vineyards are all organically-farmed. They were doing this before it was cool to be 'biodynamic'. They're also value-priced compared to most--deliberately so. Have to admit up front that I am not a viognier fan, but this wine won me over nonetheless. Fresh and lively, more fun than serious, it has bright lemony citrus and stone fruit flavors with good acidity, and, while aromatic, it importantly lacks the cloying dead-old-lady perfume typical of most new world viogniers. $12

2014 Anne Amie Müller-Thurgau Cuvée A Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton OR
From vineyards planted in 1979. Tangy stone fruit; clean, bright, classy and harmonious. Unexpectedly delicious--a good sipper, but also a good food wine. I'm going to buy some for myself. $13

2014 Foris Gewürztraminer Rogue Valley OR
From Oregon's warmer southern region. White flowers and ginger ale flavors. Admirable concentration and body for the price, with just a hint of RS. Very Alsatian. $13

2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc Old Vines Columbia Valley WA
From vineyards planted in 1979. Been a fan of this Vouvray-styled Chenin for years, and this '14 is right in the pocket. Good acidity and control for the vintage, with evident minerality. Very classy. $16

great post, 4 tasty wines at wallet friendly prices, well done! will keep an eye out for these gems
thank you

I have enjoyed several wines from Foris (I've never met, but owners are distant relatives of Betsy's) .

I find it amusing that in 1979 someone thought Muller-Thurgau was way to go in Oregon. I'm guessing they were basing on yield. Glad it turned out to make good wine!

[Jenise]

I have enjoyed several wines from Foris (I've never met, but owners are distant relatives of Betsy's) .

I find it amusing that in 1979 someone thought Muller-Thurgau was way to go in Oregon. I'm guessing they were basing on yield. Glad it turned out to make good wine!

Foris is a real hero for the variety of wines they produce and the relatively low prices they charge.

Re the M-T, I hear you. And almost more remarkable than the fact that it was ever planted in the first place is the fact that, even with the winery changing hands (the current owner bought the property in 1999, before that it was known as Chateau Benoit) no one has ripped out the vineyard to plant a grape you don't have to explain to people.

I wasn't referring so much to unknown as unrespected. It's like planting Ugnim Blanc/Trebbiano.
But I've had some nice MTs (mostly Alto Adige),.

No Muller-Thurgau to speak of here in my AB area .

2014 Anne Amie Müller-Thurgau Cuvée A Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton OR
From vineyards planted in 1979. Tangy stone fruit; clean, bright, classy and harmonious. Unexpectedly delicious--a good sipper, but also a good food wine. I'm going to buy some for myself. $13

Interesting. I've always found Müller-Thurgau a big high yielding yawn. Is that one from a very cool location? I read that helps.

Linda Lindsay of Stone Wolf Winery in McMinnville planted Müller-Thurgau about 10 years ago and was going to have their first release of it the last time I was there in 2010. I haven't been out there since, so I haven't tried it.

[David M. Bueker]

Never had M-T that I cared for except from Franken. OK, one from Baden as well, but that's it. May have to find a bottle of the Anne Amie just for kicks.

[Jenise]

Never had M-T that I cared for except from Franken. OK, one from Baden as well, but that's it. May have to find a bottle of the Anne Amie just for kicks.

I can arrange that. I didn't expect it to be better than just bland/academic and serviceable--but my friend the retailer who recommended it said, "I know what you're thinking, but trust me on this!" Glad I did.