Brandborg Winery  
 
The first stop on my Umpqua trip was at Brandborg. This is a very impressive facility on the north side of 38 in the city of Elkton. Most of you are now looking for maps trying to figure out where in the world Elkton is. Let me help, it is west and south of Eugene. If you take I-5 to exit 162 and go west you will get to Elkton in about 20 minutes.  
 
You can view Brandborg Winery on our new touring guide:  
http://www.oregonwines.com/touringguide/regionzoom.php?RegionID=3&x=122&y=66  
 
Now back to the important things, the wineries and their wines.  
 
Brandborg was in a very new building and with all the room they have in the back should be able to produce as much as 10,000 cases. When I was there they were pouring nine of their wines. The wines as a whole were excellent and should be sought out.  
 
Wine: Pinot Gris  
Year: 2002  
Price: 15  
Aroma: Woodsy, Field  
Taste: Nice light fruit, good acid balance  
Wine level/Wine Value: 8/8  
My Comments: A very nice crisp Pinot Gris, I think it will be better drunk young.  
 
Wine: Scarlet Cuvee  
Year: 2002  
Price: 12  
Aroma: Smells more like a typical Pinot Gris than a Pinot Noir  
Taste: Medium body, short finish, nice light fruit, not sweet, more dry-styled  
Wine level/Wine Value: 7/8  
My Comments: Made from Pinot Noir, a great wine for the Rose` drinkers out there  
 
Wine: Riesling  
Year: 2002  
Price: 11  
Aroma: Honey, melon  
Taste: Sweet, peach, long finish, medium body  
Wine level/Wine Value: 8/8  
My Comments: the finish is really nice on this wine and I could see this bottle not lasting very long on a warm afternoon  
 
Wine: Gewurztraminer  
Year: 2002  
Price: 12  
Aroma: woody, grape  
Taste: sweet, peach, pear, medium body, long finish  
Wine level/Wine Value: 9/9  
My Comments: One of the better Gewurztraminers I have enjoyed and it did not have the tinny taste so common with Gewurztraminer found in Oregon. This is definitely near the top of my list for Gewurztraminers.  
 
Wine: Anderson Valley (Cal.) Pinot Noir  
Year: 1999  
Price: 20  
Aroma: clay, woody, beef, cinnamon  
Taste: Full body, medium finish, silky/velvety texture, rose, hot finish  
Wine level/Wine Value: 7/7  
My Comments: I know many of you are thinking why are you tasting a California Pinot Noir when Oregon’s are so much better. It is my duty to you the readers to report on all the wines I can taste at each winery so you can make better decisions when buying. This wine was a big change from what I am used to tasting in Oregon and for that reason I was not a big fan of it.  
 
 
 
Wine: Russian River Valley (Cal.) Sangiovese  
Year: 2000  
Price: 16  
Aroma: Very dominate raspberry  
Taste: Full body, medium finish, minerally on tongue  
Wine level/Wine Value: 8/8  
My Comments: Something about this wine I really liked. I can’t really place my finger on it.  
 
Wine: Redwood Valley (Cal.) Carignane  
Year: 1998  
Price: 14  
Aroma: rose, violets, hint of beef, leather  
Taste: Full mouth taste, full body, long finish, cherry and plum currants  
Wine level/Wine Value: 8/8  
My Comments: Excellent wine, a varietal I have not had before but only read about. This is a wine for the full-bodied red-wine drinker to hunt down for no other reason than to try it. I think most of you red drinkers would like it. The only reason it did not get a 9/9 is I have no other Carignane to compare it to.  
 
Wine: Napa Valley (Cal.) Charbono  
Year: 1999  
Price: 18  
Aroma: Musty straw, strawberry, deep, strong  
Taste: Full body, silky, long finish, cherry, berry  
Wine level/Wine Value: 8/8  
My Comments: Another excellent wine from a varietal I have not had before. I am not sure who else makes these wines but I hope more wineries will in the future if this is typical for these. Red wine drinkers need to do get a bottle of this also. Same reason for the 8/8 nothing to compare to.  
 
Wine: Sonoma Syrah  
Year: 1998  
Price: 15  
Aroma: Green vines, spicy, berry, acid  
Taste: Little bit of Acid, beef, musty.  
Wine level/Wine Value: 6/6  
My Comments: A nice syrah, not the best I have had just a very average wine.  
 
Wine Level and Wine Value rankings defined:  
 
The Wine Level/Wine Value numbers are on a ten point scale, 10 being the best possible score.  
 
Wine Level is the rank of wine with no regard to price.  
 
The Wine Value number is the ranking taking price into consideration. If the Wine Value is lower then Wine Level it usually means I feel the price is high, if the Wine Value is higher then I feel the wine is a great deal. If they are the same then it is priced where it should be.