Among the wineries of Oregon’s Washington County—Willamette Valley’s closest cluster of wineries and tasting rooms to Portland—is Forest Grove’s Montinore Estate, the 210-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic and Stellar Certified Organic property and winery. The northern Willamette producer is best known for its powerhouse whites like Riesling, Pinot Gris, Müller-Thurgau and Gewürztraminer, although it also brings to light cool-climate reds like Lagrein, Teroldego and, of course, Pinot Noir. Founded in 1982, Montinore has put their biodynamic farming and production as the primary focus since 2005, with careful and thoughtful wines to show for it.
The 2012 Reserve Gewürztraminer is the Alsatian-inspired creation of white winemaker Stephen Webber. For this wine, Montinore grows a 13-acre variety-specific vineyard on the southern slope of their property, overlooking a lake. A generous and opulent vintage kicks off this aromatic white with ripe notes of fleshy, grilled peach, dried apricot, almonds and nutmeg. The palate is equally ripe with dense stone fruit flavors, golden raisin, dried fruit and baking spices, finishing round and wide.
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