Apple Barn Orchard And Winery
Rockburn
Rockburn Pinot Gris 2021
The description: A wonderful bouquet of whites spices, a core of fresh pear and apple, wild white flowers and a white sand mineral quality. Youthful, complex and enticing. Satin-cream textures lead to a core of white fleshed orchard fruit flavours, some spice and mineral and acontrasting acid line. Refreshing, balanced, even and lengthy. Well made and ready to drink from 2022 through 2026.
The opinion: I agree and think we are drinking it at exactly the right time! — 2 years ago
Paul Bara
Réserve Brut Grand Cru Champagne Blend
Popping a bottle of Paul Bara to celebrate a number of things, not least of which is a four-month suspension of the tariffs previously imposed on most French, Spanish, and German wine imports to the United States 🍾 🥂
Let’s hope this pause signals a forthcoming, permanent solution and favorable path forward.
This beautiful bottle of bubbles from Bouzy, Champagne, offers notes of citrus and orchard fruits such as lemon pith, tart apple, and pear, also white blossom, marcona almond, brioche, biscuit, bread dough, sourdough, and wet slate. It is nicely balanced and complex.
Cheers, friends! — 5 years ago
Paul Bara
Grand Cru Brut Rosé Champagne
A small portion of Pinot Noir (which makes up approximately 80% of the blend) still wine is added for color; the balance is Chardonnay. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The Grand Rosé pours a pretty pink color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberry, red apple, a mix of orchard citrus fruit, marzipan, a hint of brioche and lovely minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and round. Very easy to like. Drink now. Disgorged February of 2025. — 2 months ago
Krug
Brut Champagne Blend 2002
Today notes, some sour apple, a sweetness of orchard fruit. Lovely balance, complexity and acidity.. delicious — 2 years ago
Torre dei Beati
Giocheremo Con i Fiori Abruzzo Pecorino 2019
This captivating Pecorino shows a bouquet of candied ginger with dusty florals, wild herbs, incense and crushed green apple. Silky and rich, yet balanced by stimulating acids and mineral-tinged orchard fruits, it tapers off spicy with a hint of sour melon that keeps the palate wanting more. $22.00 (Eric Guido, Vinous, April 2021) — 5 years ago
Winderlea Vineyard and Winery
Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018
Winderlea Vineyard & Winery – Chardonnay 2018
Willamette Valley, Oregon – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
This isn’t just any Willamette Chardonnay — it’s a benchmark. Crafted from a mosaic of top vineyards: Carabella (35%) in Chehalem Mountains, Hyland (33%) & Meredith Mitchell (23%) in McMinnville, and Winderlea Estate (9%) in Dundee Hills. Together, they deliver harmony and terroir depth that rivals fine Burgundy, while staying true to Oregon character.
Aromas & Flavors
Rich layers of peach, apricot, and crisp apple glide seamlessly into notes of citrus zest and a subtle kiss of toasted oak. The aromatic lift is both elegant and generous, hinting at orchard blossoms with a faint mineral streak.
Mouthfeel
Succulent and textured, yet framed with precision. Bright acidity keeps it vibrant, while a creamy mid-palate offers weight and length. Still radiant in 2018, showing both freshness and polish.
Winemaking Notes
Fermented and aged in French oak barrels with a Burgundian sensibility, highlighting texture over heaviness. A balance of fruit purity and oak finesse.
Food Pairing
Perfect with butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken with herbs, or creamy risotto with chanterelles. Its lively acidity also makes it a stellar partner for soft cheeses.
Verdict
A standout Chardonnay from Oregon, balancing Burgundian elegance with Willamette soul. Priced above regional peers, but every sip justifies it. Truly one of the finest examples of Oregon Chardonnay in recent years. Cheers! — 9 months ago
Paul Bara
Spécial Club Grand Cru Brut Rosé Champagne 2012
Splurge Sunday evening! I truly was going to wait until WE vintage chart signaled ready to drink.
Second bottle of this and it is exceedingly more developed and yummy! NO regrets!
This is full of rich flavor...apple butter, pears, brioche, apple orchard, vanilla pudding, jasmine
and graphite! 😁🍅🥐🍐 — 5 years ago
Cantina Terlan
Vorberg Riserva Terlano Pinot Bianco 2017
The 2017 Pinot Bianco Vorberg Riserva is subtly sweet and perfumed in the glass, as a note of peaches-in-cream fades to yellow apple, raw almond, lemony citrus, stone dust and white flowers. It’s soothing on the palate with its silky textures, yet contrasting tension builds through gentle acids and minerals, creating a ripe yet also savory and almost-salty expression. The finish is long, resonating on ripe orchard fruits with inner florals and a hint of lime zest. (Eric Guido, Vinous, November 2020) — 6 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Trader Joe’s — Reserve Lot #258 Pinot Gris 2025 — Willamette Valley, Oregon. United States 🇺🇸
Overview
A lively and expressive 100% Pinot Gris from Willamette Valley, crafted in a fresh, approachable style that overdelivers at its price point. Compared to the previous vintage, the 2025 shows a more savory edge and greater vibrancy right from the first pour.
Aromas & Flavors
Lemon zest, ripe pear, green apple, and subtle orchard fruit layered with a lightly savory touch and clean citrus lift.
Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with bright, energetic acidity. The wine feels more alive and immediately expressive, with a crisp, refreshing texture and a clean, polished finish.
Food Pairings
Light seafood, grilled chicken, salads, picnic fare, or simply on its own as an easy, everyday sipper.
Verdict
A standout value that hits the mark effortlessly. Fresh, vibrant, and well-balanced, this vintage elevates the experience with added liveliness and savory nuance.
Did You Know?
Pinot Gris from cooler climates like Willamette Valley often shows a balance of fresh acidity and subtle savory tones, especially in vintages where ripening conditions preserve both fruit and structure.
🍷 Personal Pick
This vintage really hit the spot, more alive, more savory, and incredibly satisfying from the first sip. At this price, it’s hard to beat.
— 2 months ago