I took a business friend (from New Hampshire; he's an ex-MIT inventor who chairs the school board; his wife is a judge) to Dundee yesterday. We went to:
1. Duck Pond (photo on left): Surprisingly good wines; "smoothness" describes all of them except for the ones trying to be French, which are much more acidic and crisp. This winemaker is skilled. I didn't know much about DP. Very pretty landscaping and comfortable tasting room. Very friendly pourers (may I say "good ole girls"?). Take a date or spouse to this place and you won't be sorry!
2007 P. gris: OK; too tart. $10 retail
2007 Chard: Very nice; well-made $10 ret
2006 Pinot noir: Good nose and very smooth and fruity; this is a definite buy! Good Oregon pinot character and cheap! $20 retail
2005 Sangio: Good; balanced. But nothing to write home about. $12 ret
2007 Syrah: no, no, no. $12 ret
2006 Syrah, Desert Wind Vineyard: Still no. $28 ret.
2004 Port (Cab franc): Very good; super balance; smooth; rich. Rings the bell. $40
Duck Pond's "Desert Wind" label:
2008 Viognier: Very French; crisp, minerally, almost clear. Enticing. $15ret
2006 Semillon: Very nice, but that's it. $12 ret.
2006 Merlot: No. $18 ret.
2006 Cab (Desert Wind): Oh, yeah! Leather nose with desert minerals and spice; super fruit; well-made; fulfilling. Only $18 retail. This is a must-have wine.
2007 Barbera: Nope. $20 retail.
2. Argyle. Rollin (winemaker, from Texas) is a master, at least with the sparkling wines. One should never go to Dundee without visiting Argyle. It is a true Oregon gem.
a. 2005 Brut: good; silky; impressive. $30 retail
b. 2000 Blanc de Blancs: Great. Awesome. Fabulous. 100% Chardonnay, and for my money this is the best way to drink that grape. Come up with a reason to celebrate, with this stuff! 92WS but I'd give it 94. $40 retail and they're almost out of it.
c. 2006 Black Brut: Dark red sparkler, Australian style. Very spicy. Strange, frankly, but good. Black currant is VERY dominant, which I love, but again it's weird for a bubbly. $30 ret.
d. 2008 Riesling: 1%RS. Good nose; warms to fields of honeyed flowers. Zesty. $25 ret.
e. 2006 Willam Valley Pinot noir: Just OK. $25 ret.
f. 2005 Nuthouse Pinot noir: No nose. Disappointing. 93 points in WS, but I don't see it. It is more concentrated than the cheaper PN, and it's fun to drink, but still . . . $60 retail.
3. Dobbes Family Estate: This also includes the lesser "Wines by Joe" label (but unless marked "WBJ" below, it's Dobbes label). Nice landscaping and tasting room. Worth a visit.
a. 2007 WBJ P.gris: Euro style; very crisp and tart. $14 ret.
b. 2006 Viognier: Rogue River; volcanic soil. Nice complex nose. One of the better wines from S. Oregon grapes that I've ever had, and that includes all of Abacela except for their Reserve Tempranillo, which is King of the Umpqua/Rogue. Dry. Juniper berries predominate, which is kind of cool. When you're drinking this, you're standing on bone dry, gravelly soil, with bright light on the hillside across from this stark gully before you, as the sun sinks behind you, and the only scattered plants are the tough ones that can make it in this harsh landscape . . . This keeps up to five years. $22 ret.
c. 2005 Cuvee Pinot noir: Great Oregon nose. Strong cherries. But $52 ret; whoa!
d. 2005 Grand Assemblage Syrah: Rogue Valley. Has 2% Viognier, for aromatics. Nose is earthy, like a desert. Wine is tart. $26 ret.
e. 2005 Fortmiller Syrah: Strong port aroma, which suggests raisined grapes--I bet there was tons of heat on the vineyard. A heavy, dark purple wine. Pretty good, but give me Walla Walla for this price. $45 ret.
I can get any of these at wholesale by driving back to Dundee, and some of these are available at Portland distributors. Let me know if you're interested. Your price would be about 15% less than the above retail prices; let me know if interested, and I'll tell you.
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