IN THE NEWS

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS – Jon Christensen Dispatch wine reviewer jac@iwaynet.net

The aroma of wild mushrooms and black cherry that characterizes one of the better New World pinot noirs is intense from the first whiff. The flavor, structure and finish are more akin to a higher-priced range of French Burgundies, with plenty of complexities that keep emerging as the wine breathes – which it must: If you don’t cellar this one, open it several hours before drinking.

WINE SPECTATOR – December 31, 2008

{88}  2006 A to Z Chardonnay – Light and refreshing for its open texture and soft glow of apple, pear and cream aromas and flavors, lingering well and finishing delicate. Drink now. 13,495 cases made. –HS

WINE SPECTATOR – May 15, 2008

{87}  2005 Night and Day – Smooth, generous and nicely focused to show its cherry and dark spice flavors, lingering on the well-formed finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and others. Drink now. 5,976 cases made. –HS

CBS NEWS ONLINE – A Simple Guide to Buying Wine, New York September 13, 2008.

Learn your grapes
Pinot Noir is very cool right now. It’s lighter than either Cab or Merlot; it’s more like red cherries. Less tannins. More acidity. It’s a red wine that actually goes really well with fish, particularly fatty fish like salmon. This is from Oregon, which is a great Pinot region. Pinot is also great with mushrooms. 2006 A to Z Wine Works Oregon.

Don’t be fooled by places like France, where they name the wines after the regions. Just ask which grapes they’re using!!

WINE & SPIRITS – 100 top values of the year, June 2008 (pages 58, 92, 104 & 106)

2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
“This is a little earthier {than MacMurray}. It has that rainy, forest floor feel to it, and accurate representation of Oregon pinot. I can see it with chicken with mushrooms in a cream sauce. Mushroom anything, salmon anything, game bird anything…it would also be fantastic with a carbonara.” —A. Weil

{88} 2006 Oregon Pinot Gris – This ripe apple flavors, buoyed by a brisk acidity, that give the wine a lifted, juicy finish. Chill for an afternoon aperitif.

{87} 2006 Oregon Riesling – This off-dry Oregon riesling has a bready scent of lees to accompany sweet apple flavors. Its modest richness and palate weight will make for fine pairing with veal sausages. (2,344 cases)

{89} 2005 Oregon Night & Day – A blend composed primarily of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, the wine has a grapey scent and jammy, ripe flavors that suggest an almost Aussie succulence to its texture.

NORTHWEST PALATE – September|October 2008
FOOD, WINE & TRAVEL OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Exploring the North Oregon Coast
The Bridgewater Bistro, chef Pelletier pairs Dungeness crab cheesecake with a bright, lively Willamette Valley A to Z Pinot Gris.

COWBOYS & INDIANS – magazine, January 2009
On the Trail with John Mariani
IS RIESLING THE GREAT GRAPE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST?
“I love the A to Z Oregon Riesling, whose label reads “Aristocratic Wines at Democratic Prices”. The 2006 was A to Z’s first release and shows excellent promise for the varietal, revealing flinty slate mineral flavors of “wet stones,” along with an enchanting, true Riesling floral aroma. It will certainly mature for the next several years.”

A to Z INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION! – LONDON FINANCIAL TIMES
A to Z 2006 Pinot Noir – The best-value way to enjoy Oregon’s specially subtle answer to Burgundy. Violet scents and a lovely texture.

WINE ENTHUSIAST – December 15th, 2008, (Featured on pages 31, 68 & 102!)
{88} A to Z 2007 Pinot Gris, BEST BUY – A to Z can honestly lay claim to making Oregon’s best budget Pinot Gris. Their inexpensive, widely available bottlings consistently offer fresh, varietal scents of citrus and pear, with nuances of acacia flowers and honeysuckle. Production has ramped up to 31,000 cases, with no diminution of quality. —P.G.

{87} A to Z Pinot Blanc – Lovely and fresh, this versatile wine is bursting with melon, white peach and green pinapple fruit flavors. As before, the bright acidity and perfect balance mean that it will accompany mild cheeses, roasted fowl and lighter seafood dishes. Think of Pinot Blanc as the more elegant cousin to Pinot Gris, and you’ve got it pegged. —P.G.

{87} A to Z 2007 Pinot Noir – A to Z has kept a lid on its pricing, and offers one of the best values in Oregon Pinot Noir. Though very young, this wine is soft and forwar, and benefits from its early release. It could almost pass for a cru Beaujolais, from the slightly candied cherry fruit right down to the hints of banana that suggest a certain amount of whole cluster fermentation. In any event, it’s fruity, lightly detailed with spice, and quite charming, though not as substantial as its 2006 predecessor. —P.G.

WINE SPECTATOR – Best Values of 2008
{87} A to Z 2007 Riesling – Light & refreshing for its nectarine and spice flavors, persisting gently on the open-textured finish. —H.S.

{85} A to Z 2007 Rosé – This is appealing for its simple watermelon and floral flavors, finishing dry. Sangiovese. —H.S.

WINE TASTE TV INTERVIEW WITH A TO Z
on Night & Day 2004 Red Wine

WINE & SPIRITS GIFTS
A to Z featured on the Today Show (12/17/2007)
SEE THE SHOW ONLINE

THE ELLEN SHOW – A to Z is featured
on the Ellen Degeneres Show!
pinotnoir.com

FOOD & WINE – October 2008
Best Value Wines Under $20
Pinot Noir 2001 & 2006 RE-ELECTED! BEST AMERICAN BY FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE PINOT NOIR UNDER $20!

WINE & SPIRITS – 2008
100 Best Buys (2008)
Oregon 90 A to Z 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH MAGAZINE – November 2008
“Our wine columnist Andrea Robinson suggests serving A to Z Pinot Noir from Oregon with this Thanksgiving feast. It has just the right smokiness to balance the herbal, sage-y spice of the stuffing and turkey, while standing up to the salty-bitter flavor of the sprouts.

Clair Paparazzo, wine director for the farm-to-table Blue Hill Restaurant in New York City, featured and placed A to Z’s 2007 Pinot Noir in her wine list.

WINE SPECTATOR RATES A TO Z! – February 2007

“#1 Hottest Small Brand of 2006! ”
WINE BUSINESS MONTHLY

PAST NEWS (a sampling)

WINE SPECTATOR
A to Z Oregon Rosé (87)

WINE ADVOCATE – JUNE 2006, #165
2004 Pinot Gris 87 points $12.00.

SMART MONEY – APRIL 2007
A to Z Featured “Pinot Gris, Oregon Style”.

WINE & SPIRITS
Night & Day featured in an article “Lovely to the Letter”. To read more click here.

SPRING’S ESSENCE – 2005
A to Z 2005 Oregon 2005 Pinot Blanc Editors Choice form Wine Gazette.com “This 2005 Pinot Blanc is as outstanding an American Pinot Blanc as I have tasted.”

REX HILL WINERY SOLD TO A to Z WINEWORKS, CREATING THE BIGGEST WINE PRODUCER IN OREGON – November 2006
To read more check out the archives of: Oregonian; Wine Spectator Online; Pinot Report; Wine Business Insider; Wine & Spirits Daily.

HARVEY STEIMAN’S RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE WINES FROM OREGON
A to Z Chardonnay Oregon 2005 Light and appealing for its peach and melon aromas and flavors. Finishes with refreshing acidity.A to Z Pinot Gris Oregon 2005 Bright and lively, with juicy nectarine and subtle spice flavors. Lingers gently on the dry finish.

WINE SPECTATOR RATES A TO Z! – December 2006
A to Z 2005 Chardonnay
A to Z 2005 Pinot Gris
A to Z 2005 Pinot Blanc
A to Z 2003 Claret

JOSHUA WESSON – August 27, 2006
“Wine wizard Josh Wesson goes after those much maligned and overlooked pink beauties: rosés. Here are some of his recommendations to try: A to Z Oregon Rosé of Pinot Noir. About $14”

WINE ADVOCATE – July 2006
“2004 Pinot Noir (89) Terrific value! “Setting a standard for excellent Pinot at a price everyone can afford.” This medium bodied wine is juicy,
seamless, and packed with red as well as black cherries. It is suave, silky-textured, and delivers loads of pure fruit in an angle-free, deliciously fruit-forward style.”

2004 Pinot Blanc (86); 2004 Pinot Gris (87)
2003 Claret(88) to read more on these wines
(issue 165, pg 44) ”

WINE SPECTATOR ONLINE – July 2006
“The head coach of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs has signed on as a partner in Oregon’s A to Z Wineworks, which specializes in Pinot Noir priced under $20.”

WALLSTREET JOURNAL; ZACHY’S FAVORITE OREGON PRODUCER  – December 2006

READER’S DIGEST – July 2006
Go to this site to vote for A to Z as the best summer wine according to Reader’s Digest!!

GQ – May 2006, pg. 98
“The first Xbox Wine Guide”

BRIDES – February 2006
Tim Allen, the food and wine guru from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, pours A to Z Pinot Noir at a bridal shower food & wine pairing.

QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY – SPRING 2006
A to Z featured in episode #237.

DRINKS – FALL 2005
In Oregon, a collaboration of four wine industry veterans called A to Z Wineworks skillfully combining premium lots of wine from all over the state to create a
surprisingly affordable Oregon Pinot Noir.

WINE SPECTATOR ONLINE – November 2005
2003 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir “Open…ripe, generous plum and dried blueberry flavors.”

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL – November 2005
Recommends 2003 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir “Lovely, up front fruit – tight earthy finish… fine value.”

BON APPÉTIT – September 2005
“Sommelier’s Choice” 2003 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir.

FINE LIVING – September 2005
Recommends 2003 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir #1 of 5 Great Reds under $15 Ripe berries… smoke, spice and lavender.

SAVEUR – March 2005
“Wine Masterminds” “Supergroup of Oregon wine personalities, A to Z owners…make great, affordable cuvees. Their ’04 A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris is alive with bright acidity and succulent fruit.”

NEWSWEEK – August 23, 2004
“Oregon wineries have become experts.” A to Z Pinot Noir one of five Oregon wines featured.

DEAN & DELUCA -  Japan, July/August 2004
A to Z Pinot Noir “intensely perfumed, well-balanced wine” A to Z Pinot Gris “versatile and flexible”.

BON APPÉTIT – July 2004
Bobby Flay pairs A to Z Pinot Noir with Spice-rubbed chicken.

OREGONIAN – July 20, 2004
Chef Brad Root says A to Z Pinot Noir is ‘custom-built’ for food.

WINE SPECTATOR – June 30, 2004
FEATURE ARTICLE
A Wine Family Dinner: Food is central to the winemaking Hatchers of Willamette Valley.

WALLY’S – Los Angeles, February/March 2004
“A to Z Pinot Noir is a beauty.”

E & R WINE EXPLORER -  2003
Awards USA Winery of the Year: A to Z Wineworks.

FOOD & WINE – November 2003
A to Z Pinot Noir is awarded BEST AMERICAN PINOT NOIR under $20.

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE – September 11, 2003
A to Z Pinot Noir “…complex and complete.”

OREGONIAN – August 17, 2003
A to Z Pinot Gris “…the ultimate bang for the buck.”

ZACHY’S GAZETTE – New York Times, July 2, 2003
A to Z Pinot Gris “worth TWICE THE PRICE!!”