July 24, 2014
Vinopolis Special Two Visionary Oregon Winemakers
Patricia Green
With a long history at stellar wineries throughout Oregon behind her, it’s easy to call Patricia Green one of Oregon’s top winemakers. After purchasing their 52 acre Ribbon
Ridge estate in 2002, Patty Green and Jim Anderson have gained a reputation for the wide array of Pinots they produce from all over Oregon, far flung vineyards representing some of the better sites in the Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, and the Yamhill-Carlton growing regions. Vineyard distinction is of the utmost importance at Patricia Green Cellars, and every step is taken to produce Pinot Noirs that show the various attributes of the sites they work with. Whether part of the Patricia Green Estate or purchased fruit, attention to detail is given to every vine in their non-irrigated fields in order to show the characteristics of the soil, micro-climate and clonal material of each vineyard. In the winery, the philosophy of attention to the smallest details is further extended all the way from the fermenting must to the final bottling process. Rigourous barrel selection and constant tasting are a must in the cellar, as Patricia Green continues to produce 14-16 different bottlings every vintage, each more celebrated than the last. With the 2012 vintage releasing to rave reviews, Patricia Green’s streak seems likely to continue.
Just In- The highest rated of all Patricia Green wines!
Patricia Green Notorious Pinot Noir 2012 ($89.95) $79 special 12+ bottles available Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Deep ruby. Explosive, seductively perfumed aromas of dark berry preserves, incense, rose oil and smoky oak, with an Indian spice nuance building in the glass. Stains the palate with deeply pitched blackberry, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors that are enlivened and given spine by juicy acidity. Deftly plays power off of vivacity and shows a supple, fine-grained texture. Clings with remarkable tenacity on the finish, which is framed by velvety tannins that are subsumed by the wine’s lush fruit. Is this the best wine I’ve ever had from this winery? Probably–and it’s also one of the top wines of the vintage, which is saying something.”
More wine available here now from Patricia Green Cellars
Patricia Green Ana Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid ruby. Pungent, deeply pitched aromas of musky red and dark berries, spicecake and sassafras, with a touch of smokiness in the background. Fleshy and fruit-driven on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors that are given depth by a licorice nuance. Shows very good power and energy on the long, smoky finish, which is firmed by chewy tannins. Give this one some patience, or at least some time in a decanter. This wine is sourced from a section of the Olenik vineyard that’s planted to the Pommard clone.”
Patricia Green Durant Madrone Pinot Noir 2012($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available Josh Raynolds 93 points “Bright ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of black raspberry, potpourri, star anise and cola. Densely packed, appealingly sweet red and dark berry flavors show liqueur-like depth, with juicy acidity and a zesty mineral nuance providing verve. A sexy oak spice note comes up with air and carries through a long, sappy, alluringly sweet finish, which shows supple, fully absorbed tannins.”
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Olenik Vineyard’ Anklebreaker Block Pinot Noir 2012 ($59.95) $46 special 5 bottles available Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid ruby. Pungent, deeply pitched aromas of musky red and dark berries, spicecake and sassafras, with a touch of smokiness in the background. Fleshy and fruit-driven on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors that are given depth by a licorice nuance. Shows very good power and energy on the long, smoky finish, which is firmed by chewy tannins. Give this one some patience, or at least some time in a decanter. This wine is sourced from a section of the Olenik vineyard that’s planted to the Pommard clone.”
Patricia Green Balcombe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 1.5 LITER ($89.95) $69 special 2 magnums available Josh Raynolds 91 points “Vivid ruby-red. Spicy red berries, herbs and Asian spices on the nose. Fresh and juicy, with energetic redcurrant and raspberry flavors underscored by smoky minerals. Shows impressive energy and structure, finishing clean and brisk, with slow-building tannins and lingering sweetness.”
Patricia Green Cellars Balcombe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 ($34.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Suave, mineral-accented raspberry and cola aromas are complicated by a sexy touch of candied flowers. Lively and alluringly sweet, offering vibrant red fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, intense spiciness and a hint of mocha. Finishes very long, with vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors given grip by fine-grained tannins. As approachable as this wine is now, I’d wait another four years or so before diving in.”
Patricia Green Estate Old Vine Pinot Noir 2011 1.5 LITER ($99.95) $79 special 3 magnums available Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant red. Smoky, sharply focused aromas of dried cherry, sassafras, potpourri and mocha. Chewy, energetic and subtly sweet, offering very good depth to its bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors. Tangy acidity gives lift and vivacity to the persistent finish, which features fine-grained tannins and a lingering floral nuance.”
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Estate Vineyard – Old Vine’ Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 11 bottles available Josh Raynolds 91 points “Bright ruby-red. Ripe cherry and blackberry on the deeply perfumed nose, with notes of allspice and woodsmoke adding complexity. Smooth, broad and sweet on the palate, offering fleshy, mineral-tinged dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors enlivened by juicy acidity. Seamless and spicy on the finish, which betrays no tannins and shows excellent clarity.”
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2011 ($29.95) $24 special 12+ bottles available Josh Raynolds 90 points “Bright red. Raspberry and cherry-cola aromas are complicated by rose oil and black tea. Shows the vibrancy and cut of the vintage, offering lively red fruit flavors and a touch of pepperiness on the back half. Closes spicy and long, with very good clarity and no obvious tannins. This pretty wine is drinking nicely now.”
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 4 bottles available Josh Raynolds 91 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Fragrant aromas of strawberry and raspberry are complicated by suggestions of cola and dried rose, along with some peppery spiciness. Tangy red fruit flavors gain depth with air, taking a turn to cherry and licorice while maintaining vivacity. Nicely focused and balanced pinot with very good finishing thrust and spiciness. Here’s another “basic” 2012 bottling that’s performing above its station.”
Patricia Green Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Dijon 115 Pinot Noir 2012 ($41.95) $36 special 12+ bottles available Josh Raynolds 93 points “Deep ruby-red. Spicy, intensely perfumed aromas of black raspberry, cherry-cola and licorice, with a smoky undertone. Juicy, penetrating dark berry, cherry-cola, spicecake and floral pastille flavors show excellent clarity, with gentle acidity providing lift. Fine-grained tannins give shape and grip to the finish, which features a suave floral pastille character. This wine was made with 50% whole clusters.”
Patricia Green Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Pommard Clone Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 9 bottles available Josh Raynolds 92 points “Ruby-red. Deeply pitched cherry, blackberry and Indian spice aromas are lifted by a captivating rose oil quality. Juicy and densely packed, showing serious power to its red and dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola and spicecake flavors. Coats the palate while coming across as energetic and precise. Finishes with very good vivacity and length, with chewy tannins adding structure and grip. Here’s a ’12 that confounds the generalization that this is a universally forward vintage.”
Patricia Green Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir 2010 ($39.95) $33 special 10 bottles available From the winery “This is the small, 20-year old vineyard located directly behind both us and Beaux Freres. What provides a constant source of amazement to us and people who taste this wine next to our Estate wines is, despite the proximity of this vineyard to ours, how distinctly different the wines from this site are in relation to anything that comes off of our vineyard. This vineyard tends to produce wines that operate at the maximum scale of the three structural components of the wine (fruit intensity, tannin, acidity). The Whistling Ridge can be jumpy, tannic and piercing in its youth. This has that signature raspberry quality which is the hallmark of this wine. This wine challenges. It has high-toned acidity and structure but there is ample fruit to match it. This does not shrink away so it comes off as being a full-throttle wine. This will need some time to bring everything together but there is so much to like about this wine that those who are patient are going to get something special. ”
Super Special Pricing Arriving Tomorrow
As a student at the University of California Davis, Eric Hamacher’s original biochemistry studies were to lead him to medical school. His detour to wine was fortuitous for all of us who think of him as talented and innovative thinker in the wine industry with the utmost respect
for fruit quality. After earning a degree in viticulture and enology at UC Davis, Eric Hamacher set forth to gain extensive winemaking knowledge and to date, has worked more than 24 vintages at numerous wineries around the world. After producing wine for esteemed wineries such as Mondavi, Chalone and Etude, he realized his heart was in Oregon and followed pursuit to travel North and create the perfect Pinot Noir. Beginning in 2002, Eric began working alongside Ned Lumpkin, his partner at Carlton Winemakers’ Studio and owner of the famed Lazy River Vineyard, to produce Lazy River wines. One of Oregon’s most beautiful viticultural sites, the Lazy River vineyard is predominantly Jory soil, unusual outside the Dundee Hills, a product of lower strata that was exposed by the fractured glacial deposits of the Missoula Flow. The land is separated north from south by a meandering small river, a mixed terrain, interlocking puzzle pieces of woods, rolling meadows, grape vines and ponds. Eric, the founding winemaker, has set the Lazy River winery on course for stunning Bugundian-style Pinot Noir, their wines known for their intense expression of fruit.
Arriving Tomorrow
Lazy River Vineyard Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2011 ($19.95) $11.90 special 2 cases available From the winery “Redolent of tart pineapple and stone fruit, particularly apricot and golden plums, the Gris shows the distinct crispness characteristic of Lazy River wines. The palate has length – its flavors develop from a bright tropical symphony to a long-lived apricot and lychee body and a clean, apple-citrus finish. Pair the LRV Pinot Gris 2012 with raclette and fondue, fall-run chinook or a grilled pork chop.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA The average listed price in the USA is $20 / bottle
Lazy River Vineyard Pinot Noir Yamhill Carlton District 2007 ($29.95) $16 special 2+ cases available From the winery “This wine has proven itself with customers who continue to reorder. Well-structured with good tannins, good acids and wonderful fruit. Dr. Jay Miller of The Wine Advocate (90 points) noted that this particular vintage will blossom and drink well through 2019. He called it “a fragrant perfume of smoke, earth, and cherry blossoms.” ”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA The average listed price in the USA is $38 / bottle
Lazy River Vineyard Pinot Noir Yamhill Carlton District 2009 ($37.95) $18 special 2+ cases available From the winery “This robust wine showcases the savory side of the versatile pinot noir grape with big, balanced flavors of soy sauce, truffles, dry earth, blackberries, and dried flowers on the palate. A long finish offers notes of barbecue smoke and charred meat. Ranked 15th best Oregon Pinot Noir by Portland Monthly”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA The average listed price in the USA is $36 / bottle
Bonus Special: Just Arrived Malbec
Founded in 1998, Achaval-Ferrer is a team of friends who dream about great wines. With a collection of old vineyards in beautiful places, the large team, helmed by owners Santiago Achaval, Manuel Ferrerer and winemaker Roberto Cipresso, are committed to the production of wines that are expressive of their terroir. Quality ranks most important above any other considerations in Achaval-Ferrer. Keeping their yields low to allow the vineyards to express their personality in the grapes, each of Achaval Ferrer’s wines is a different expresson of Malbec. This region offers privileged soil conditions, weather and irrigation, optimal for growing Malbec. Wide temperature changes (warm days and cool nights), desert-like climate, poor soil composition and irrigation waters from the pristine snowmelt off the Andes encourage the maturation process of grapes which converts into wines with character, profound structure and complexity. The Finca Bella Vista comes from 100-year-old vines planted around the winery at an altitude of 3,100 feet in the prime Perdriel district in the Luján de Cuyo appellation, which features a high proportion of clay. Finca Mirador is located in Medrano, 34 miles to the south east of the city of Mendoza at 2400 feet above sea level, with 12 acres of densely planted Malbec vines averaging 40+ years of age. The winery uses predominantly French oak and bottles without fining or filtration.
Achaval Ferrer Wines – Available Now
Achaval Ferrer Malbec, Mendoza 2011 ($31.95) $26 special 2+ cases available Wine Spectator 92 points “Very pure, with a beam of raspberry coulis, blackberry and cherry pulp notes that pump out layers of spice, flint and wildflowers. Juicy yet structured, with a mineral edge to the long, savory finish. Drink now through 2015. 13,000 cases imported.”
Achaval Ferrer Finca Bella Vista Mendoza Malbec 2010 ($119.95) $99 special 13 bottles available #10 WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 OF 2012 Wine Spectator 95 points “Dark and powerful, yet elegant, with a delicious core of crushed raspberry, blackberry and damson plum notes tightly woven with silky tannins. The minerally finish lingers on with layered flavors of wildflowers, melted licorice and spice box. Drink now through 2020.”
Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador Uco Valley Malbec 2011 ($124.95) $99 special 2+ cases available Wine Spectator 96 points “This pure, racy red exhibits a dark side, with layers of spice, graphite and maduro tobacco to the crushed raspberry, blackberry and concentrated cassis fruit. Needs time in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2022.”