Winery
of the Week:
Eola Hills - Oregon, USA
Thirty
years ago, most people weren't thinking about growing grapes
and making wine in Oregon, but Tom Huggins was when he started
Eola Hills. His work in agricultural insurance provided him
the insight to realized the potential of the Willamette Valley.
Today, Eola is one of the largest wineries in the state, producing
wines that showcase the beauty of the region.
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Eola
Hills 2013 "Total Eclipse" Pinot Noir
Winery:
Eola Hills
Grape(s): 100% Pinot
Noir
Region: Oregon, USA
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
One is meet with ripe strawberries and bing cherries,
along with some floral and spicy notes on the nose. A
nice, complex palate leads off with strawberry, cranberry,
and cherry and finishes with white pepper and minerals.
A wine with plush tannins and a balanced acidity, it will
do well with a dish like grilled salmon. "Limited
production."
Rating: 90 |
|
Eola
Hills 2015 Pinot Noir
Winery:
Eola Hills
Grape(s): 100% Pinot
Noir
Region: Oregon, USA
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 30-35
Review:
Cranberries and cherries play with expressions of spice
and spring flowers on the nose. Flavors of ripe cherry,
cranberry, and raspberry take shape on the palate, moving
into highlights of minerals, white pepper, and cedar.
This is a wine that's lighter is style, but that elegance
finds harmony with a nice acidity. Open a bottle with
mushroom risotto. 32,000 cases were made.
Rating: 89 |
|
Eola
Hills 2013 "Barrel Select" Pinot Noir
Winery:
Eola Hills
Grape(s): 100% Pinot
Noir
Region: Oregon, USA
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
The noses offers cherry pie and blackberries aromas that
meld with floral and spice notes. Blackberry, cherry and
boysenberry form a fruit core that's backed up by allusions
of rose petal and toasty oak. Nicely structured with a
pleasant acidity, match it up with roast duck.
Rating: 90 |
|
Eola
Hills 2015 Pinot Gris
Winery:
Eola Hills
Grape(s): 100% Pinot
Noir
Region: Oregon, USA
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Alluring aromas of golden apples, ripe pears, peaches,
and toasted almonds draws one into a glass. On the palate,
lovely flavors of pear and green apple are carried by
a fresh acidity, moving into accents of marzipan and honeysuckle.
Crisp and clean with nice fruit, anything from a veggie
stir fry to grilled halibut would be excellent pairings.
24,000 cases were made.
Rating: 89 |
|
Eola
Hills 2015 Tempranillo
Winery:
Eola Hills
Grape(s): 100% Tempranillo
Region: Oregon, USA
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 30-35
Review:
A hearty nose on this wine, with leather, spice and red
fruit forming the core aromas. Plush tannins, carry strawberry
and raspberry flavors that combine with leather, white
pepper, and minerals on the palate. Lively flavors and
a light body endear this wine to a Mexican chicken or
pork dish.
Rating: 88
|
|
Eola
Hills 2015 Sparkling Rose
Winery:
Eola Hills
Grape(s): 100% Pinot
Noir
Region: Oregon, USA
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
Waves of strawberries, apples, and cherries come forth
on the nose with accents of brioche. Crisp apple, bright
strawberry, and bing cherry dominate the palate but hints
of fresh bread show up, too. A nice fruit core yet still
finishes fairly dry, it's quite approachable and good
for a picnic. 400 cases produced.
Rating: 88 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|