After three tiers of judging wines, Foris Vineyards 2010 Pinot Blanc and Brandborg Winery 2010 Pinot Gris were selected as one of 10 West Coast wines awarded the coveted, “Oyster Award,”at the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition as a best mate for oysters.
Sponsored by Taylor Shellfish Farms, wineries were invited to submit their best “oyster wine,” typically dry, crisp, clean-finishing white wines. Over one hundred entries were judged blind with Kumamoto oysters. Judges chew the oyster well, smell and taste the wine and then look for a finish that doesn’t get in the way of the next oyster, referred to as the “bliss factor.”
Final judgings were held April 24th at the Water Grill in Los Angeles, April 25th at Kuleto’s in San Francisco and April 26th at Anthony’s HomePort in Seattle. Scores from the 25 judges in the three cities were combined to select the top ten 2012 winners.
Ted Gerber, founder and winemaker at Foris noted, “Pinot Blanc is a variety that realizes its full potential when grown in cool climates and on thin soils. We have found the perfect match at our estate vineyards here in the Illinois Valley of Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley Appellation.” The Foris 2010 Pinot Blanc has a nice juicy feel with flavors in the realm of Bartlett pear and Golden Delicious apples over an underlying thread of mineral on a clean, lively, dry finish. $14.00, 825 cases produced.
The Brandborg Pinot Gris is ferment cool in tank to preserve the fresh floral, herbal and tropical notes and refreshing acidity. The aromas are a lush combination of golden apples, pineapple and guava with spice notes of jasmine highlighted by white pepper and sage. The wine finishes bone dry and yet the fruit and texture suggest a continuing sweet fruit impression. $16.00, 547 cases produced.
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