Who’s Makin Oregon’s Best Pinot Noirs?

All of the following wines are in extremely limited supply, as Oregon is the land of miniaturists. The terrific 1994 vintage was snapped up upon release, selling for record high prices. The trickier ’95 vintage is being released now. Each of these wines sells for $20 to $40 a bottle, if available.

At present, a list of the leading Pinot Noirs surely would include: Archery Summit “Premiere Cuvee,” Beaux Freres, Cristom Vineyards “Reserve,” Domaine Drouhin Oregon (especially the “Laurene” bottling), Adelsheim Vineyard “Elizabeth’s Reserve,” Cameron Winery “Clos Electrique,” Evesham Wood Vineyard “Cuvee J,” John Thomas Winery and Ken Wright Cellars.

Close behind these would be such Pinot Noirs as the Eyrie Vineyard “Reserve,” Sokol Blosser Winery “Redland,” Benton-Lane and Rex Hill Vineyards “Reserve.”