kerewin's whine cellar

As if to do something interesting

Tasted through the Silvan Ridge wines today, they have some good things, and some blah. I think they are trying to market themselves as the Oregon winery that isn't like Oregon wines. Considering how much I love Oregon Pinot Noir, I find this marketing ploy rather limiting.

Silvan Ridge Grenache Rosé was great! Very light and dry with a real strawberry taste. However, their Hinman Riesling was just a little boring for me, as was their Pinot Gris, which I think had some residual sugar added to it...blah! I like it dry.

Their Pinot Noir was very blah, not that earthy chewy taste I love so much, but apparently in the Spring they are releasing a reserve version that is a lot more like I care for, so I look forward to that.

Their Rogue Valley Syrah had that glycerin/petroleum flavor that is so prevalent in Washington Syrahs.......I guess if you want a wine to completely cover your palate so that you can't taste anything after one sip, you go crazy with your bad self, I just prefer somerthing a little more austere.

The Hinman Rogue Red was decent, especially for the price, a nice solid bottle, again a real fruit bomb, as you would expect from such a hot climate, but not disgustingly so. Still, the real standout is the Silvan Ridge Merlot, I could have sworn it had some Cab Sauv in it cause it had a nice chocolately tone.

The most unique and interesting wine they have is the (slightly frizzante) Muscat. A lighter muscat, with a little tingle on the tongue, it was a real delight, and it comes in these adorable .500ml bottles that might be just perfect for the wine list at the restaurant!

They are a small winery with a lot of different wines, so they are hard to get ahold of...something to look for, expecially to surprise people with an Oregon wine with a different Oregon taste.

Still if you really like classic Oregon Pinot Noir, watch this site and I might list a few faves.

Posted by kerewin at February 17, 2004 10:40 PM