NY Times   June 21, 2010

BRANDBORG Gewurztraminer

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler..... Albert Einstein

A very nice "Snooth" review.. for the whole article see:   The Rise of Oregon Riesling

2008 Brandborg Riesling Umpqua $$

Lean smelling with layered notes of crisp apple fruit under white floral tones and hints of river stones. Sweet on entry but very Kabinett-like with good acidity and a lovely, light bodied feel. The citrus and green apple fruit is very pure and clean feeling with some fine edge details of herbs and flowers adding nice complexity and offering good persistence right through the very refreshing and moderately long finish. 91pts

June 2010 Wine Enthusiast Reviews:

88 pts.  Brandborg 2008 Pinot Gris

A bit of a fruit salad of a Pinot Gris, with pineapples, banana, mango, white peach and jicima all in the mix.  There is an underlying, bracing minerality that keeps the wine focused and firm, and leads into suggestions of toasted almond in the finish.  Delicious, yet quite different from most other Oregon versions.--P.G.

90 pts. Brandborg 2008 Riesling

A bracing tart Riesling, quite dry and still under 13% alcohol, this mixes green apples, fresh citrus, pineapple and unusual suggestions of clove and spice.  It's a fine follow-up to the winery's excellent 2007 bottling, though perhaps not quite as concentrated.--P.G.

92 pts. Brandborg 2008 Gewurztraminer

Fragrant, fascinating and flat-out delicious, this is one of the top offerings of Gewurztraminer from anywhere in Oregon.  Scents of rose petals, citrus oil, pine needle and lime skin pour forth; the flavors are crisply defined, elegant, lingering and in perfect balance.  Technically off-dry, this has the acidity and focus to be most flexible with a wide variety of Asian foods.--P.G.

2007 Brandborg Bench Lands Pinot Noir Bronze Medal 2008 Umpqua Valley Gewurztraminer Gold Medal 2008 Umpqua Valley Riesling Silver Medal

"COOLEST, COOL CLIMATE VARIETALS"

ELKTON, OREGON

Our site is very cool. We are one of 9 reference vineyards that are scattered throughout the Umpqua that participate in an ongoing research project. We are collecting climate and phenology data from each of the sites. Our site is the coolest of the nine and our growing degree days have not reached the 2000 growing degree days that are the minimum threshold to be classified as a region I. Region I is generally considered to be the only climate cool enough to grow top quality pinot noir. We are farming on the edge, and that is what always gives the most distinctive grapes, stretching the ripening curve to the very last minute.