Featured Wines for 2/17
More details on all these wines and wineries will be posted on www.paulgwine.com
Wine of Week
Ponzi 2019 Alloro Vineyard Chardonnay
From the new 'Highlights Collection' this is a great start-up wine. Under their own label the Alloro wines have a long track record of excellence, and here those grapes are spotlighted by one of Oregon's premier pioneering producers. This is stylish, almost steely, focused and dense – the type of Chardonnay that has completely reshaped the state's approach to this universal grape. The fruit flavors (white peach, melon) stay focused on through a long finish, adding details of toasted hazelnuts and white chocolate. 131 cases: 13.3%; $75 (Laurelwood District) 95/100 (not yet listed online)
Outstanding Value
River’s Edge 2018 Barrel Select Pinot Noir
The barrel select is sourced from several Elkton sites and blends old vine Wadenswil and Pommard with newer Dijon 115 and 777 clones. In recent vintages River's Edge has pulled back on both new oak and finished alcohol and for me that makes the wines better and more ageworthy than ever. This is a balanced mix of strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate with a pleasing amount of toasty barrel highlights. There is no need to decant; it's delicious right out of the bottle. These wines are finished with a screwcap which makes it easy to pour a glass and quickly seal them back up for a second or third day.
398 cases; 13.2%; $26 (Elkton Oregon) 92/100
https://www.riversedgewinery.com/store
For the Cellar
Pášxa 2020 Rockgarden Vineyard Syrah
Made from a selection of the best Syrah from this estate vineyard, this was fermented in stainless steel and aged in one quarter new French oak. There should be a photo of this wine in the dictionary under Rocks District Syrah – it's that specific and focused. Without going over the top, and maintaining impeccable balance, it captures the blue and black fruits, the earthy umami, the suggestions of bloody meat and herbal tea and all the things that make this AVA unique and iconic. Among the very limited releases from Pášxa this has the biggest production and should be at the top of your must-have list. 375 cases; 14.3%; $85 (Walla Walla – Rocks District) 97/10
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I had the Pášxa earlier this week (July 2023) and it blew me away. Your suggestion that it be the poser child for The Rocks District is spot on, Paul.