For years, I've called Amalie Robert one of the best new wineries around. It's been long enough now, and there are enough even-newer producers, that I need to change my characterization.

The quality of their wines now simply makes them one of the best producers around. My analysis was echoed last week by wine critic Stephen Tanzer's The International Wine Cellar magazine, where correspondent Josh Reynolds gave Amalie Robert the highest overall marks for any Oregon producer for the controversial 2007 vintage.

Add to that impressive performance the fact that three of Amalie Robert's 2007 pinot noirs won "Double Gold" at the Oregon Wine Awards this year, and a very clear pattern emerges: they make greate juice!

Interestingly, owners Ernie Pink and Dena Drews have accomplished this while making a reasonably elegant style of pinot noir! Even more impressive, they manage to make these pretty, intense and balanced wines using primarily Dijon Clone fruit in their wines. The Dijon Clones are a family of grape vines whose fruit can easily be used as a weapon of palate destruction by creating uber-ripe, extracted, goo-bomb wines.

Luckily, not everyone has caught on yet, and the wines are still available, including the phenomenal 2006 "Reserve" bottling (only 25 cases made!). We have already used the '07 Vintage Debut for our Premium Wine Club, and the '07 Estate bottling for our World Class Wine Club.

Those wines, and the rest of their lineup, are offered below, along with the notes from The International Wine Cellar.

PLEASE NOTE that it's hot outside. Virtually all orders placed now will need to ship by fast air, or have delivery delayed for the fall.

 

Thanks to you all for your continued patronage.

 

Pinotguy Bob