This year, I was unable to enjoy three days in Oregon Wine Country, but was able to get out and visit a few wineries on Friday. I am hoping you all had a chance to get out and taste a few good offerings from some Oregon wineries. Here are my experiences, and I am hoping to hear about yours in our message board.  
 
The first stop had two wineries in one building. These are my favorite, one stop to taste wines from more than one winery. This time it was Francis Tannahill and Hatcher. Both wineries are rather new on the wine scene and I was looking forward to tasting the offerings. I got here rather early in order to beat the crowds and allow me time to talk to the winemakers and other employees. This is the benefit of getting up early and getting moving.  
 
 
Francis Tannahill Wines  
 
2001 Mason Dixon Oregon Syrah $33  
Aroma: Grassy, Waxy, Cherry  
Taste: Bright fruit, Long finish, Medium body, Dusty, Cherry, Plum  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 7  
A very solid wine but the price point at which this one is entering the market makes me wonder why they are doing this. I feel a good Australian or South American Syrah would have more fruit and less cost.  
 
2002 The Hermit Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $33  
Taste: Dusty, Tannins, Nice fruit  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 6  
This was a good Pinot by Oregon standards, my only complaint being the price. I understand small wineries sometimes need to charge a tad more, for they don’t have the volume of the larger ones. But not everybody can or will pay $30+ for a bottle that seems to need more cellar time  
 
2002 Dragonfly Dry Washington Gewurztraminer $19  
Aroma: Tropical, Strong  
Taste: Syrupy, Tropical, Short finish, Medium body, Metallic after-taste  
Overall: Wine 6/Value 5  
This was a good Gewurztraminer and if not for the metallic after-taste I would say a great one. If you like or don’t mind the metallic finish I would get a bottle or two.  
 
2001 Dragonfly Passito Washington Gewurztraminer 375ml $22.50  
Aroma: Melon, Honey  
Taste: Honey, Medium body, Medium finish, Vanilla, NO metal after-taste  
Overall: Wine 8/Value 7  
To me, this was the best offering of the Francis Tannahilll, a nice-bodied dessert-styled wine but not syrupy like some wineries think they should be. Just a nice wine with all extra water missing, the flavor and aroma staying behind.  
 
 
Hatcher Wine  
Ph# 503-864-4489  
 
2002 Oregon Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $33  
Aroma: Nice big fruit nose  
Taste: Big balance fruit, Long finish, Full body  
Overall: Wine 8/Value 7  
This was the best wine at the stop, a big fruit wine, nice tannins for aging and all the smell and taste you could hope for. This wine at its price is a good deal and if you bought a case you could enjoy it for a few years.  
 
After about an hour at this location it was on my way to my next stop, White Rose. Here is a winery that opened up for the first public event and I was very impressed with the wines, winery and winemaker. This stop was longer then I typically like on a special weekend but I was having so much fun here it was hard to leave.  
 
 
White Rose Wines  
Ph # 949-275-8021  
 
2002 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir $10  
Aroma: Fruit, Black Pepper  
Taste: Strong tannic backbone, has good fruit.  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 8  
This wine is (excuse the term) very masculine because of the tannic backbone. This wine will probably become more approachable to those who don’t like tannic wines over the next two or three years. I personally really like the tannic structure and the fruit shows up just enough to be enjoyable and can still be tasted in the finish.  
 
2001 Greg’s River Pinot Noir $15  
Aroma: Nice balance fruit in nose  
Taste: Smooth, Velvety, nice fruit, good finish and body  
Overall: Wine 8/Value 9  
This wine for its price is unbelievable and I will be surprised if there is any left after about three months.  
 
2001 Mereotti’s Milien Pinot Noir $30  
To make this short, this wine is just like the Greg’s River with the exception of a stronger fruit in the nose, fuller body and longer fruit finish. I really like this wine but compared to Greg’s River I can’t see it being worth twice as much.  
 
2001 Quiotee’s Lair Pinot Noir $45  
Aroma: Dark fruit currants  
Taste: Big bold fruit, Medium body, Long finish, spicy kick of black pepper.  
Overall: Wine 8/Value 8  
I am not sure what the difference is between this one and the previous two besides this was one very complete wine, velvety texture, big balance fruit on palate and nose. I guess I just really fell in love with this wine. Try to hunt down a bottle and I think you will be greatly rewarded for it.  
 
 
 
Futures are hard to evaluate for you taste a wine that has only been made for sometimes less than six months. For that reason you will see these done in a different format.  
 
2002 White Rose Estate Futures Pinot Noir $50  
The aroma and taste showed nice cranberry. This wine was very tight but then again being only six months old might explain that. Based on the other wines tasted today, I expect this wine to open up showing nice flavor.  
 
2002 Quiotee’s Lair Future Pinot Noir $35  
Has a musty earthy aroma with hints of plum. The wine had currants of cherry (?), smoke and was a tad tart. Had a good body and solid finish, and is my favorite of the two futures. I would buy a case of this and have no regrets putting it down and enjoying it for years to come.  
 
After saying goodbye to White Rose I was off to Carlo and Julian (ph# 503-852-7432). This winery I first found about three years ago and was impressed. I have not had a chance to get back to them until this weekend and my memories were right. This little winery is still making a lot of good Pinots Noirs and added a Tempranillo to the list now.  
 
Unfortunately for me I was not the only one who enjoys stopping here for a taste on special weekends and it was very packed. So packed it was impossible to take notes while tasting but I did write down a few notes afterwards in the car. All the Pinots were excellent and worth the price they were asking for them. They all showed big fruit on the palate and a nice aroma. The $10 bottling has got to be the best bargain I have seen in this state, period. The Tempranillo was a good wine but I think it needs more time to soften up before it will be truly enjoyed.  
 
After enjoying some nice Pinot Noirs I was off to my last stop, ElvenGlade. At this stop I was reminded that a red wine needs to be enjoyed at close to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and not at cellar temperatures. I am embarrassed to have to admit this but I forgot and wanted to remind all of you of the same. If a red wine seems cold to you, please warm up your glass in your hand before truly evaluating the wine. Another tip, the first taste of any wine is not the true taste; it takes at least two sips before you can fairly judge it.  
 
 
ElvenGlade  
 
2002 Pinot Gris $12  
Aroma: Strong, Fruit, Nice  
Taste: Good balance, Acid, Crisp, Medium body, Medium finish  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 8  
This wine was made in all steel, my favorite way to make a good Pinot Gris.  
 
2002 Pinot Gris “Owner’s Reserve” $15  
Aroma: Woodsy, Pleasant, Long time in nose  
Taste: Woodsy, Green, Medium body, Oakish,  
Overall: Wine 6/Value 6  
I need to be up front and say heavily-oaked white wines are not high on my list so if you like oak in your white wines, this one is for you. It has a lot of Chardonnay characteristics in it. My tasting partner for the day really liked this one over the other Pinot Gris.  
 
2002 Pinot Blanc $15  
Aroma: Lemon, Lime, Field, Grass  
Taste: Hint of tropical fruit, Medium body, Medium finish  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 7  
I have not had a lot of Pinot Blanc made in Oregon, maybe a dozen or so, but this one I can say is one of the better ones I have tasted. As a wine in general terms a good one.  
 
2002 Chardonnay $9  
Aroma: Well balanced, Hint of oak, Almond, Warm Nut  
Taste: Nice oakiness but not overpowering, Nice fruit currants, Medium body, Medium finish, Nice finish  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 7  
 
2002 Pinot Noir $18  
** Note: this is the wine where I had to relearn that you should taste red wines when they are warm **  
Aroma: Leather, Plum, Earthy  
Taste: Medium Body, Long Finish, cranberry, raspberry, Big fruit,  
Overall: Wine 7/Value 8  
This was a nice big-bodied, full fruit wine I would recommend to anyone.  
 
2001 Winter Crush $20 Dessert Wine  
Aroma: Tropical fruit, Concentrated  
Taste: Sweet, Tropical, Long finish, Full body  
Overall: Wine 8/Value 8  
A nice dessert wine that is not syrupy or has a metallic finish.  
 
 
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 than 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.