Fresh off the heels of a January 2020 tasting of more than 450 Oregon wines, Nick Stock, executive editor of JamesSuckling.com, has published his Oregon report with glowing reviews of the state’s
Pinot noirs and Chardonnays. Of note and nabbbing the top score is Antica Terra’s Pinot Noir Antikythera 2017 and library wine Cristom Jessie Vineyard 2005, both rated at 98 points, underscoring the ageability of Oregon wines. Writes Nick: “The Antikythera 2017 has such smooth-honed tannin and a very composed mouthfeel, taut and lustrously textured. The Cristom is still so fresh and just heading into the first stages of tertiary development, exuding a tantalising smoothness of tannin.”
In the top 10 are:
Antica Terra Pinot noir Eola-Amity Hills Antikythera 2017
Cristom Pinot noir Willamette Valley Eola-Amity Hills Jessie Vineyard 2005
Antica Terra Pinot noir Willamette Valley Botanica 2017
Antica Terra Pinot noir Willamette Valley Ceras 2017
Domaine Serene Pinot noir Willamette Valley Monogram 2015
Sequitur Pinot noir Ribbon Ridge 2018
Soter Pinot noir Yamhill-Carlton Mineral Springs 2016
The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot noir Dundee Hills South Block 2015
00 Wines Chardonnay Willamette Valley EGW 2018
Beaux Frères Pinot noir Ribbon Ridge Belles Soeurs Cuvée 2018
Stock, having completed his third voyage to Oregon in under 18 months, is supportive of our wine industry and especially the people within, last year writing, “Many variables influence winemaking here but the most exciting at the moment is the human factor.”
This year Stock noted Oregon wines’ steadiness, summing up by saying, “This report illustrates another convincing showing from Oregon, which is producing high quality across a number of vintages and demonstrating real consistency of style from producer to producer and vineyard to vineyard.”
For the full Oregon report including tasting notes, please subscribe at JamesSuckling.com.
