Episode 46 | Drew Voit of Harper Voit Wines and Willamette Valley AVA
Drew Voit
Winemaker, Harper Voit Wines
In this episode, we’re pleased to welcome winemaker Drew Voit, whose career in Oregon’s wine scene has made him sought after by both consumers and wineries alike for his skill in producing notable wines from the Willamette and beyond.
Visit the Brick House Vineyard website
Willamette Valley AVA: Selected favorites
In part two of our epic trip to the Willamette Valley, we get deep into the heart of this AVA and learn that Pinot Noir, and stunning white wines from this region, come in many unique forms, including the don’t-miss wineries and wines we discovered there:
Bells Up — 2020 Jupiter Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains AVA): Nearly equal parts heritage clone Pommard and Dijon clone 667– Jupiter showcases aromatics of caramel and red flowers, with guava and pomegranate on the palate. Bells Up Winery
Lenné Estate Winery — 2017 South Slope Select Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton AVA): Pommard and Dijon 115 clones go into this excellent Pinot Noir, with a savory expression that includes notes of black cherry and vanilla mocha, wood, and a grounded earthiness. Purchase at Lenne’s website
Roots — 2012 Racine (Yamhill-Carlton): Savory, rich expression of Pinot Noir with bright fruit and mellow tannins. Buy here
Stoller Family Estate — 2017 Reserve Pinot Noir: Ripe bing cherry and cola notes with bright acidity and elegant tannins that can be enjoyed now or added to the cellar. Purchase at Stoller’s website
Domaine Roy & fils — 2019 Iron Filbert Vineyard Chardonnay: Aromatics of lemon verbena and Mellon, with bracing acidity and mineral tang that are incredibly well-balanced on the palate. Available via Domaine Roy’s website
Shea Wine Cellars — 2018 Homer Pinot Noir: A blend of the “best barrels” in their cellar. Beautiful tannins, blue and dark red fruit, floral notes, a velvety finish. Buy at Shea Wine Cellars
Domaine Serene — 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): (NOTE: The Grace Vineyards Pinot was no longer available on their website, so we’ve substituted this excellent selection in its place) Aromas of dried cherry, dark chocolate, and saddle leather on the nose. On the palate, ripples of composed tannins and savory characters of cherry tobacco, ground cloves, and allspice. Domaine Serene
Bethel Heights— 2017 Justice Vineyard Pinot Noir: Tart cherry and soy sauce on the nose and Black cherry, blackberry, tobacco, with cocoa powder and fine-grained tannins on the palate. Buy at Bethel Heights
Harper Voit — 2016 Antiquum Vineyard Pinot Noir: A smokey char on the nose and Black cherry, cinnamon, cocoa, and a bit of spice on the palate. Purchase from Harper Voit
Discover Willamette Valley AVA wines
Episode 45 | Doug Tunnell of Brick House and the Ribbon Ridge AVA
Doug Tunnell
Winemaker & Grower, Brick House Vineyard
In this episode, you’ll meet Biodynamic winemaker Doug Tunnell of Brick House Vineyards, whose fascinating life has led him to produce some of the country’s most celebrated Pinot Noir.
Visit the Brick House Vineyard website
Ribbon Ridge AVA: Selected favorites
We recount part one of our epic trip to the Willamette Valley with a focus on the Ribbon Ridge nested-AVA, including several of the favorite wines, wineries, and winemakers we encountered, complete with must-try bottle recommendations, including:
Brick House — 2017 Evelyn’s Pinot (Pommard/Dijon clone): A nose that includes toffee and baking spices, and flavors of soy sauce, tomato paste, baked red fruits, tobacco, and shiitake mushroom.
Beaux Freres —The Beaux Freres Pinot Noir: Bright red strawberry and Creme Brûlée aromatics, followed by a deep, earthy expression of plum and dark cherries. Beaux Freres website
Utopia Vineyards — 2015 Dijon clone 777: Savory, rich, dark expression of pinot whose tannins have developed beautifully over time and are probably at peak. Utopia Vineyards website
Trisaetum Winery — 2017 Pashey Blanc de Blancs, Ribbon Ridge Estate: Fresh citrus and stone fruits on the nose, with a palate that displays enticing flavors of vanilla crème, apricot, and granny smith apple. Trisaetum website
Ayers Vineyard & Winery — 2016 Pioneer Dijon 667 Clone: Caramel nose, followed by a bright red cherry palette and a savory mid-palette featuring herbs, smoke, and wood. Ayers Vineyard website
Eminent Domaine — 2018 Estate Pinot Noir: Black cherry, black tea, baked fruits, and medium tannins. Eminent Domaine website
Visit the Ribbon Ridge AVA Winegrowers website
Episode 44 | Greg & Shae Frichette: Red Mountain’s winemaking power-couple
Greg and Shae Frichette
Winemakers, Frichette Winery
In this episode, we chat with Greg and Shae Frichette, a husband and wife winemaking duo. Hear how they changed their lives with a flip of a coin that landed them in the fabled Red Mountain AVA of Washington State where they planted an estate vineyard. We’ll also open some bottles of Frichette so you know what to expect from this iconic region. Plus, we discuss the new Alliance of Women in Washington Wine and make a few buying highlights from some of its members.
Visit Frichette Winery’s website
Frichette wines featured in this episode:
2018 Red Mountain Malbec: Deep, dark purple color with blackberry and blueberry on the nose. On the first sip, you may be overwhelmed by the boldness of the blackberry flavors which quickly take a turn to a ripe raspberry, and finally a hint of caramel on the finish.
2018 Punctual: This Cabernet Franc dominant blend features blueberry and caramel on the nose. On the palate: dark cherry, ripe raspberry, olive, and baking spices with a hint of caramel on the long finish.
2018 Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: The biggest, boldest wine from the Frichette 2018 vintage. Big blackberry and baking spices on the palate with a hint of caramel on the finish.
Alliance of Women in Washington Wine: Selected favorites
Goose Ridge Winery 2016 Syrah: Aged in a mix of French and American oak barrels, so you kind of get the best of both worlds there.
Cascadian Outfitters wines-in-a-can series: All good quality and portable for all your hiking trips, like the fun Cascadian Rainbow Rose Bubbles, with the Rainbow sasquatch on the label!
Columbia Winery 2018 Cabernet Franc: Sourced from the Alderridge Vineyard of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Smak Wines: 2020 Spring Rosé
Make an individual donation to the Alliance
Episode 43 | The Louis M. Martini legacy and where Cabernet Sauvignon is king
Michael Eddy & Brenae Royal
Winemaker & Monte Rosso Vineyard Manager, Louis M. Martini
Winemaker Michael Eddy and Vineyard Manager Brenae Royal from California’s revered Louis M. Martini winery are preserving the legacy of one of California’s most esteemed wineries. Learn how Michael became only the fourth Director of Winemaking in the history of Louis M. Martini, and how Brenae became vineyard manager in record time at one of the oldest and most desirable Napa valley growing sites, the famed Monte Rosso Vineyard.
Explore and visit Louis M. Martini
Wine storage tips & our Washington Cabernet Sauvignon picks
We examine the aging, maturation, and drinking of Cabernet Sauvignon. When exactly is the right time to open those big, bold reds? Plus, we’ll list some of our favorite Cabs from Washington state.
Photographs courtesy of Louis M. Martini
Episode 42 | 2020—What a Year.
2020 and our Best Of in Wine
Don’t let 2020 kick you as you head out the door into 2021. We drank a lot of wine this year (didn’t we all?) and here’s our Best Of in Wine.
Yes, yes, we could have included DOZENS to this list like Cayuse, Horsepower, Passing Time, Force Majeure, etc. etc. but some of these beauties aren’t widely purchasable or they need to lay down for a while. So, this represents what came out of our wine cellar and online shopping that you can grab up too!
Plus, events, tasting rooms, virtual events, COVID, and more.
Top Tasters
Best White Wines—Two Vintners 2019 Grenache Blanc (WA) and Devision Vintners 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Best Rosé—Sashay Wines 2019 Rosé by Shae Frichette (WA)
Best Orange Wines—Troon Vineyard 2019 Kubli Bench Amber (OR) and Two Vintners 2019 “From Mars” (WA)
Best “Unusual” Wine—Sabelli-Frisch 2018 Lanterna Flame Tokay (CA)
Best Pinot Noir—Joseph Swan Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir Trenton Estate (CA) and Big Table Farm’s 2017 Sunnyside Pinot Noir (OR)
Best Syrah—Big Table Farm, 2016 Funk Estate Vineyard Syrah (OR) and Devison Vintners 2018 Beneath the Stones (WA)
Best Rhone Style Blends—2017 Clos St. Michel Chateauneuf-Du-Pape (FR) and Cairdeas Winery, the 2017 Caislean an Papa (WA)
Best “Right Bank” (Merlot/Merlot dominant)—2015 Chateau Rouget Pomerol (FR) and 2015 CheckMate End Game (BC)
Best Dessert Wine—Vista Alegre 40 year Tawny Port and Tildio Winery, 2018 Estate Port (WA)
Episode 41 | Tony Rynders: Master of Oregon Pinot Noir
Tony Rynders
Winemaker, Panther Creek Cellars
Panther Creek Cellar’s winemaker Tony Rynders has had a fascinating journey as a vintner, one that’s taken him from the Pacific Northwest to California and back again. Along this path, he’s garnered one of the more stellar reputations in the industry for creating award-winning Pinot Noir and unique white blends highly prized by fans of wines from Oregon state’s terroir. Dave & Sandi will discuss wineries with a presence in both Washington and Oregon, and reveal some of the wineries with cross state boundaries between Washington and Oregon, highlighting how our shared AVA’s (American Viticulture Area) inspire collaboration. Plus, they discuss their tasting notes of Panther Creek Cellars’ three single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and the Winemaker’s Cuveé.
Visit Panther Creek Cellars website
