2013BowArrowMelon2013 Bow & Arrow, Melon, Johan Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Bow & Arrow Wines of Portland, Oregon are a boutique hand craft winery making some wonderfully creative wines that are inspired by the natural wines of the Loire Valley, I have been impressed and entertained by all the efforts I’ve tried to date and highly recommend sampling these innovative wines. Bow & Arrow would certainly feel right at home with Thierry Puzelat and the wines of Touraine, as they make a very nice Cheverny like Gamay and Pinot Noir blend called Rhinestones, as well as straight Gamay and Pinot Noir, again these are done in the Loire style, not trying to be either Beaujolais and Burgundy, plus they do a fabulous Melon, which is a dry salty white, and this could easily pass for a stylish Muscadet Sur Lie. The 2013 Bow & Arrow Melon de Bourgogne is tangy, crisp and mouth-watering zesty with apple, lemon/lime, salted citrus, peach pit and straw. This tightly fresh expression is vibrant, mineral laced and has faint earth, spice and chalk notes making lovely with oysters, light fish and cheese plates, especially good to as a refresher when you want some sting and sharp dry white. This fun light bodied white can be enjoyed now, but I think it will develop some interest in a few years in bottle, maybe filling out with honey tones? It is possible, just like Muscadet, to age a long time, but best to go for it while it’s young. The grapes come from the Johan vineyard, where all the vines are tended biodynamic and lots of care is given, and it was made using traditional/natural techniques, be sure to look for the Bow & Arrow wines, they are wonderful and value priced wines.
($18 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive

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