Wine Spectator Mentions Southern Oregon + Scores

In the February 28th issue of Wine Spectator, Harvey Steiman wrote a pleasant blurb about Oregon's warmer wine regions at the bottom of his article Oregon's Natural Wonder:

BEYOND WILLAMETTE: OREGON'S WARMER CLIMES

Feb. 28th issue

Parts of Oregon outside Willamette Valley also grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, and many of the large-scale Oregon appellation bottlings blend in fruit from the Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys of Southern Oregon.

Columbia Gorge and Columbia Valley, regions that overlap into central Washington, grow some Pinot Noir, too, but the best wine in this report from that part of the world is a white-the silky, charming Phelps Creek Chardonnay Columbia Gorge 2008 (90, $26).

Few of the state's warm-region wines rate among the top bottlings, however. Southern Oregon specializes in Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and a few intrepid souls there pursue Viognier, Albariño and Tempranillo.

Del Rio Vineyard in Rogue Valley earned a reputation for growing outstanding Syrah for others, and recently has begun bottling its own wines as well. Its 2007 and 2008 Syrahs earned 91 and 89 points, respectively. Del Rio's Claret 2007, Ancient Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and the Griffin Creek Syrah 2007, all from Rogue Valley, also reached 90 points.

Over in the northeastern corner of the state, the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA can produce outstanding big reds that can legitimately be bottled as Oregon-grown wines. In practice, however, most Oregon wineries look to southern Oregon vineyards for fruit.

Southern Oregon wine ratings were included in the issue as well:

87    A to Z Wineworks 2007 Night & Day Southern Crossing, Rogue Valley
88    Abacela Winery 2009 Albariño, Umpqua Valley
87    Abacela Winery 2008 Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley
88    Agate Ridge 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley
90    Ancient Cellars 2008 Amphorae Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley
86    Brandborg Winery 2008 Bench Lands Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley
88    Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay, Rogue Valley
90    Del Rio Vineyards 2007 Claret, Rogue Valley
88    Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Pinot Gris, Rogue Valley
86    Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley
89    Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Syrah, Rogue Valley
91    Del Rio Vineyards 2007 Syrah, Rogue Valley
88    Folin Cellars 2006 Tempranillo, Rogue Valley
82    Girardet Wine Cellars, 2008 Barrel Select Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley
89    Griffin Creek 2007 Merlot, Rogue Valley
90    Griffin Creek 2007 Syrah, Rogue Valley
90    Griffin Creek 2006 Syrah, Rogue Valley
88    Melrose Vineyard 2009 Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley
87    Melrose Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley
89    Melrose Vineyard 2006 Syrah, Umpqua Valley
91    Quady North 2009 Ox Block Mae's Vineyard Viognier, Applegate Valley
89    Quady North 2008 Steelhead Run Vineyard Viognier, Applegate Valley
89    RoxyAnn Winery 2007 Merlot, Rogue Valley
86    RoxyAnn Winery 2008 Pinot Gris, Rogue Valley
82    Silvan Ridge 2008 Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley
86    Tallulah 2006 Del Rio Vineyard Syrah
85    Troon Vineyard 2007 Kubli Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Applegate Valley
88    Troon Vineyard 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Applegate Valley
88    Velocity Cellars 2007 Velo Rosé, Rogue Valley