Hood Crest Winery of Columbia Valley is one of our latest discoveries. While on one of our recent wineswinging adventures, we found a hidden jam in just 45 minutes ride from Portland in Hood River, Oregon.
The diverse wine selection makes it an interesting visit especially if you traveling with a few people with different tastes because everyone will find a wine they would like to taste. All wines are a solid representation of what Columbia Valley AVA capable of.
The visit bonus is a recently renovated tasting room with a full kitchen. You can pair the wine with charcuterie meats, thin-crust traditional Italian pizza or Northwestern take on Mediterranian, Spanish or French style pizzas.
After tasting the extensive wine lineup, and we had a few runner-ups, but our favorite was 2013 Sangiovese.
2013 Sangiovese Hood Crest Tasting Notes
Nose
The seductive aromas of chocolate and coffee came out first and invited us to stick our noses into the glass and get it all in. The sophisticated combination with ripe cherry and raspberry, cedar, tobacco and dry red berries made it for an irresistible nose.
Palate
The flavors are delivered everything the nose promised: chocolate covered sour cherries, coffee nibs dipped in raspberry jam, cured meats and a touch of cedar plank.
Impression
Well incorporated tannins and refreshing acid counterbalanced over 15% alcohol and made it feel like Muhammad Ali - a big guy who moves like a featherweight.
The overall impression is that 2013 Hood Crest Sangiovese can stand its ground with its infamous brethren from Montalcino. It has the complex nose and sophisticated palate with the character that will make many love this wine.