Pacific Northwest, Day 5: Willamette Valley Wine Day
We went wine tasting in the Willamette Valley. At Erath, we tried Pinots, Chardonnay, and a rosé. The 2014 Pinot Noir with blackberry notes was a standout: it had been the hottest year on record and tasted very fruity. The 2015 Willakia Chardonnay was fruity and dry.
Then Archery Summit, where we tasted wines from different vineyards and talked about the local grapes. The 2017 Renegade Ridge had toasted marshmallow notes, and the 2017 Archer’s Edge Vineyard reminded me a little of French Burgundy. We also tried the 2016 Looney Vineyard, Arcus Vineyard, Red Hills Vineyard, and Summit Vineyard. The Summit Vineyard was my ideal Pinot.
Colene Clemens was next:
| Wine | What I thought |
|---|---|
| 2018 Rosé of Pinot | Clean, crisp, tart. |
| 2017 Chardonnay | Clean and very nice. |
| 2015 Margo Pinot | — |
| 2015 Adriane Pinot | — |
| 2015 Victoria Pinot | — |
| 2012 Adriane Pinot | — |
Finally, at Fairsing we tried a 2018 rosé with floral notes and “strawberry lemonade for adults,” a 2016 Chardonnay, a 2017 Chardonnay, and a nicely balanced 2016 Pinot Noir. We bought a rosé for Agatha, a rosé for Cyril and Fred, and a 2016 Chardonnay for Danielle.
Dinner at Thistle in McMinnville was a daily menu from farm to table. Ksenia had a gin cocktail and gnocchi with walnut nettle; I had rabbit. We split bread, fried steak tartare, smoked rockfish, and a panna cotta with rose.
Part of our June 2019 Pacific Northwest trip. Trip summary.
From the Notebook
