Erica Orr has quietly been making one of the great stainless steel Chardonnays in Washington State. Showing unripe pear and melon tones on the nose with shades of baking spice, the palate has great freshness and texture with a silky mouthfeel that entices. With excellent length, I would not have taken this for an unoaked Chardonnay. Enjoy this in the short-term while the wonderful brightness remains. Drink 2020-2025 — 4 years ago
With Ben & Kimberly Orr — a year ago
Royal Slope Grenache, 152 cases made. Excellent clarity, garnet red, light to moderate pigment extraction. Tangerine and wood aromas, cherry flavor with cherry cough drop, wood and tangerine finish. Good acidity and balance, flavorful, though there’s a solid seed tannin backbone on the finish. Consider aging this one or decanting a few hours. A serious take on this varietal, worth seeking out. — 2 years ago
14.6% alc/vol, 152 cases made by a young female winemaker, UC Davis grad. Go Aggies! Ruby red, excellent clarity, moderate pigment extraction. Cherry and black currant in the nose, cherry in the mouth initially. Mild skin astringency in finish. Decanting. After 30 minutes, a tart plum and slightly phenolic cherry cough syrup flavor emerge in the finish with hints of mint, eucalyptus and tangerine, accompanied by light floral aromas, and maybe even a hint of rosehip. After an hour, a light raspberry flavor emerges. A tough wine to analyze after pouring, as this vintage is different from the previous vintages though, granted, these may be new vineyards or perhaps just my first exposure to this AVA. Haven’t decided what I think of this wine yet, but definitely something new and challenging for me. — a year ago
With Ben and Kim Orr — 2 years ago
Revisiting vintage. Lightly to moderately extracted pigment, purple red in color, excellent clarity, Butter, vanilla notes in nose with a hint of mint. Soft, cherry peel with a hint of tangerine peel, light to moderate skin astringency on finish. Really well crafted, lovely flavor profile, on point varietally. — 4 years ago
Eric Urbani
My first Orr wine is their Old Vine Chenin Blanc from Columbia Valley. 40 y.o. Vines, 380 cases, ABV 12%. Showing nice complexity but I’m going to wait a while longer before opening the others. — 2 months ago