The Oregon Wines on Owen Bargreen's Top 100

Thursday nights are normally reserved for working on the newsletter while my daughter is doing ballet, but this week I am sad to say this didn’t happen. Ballet totally happened via, and I was in front of a screen. Instead of writing the newsletter, I got sucked into the first episode of The Stand. I read this book back in the late 80s, and it has always held a tender place in my heart. The main evil character Randall Flagg appears in multiple stories from Stephen King. Way back in the mid-90s, my internet user handle used to be rflagg. Fingers crossed, this 9 episode series doesn’t disappoint in-studio production quality like the previous mini-series in 1994. I also hope they don’t leave out Tom Cullen’s great lines starting with M-O-O-N that spells!

The sheer number of top 100 wine lists published, but also fun as all get out. It was great seeing so many great Oregon wines being represented in Owen Bargreen’s list that came out this week. I seriously want to try number 1, the 2018 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache from Walla Walla. If you know how to get a bottle, let me know. Also, a couple of other shout outs include:

13) 2016 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Blanc

21) 2018 Big Table Farm ‘Sunnyside Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

35) 2018 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay

38) 2018 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

40) 2018 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Chardonnay

43) 2017 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir

44) 2018 Ayoub Chardonnay

50) 2017 Orin Swift ‘Abstract’ Red Wine

66) 2017 Audeant ‘Luminous Hills Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

69) 2018 Hazelfern ‘Prime Cut’ Pinot Noir

72) 2017 Evening Land ‘Sumum’ Chardonnay

75) 2018 Goodfellow ‘Durant’ Chardonnay

76) 2017 Brooks ‘Vitae Springs’ Riesling

80) 2018 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir

Next year I will recognize more labels on Owen’s list to expand upon my wine knowledge. What are you doing in 2021 to expand your wine connoisseur-ship?

Speaking of 2021, I am taking the next couple of weeks off from the newsletter to finish the wine report and working on a clearer vision of what 2021 looks like on many levels. Forewarning, the first newsletter of the year will be a shameless promotion of the wine report. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Have you heard of Maison Jussiaume? I read a review from Stacey Gibson from Park Avenue this week, and I decided to grab a couple of bottles. I plan to open one Christmas morning, and I will report my thoughts on the first of the year. If you are curious, here is Stacey’s review:

“It has been hard this year to see small businesses go under while large corporations are growing and thriving during the pandemic. I can’t think of a better way to usher in 2021 than to support small producers who are making great wines with care. In Southern Oregon, Jean-Michel Jussiaume is crafting some of the most stunning traditional method sparkling wines in the state. He was born and raised in the Loire, but now calls the Rogue Valley home. Each bottle is hand disgorged and individually numbered. The blanc de blancs makes a serious argument for the future of premium Oregon sparkling. It is elegant and classic, subtle but expressive.”

I am keeping the newsletter short this week. Take the time to hug a person close to you and suck in every last morsel of their scent. Enjoy and embrace the holiday season. I will see you next year!

​

With Gratitude,

A.J.

​

PS - Are you ready for pants?

PPS - Alanis Morissette covering John Lennon's War is Over​