2011 Anam Cara Cellars, Gewürztraminer Nicholas Estate, Chehalem Mountains Oregon (Late Harvest) Dessert Wine.
This stunning sweet wine was a huge surprise, it has amazing lift and drive with sublime balance, showing remarkable class and depth with exotic layers and loads of varietal character. I was completely blown away, and I can’t remember another dessert wine from Oregon to compete with this wildly pleasing wine from Anam Cara Cellars, Nicholas Estate in the Willamette Valley’s Chehalem Mountains area. This beautiful Gewurztraminer late harvest starts with heady rose petals, honey, spice and tropical fruits on the lush bouquet leading to a vibrant and sweet palate of candied pineapple, lychee, apricot preserves and honeyed pear fruits with hints of gardenia, mineral, clove spice, vanilla and lemon curd plus a nice citrus freshness throughout. The finish is long and honey toned, but never overly cloying or heavy, this is pure hedonistic joy, like Alsace’s fine V.T.’s, a great effort to admire.
($24 Est. 375ml) 94 Points, grapelive
