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  • Columbia Valley
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This is a blend of French and American varietals made along the shores of Lake Erie near what is known as the Lake Erie Islands.  For those history fans, back in the 1800's, the Lake Erie Islands were on of the top wine producing regions in the country.  As recently as the 1930's it was rated as one of the top 5 along with Napa, Virginia, New York and Missouri.  Now the area is a summer vacation spot and due to the cold winters, late springs, hot summers, it can be a difficult place to make wine.  Mon Ami is a restaurant and a winery.  This is ruby/orange in color, deep and bright.  The nos

CLE Urban Winery is located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  They are essentially a wine bar that gets juice from California and other places and makes their own wine which is sold at the bar.  The labels feature different scenes of Cleveland.  This one features the brick street that is the heart of Cleveland's Italian community.  The wine is light golden in color.  The nose has tangerine and orange with a slight minerality.  On the palate, this is big and fruity.  Tangerine with some sweetness.  It is not deep but it has enough acidity to be refreshing.  While it does not have the minerality n

Light golden in color.  The nose has a fair amount of oak on it.  A bit fleshy with vanilla and slight lemons.  The oak became more pronounced with air. On the palate, the oak continues and at times it is searing and bitter.  There is also vanilla and lemons.  It does have a very nice texture.  I drank in a crowd and many liked this and even enjoyed the oak profile which is fine.  This may be a divisive wine based on that but seems to be otherwise a consistent wine.  It was being closed out for $8 which is hard to beat!

A very interesting wine for a couple of reasons.  First, the Columbia Gorge AVA is the only AVA that spans across two states (Oregon and Washington).  Second, drinking a Pinot Gris at five years from vintage is really pushing it, but this was screw capped which gave it a fighting chance. This is a wine that was drinking great in 2014 with plenty of fruit but its now 2018.   Light silvery gold in color.  The nose has a nice fresh minerality to it but little fruit.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  13% Alc.  There is some minerality and a hint of citrus though there really isn't much

Jon Thomas is one of those winemakers that every region seems to have.  Idiosyncratic but making some of the best wines in the region.  This is ruby in color.  The nose is nice with slightly sour cherries.  With air, cherries emerge as well.  On the palate, this is complex with layers of cherries and spice.  Long finish.  Thomas wines are made for the long haul and this is no exception.  Drinking great with air, its best days are still ahead.  This will improve.  Works well with a large variety of foods.  This is an Oregon wine, it is not "Burgundian" or Californian.  And, it competes and e

Kind of cool drinking a wine from Texas.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a bit of a sweet scent to it along with minerals and slight petrol.  At first I thought it was a Riesling.  On the palate, this is sweet.  A bit disjointed but not bad.  It is sweet with some minerals and a candied lemon note to it.  Worked pretty well with a salad.  I believe it cost around $20 which is fine for a fun wine and something different.  While I am not familiar with this winery or wine, I suspect it was better a year or two ago.  

Ruby in color.  The nose has nice cherries, slight sour note and some spice.  On the palate, this is easy drinking.  Not a lot of depth.  Lighter in style.  Not a lot of acidity.  OK finish.  A very solid wine.  

This is a nice, easy Pinot Gris.  $20 is a fair price.  Consumed over three nights, it was pretty much the same each night.  Screw capped.  Light golden/green in color.  The nose has slight peach but mostly minerals.  On the palate, there is a nice backbone of acidity.  Slightly oily texture.  minerals.  Slight peach.  Food friendly or on its own.  

This is always a great value in wine.  Its basically, the ends of the myriad of bottlings that are produced here all blended into one wine.  It costs under $25 and every vintage, though a bit different is tasty.  It also lasts for at least five years probably at least ten.  This one is purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, some chocolate, sour cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Slight depth.  Slight tannins.  Juicy acidity.  Works well with food or on its own.  Long finish.  A crowd pleaser every time.  

This is actually one of the better values in Oregon Pinot Noir from year to year.  It is a blend of what is left over after the single vineyard bottlings.  It is a great way to check in on a vintage and the fact that it is available in a 375ml format makes it great from a lot of purposes.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has sour cherries with some black cherries.  Light tannins on the palate.  Juicy, black cherry fruit.  Finishes a bit sour.  These are on the larger size for Oregon Pinot but age quite well and after a decade drink much more mature.