Portland Monthly 50 Best Wines

Wine
BEST OF OREGON

Oregon’s 50 Best Wines 2013
20 varietals, 11 AVAs, and 25 bottles under $30! We asked Portland wine experts to pick their favorite bottles of the year—and the results are delicious. By Allison Jones

SURE-BET SPLURGES
THE PRO: Erica Landon
The powerhouse behind Walter Scott Wines is also an instructor for Portland’s Wine & Spirits Archive and crafts the wine lists at Bluehour, Clarklewis, 23Hoyt, Saucebox, Tabla, and Castagna. Here, she recommends five go-to bottles for indulging with confidence.

#3 COWHORN VINEYARD
2009 Reserve Syrah • Applegate Valley • $45
Bill and Barbara Steele broke ground in Southern Oregon in 2003 and quickly discovered that their land was covered in layers of river stones reminiscent of France’s Rhône Valley. They planted Rhône varietals like Syrah, grenache, and viognier—and today their wines are drawing national attention. This bottle offers a balance of power and elegance, with notes of blueberries, black plums, and black cherries layered with dark chocolate, baking spice, and hints of vanilla.

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