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Monday, September 23, 2013

State of the Union


Having just returned from Oregon on a week-long wine trip, I’m certainly, and unabashedly pro-Oregon wine. There are a lot of great things happening in this state from large mega producers turning about respectable juice to under-the-radar funky folks making niche wine. Oregon’s Union Wine Company does Riesling well. Riesling is the 4th most planted grape in the state and they really do have a handle on how to make it sing. I know, I know - I can hear your high-pitched voice now: “I don’t like Riesling, it’s too sweet.” Uh, no, it’s not often that sweet (when I was in Germany I tasted through the gamut of Riesling from bone-dry to coma inducing uber-sweet wines, most of them amazing). A fine example of a value, food-wise Riesling is Union Wine Co. 2011 Kings Ridge Riesling. Soft, viscous with citrus, peach, caramel and a wee bit of sweetness (a mere .73% RS - residual sugar), makes this is a terrific little number that will make your heart, and palate and wallet, happy. It's rare to find quality for around $10 but here Union succeeds very well. They made 1,200 cases, so there’s plenty to go around. Riesling is a wine you need to invite into you rotation, and this is an excellent starting point. So get going!  UNION WINE COMPANY
 
ORIGIN: Willamette Valley, Oregon
PRICE: $13 / 750/ml
ALCOHOL: 12%
BOOZEHOUNDZ SCORE:  89 POINTS

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