Some Oregon wines with friends

Last night our friends Chris and Rene M Stopped over to borrow my Wine-Check luggage. They are leaving for a tour of Oregon wine country soon, so that set the theme. A couple of other neighbors dropped by for a drink or two. We sat in the back yard by the fire. Had a visit from a deer. Generally, just sat around, drank, ate dinner and had a great time. The wines were pop and poured, non-blind.

With Salsa and Chips and Vegetable "sushi".

• 2012 Sineann Grüner Veltliner 91 Points

  USA, Oregon/Washington, Columbia Gorge

  What an excellent wine. Not quite like an Austrian version but then this is from Washington/Oregon. The nose has a lots of minerals, also some limes, quince and a slight floral note. Great texture. This is fatter than its Euro counterparts, but still has some acidity. Slightly oily. Citrus with a mineral quality. Great with food or as a cocktail. Delicious. I should have bought more.

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• 2012 Sineann Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Only had a quick taste of this. Not as good as the Gruner. Some tropical fruit. Nice minerality. A bit leaner than the Oregon versions. Jane said she got green notes, but I found more gooseberry. Good, not great.

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With Margarita Pizza, Pesto Pizza with 5 cheeses, and White Bean Garden salad

• 2008 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Chris will be visiting with Kelly, so I opened this. I met Jim Maresh almost a decade ago before he opened his winery. I was curious to try this. The crowd vocally approved. Ruby in color, perhaps a bit paler. The nose is really beautiful Sexy and very present if not huge. Cherries, cloves and cinnamon. Supple texture. Persistent and elegant cherries. Tightly layered. It grew complex as it unwound. I will hold my other bottle for a while, but this is a really beguiling Pinot.

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• 2008 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Savoya Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Darker cherry red in color. The nose has rhubarb and cherries. Also a bit of cherry Kool-Aid. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Very pure cherry fruit. Tightly layered. Starting to develop some personality. An excellent wine that suffered a bit by its companions last night.

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• 1999 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Bought on release and cellared by me. This was pop and pour and it did need some air to open and throw off some bottle funk. At 14 years from vintage, I think it is close to peak, but certainly in no hurry. The nose has cherries, some forest floor, a bit of funk, a slight dried cherry note. On the palate, round fresh cherry fruit, some pie filling, some fresh raspberries. Layered and somewhat complex. Great finish. Got better all night long. It would be interesting to put this up against a comparably priced Drouhin ($40Ohio on release) from Burgundy. Both good vintages. I would guess it is ageing just as well.

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With home made Butter Pecan Ice Cream and Chocolate cookies.

• 1991 Fonseca Porto Guimaraens Vintage 93 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Chris brought this. It was off theme, so my wife pretended to accidentally knock it over and spill out half the contents. DON'T BRING OFF THEM WINES! Just kidding, but sadly, while this 375 was breathing it did take a spill and half was lost. Still, there were only four of us, so we did get a nice taste later in the evening. The nose is chocolate covered raisins, some raspberries and very nice. Full bodied and balanced. This is mature but has years to go. The alcohol is well balanced. Very nice.

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• 2008 Sineann Gewürztraminer The Precious 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  My last bottle of this and that is probably good. I am not sure where these go from here. The color is brown, by the fire it looked like a dark amber beer. The nose is very nice with some burnt sugar/caramel, lychees, candied orange peels and peaches. Full bodied and viscous. Sweet. Mouth coating. The palate is more fresh with peaches, oranges and a slight melted sugar note. Very fun wine.

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In honor of National Bourbon Day, we also opened a bottle of Cleveland Bourbon from a local distiller. It was good, not great. Very strong at 100 proof. I am new to Bourbon, but prefer something a bit smoother at this time. Strangely, the nose smelled like a bag of pot. Not as sweet as some, which I liked.

Great to have an "excuse" to open some bottles. Even better to see friends. Have a great trip.