Ponzi Vineyard’s Reserve Chardonnay ranked among Oregon’s top 50 wines (Photo by John Valls, courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards)
Temperate climates and warm dry autumns made 2009 and 2010 stellar years for wine produced in Oregon’s Washington County. A panel of four wine professionals, who experienced two weeks of marathon tasting sessions agree, as six of the area’s wineries made this year’s “Best of” list.
Portland Monthly magazine’s annual “Oregon’s 50 Best Wines” issue (on stands now) praises five Washington County wines among the top 20 Pinot Noir, and one of the region’s most recognized labels nabbed recognition in the white wine category. (Read the article in its entirety here.)
In the Pinot Noir category, Washington County wineries earning nods include:
#3: Elk Cove Vineyards‘ 2010 vintage was given an impressive 97 points for its “classic Oregon version” of Pinot Noir
#8: Apolloni Vineyards‘ 2009 estate vintage was racked up 94 points and was noted for its infusion of “dried fruit, tea leaves and dried roses.”
#11: Hawks View Cellars made the list for its 2010 Pinot Noir (93 points), a “bold and elegant” wine.
#13: Ardiri Winery and Vineyards, earned 91 points for its “deliciously dark” 2009 Pinot Noir, the only wine to make an appearance on the “best of” list two years in a row.
#19: David Hill Vineyard and Winery received a score of 89 points for its 2009 “Winemakers Cuvée” Pinot Noir
In the whites category, which encompassed a satisfying mix of varietals including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Viognier and others, Ponzi Vineyards earned 93 points for its 2009 Chardonnay Reserve, “a rich wine with complex layers of citrus, orange blossom, and a touch of caramel.”
Taste for yourself why these wines made Portland Monthly’s list of “Oregon’s 50 Best Wines” (most tasting rooms are open to the public) and explore the other award-winning wineries in the region. For a complete list of wineries in Oregon’s Washington County, please visit our website.