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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Richardson will make another run ... Illegal scrap yard leads to criminal charges for former operator, headache for landowner ... Crater Lake winter road closures start Sunday ... Richardson will make another run ... Illegal scrap yard leads to criminal charges for former operator, headache for landowner ... Crater Lake winter road closures start Sunday ... State pinots rank high on health scale MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 4, 2005 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM Posted May. 4, 2005 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM » Social News Wine Talk Drinking certain Oregon pinot noirs, in moderation, may be good for your health. Or at least that's the suggestion of some recent news out of the Salem area. After receiving federal approval, Willamette Valley Vineyards has listed the resveratrol content of two of its pinot noirs on their respective labels. The wines are the 2003 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir and 2002 Vintage Selection, the latter not yet released. The label on the 2003 bottle states, Pinot noir develops a natural defense against botrytis (mold) in our moist, cool climate ' the antioxidant resveratrol. Winery president Jim Bernau says he's been careful not to make any health claims on the labels, but mentions that a study by a Cornell University professor suggests that resveratrol may reduce one's chance of developing heart disease or cancer. The professor, Leroy Creasy, found that an average red wine has — to 4 micromolar units of resveratrol. Wines above 7 units are very high and above 10 extraordinary, according to an article about Creasy's study appearing in the Cornell (NY) Chronicle. Pinot noirs tend to have the highest levels, and Willamette Valley's wines are practically off the scale. The 2003 wine has 25.9 micromolars and the 2002 comes in at 28.1. — The 2002 will retail for & 36;19. While it is not yet on the market, I have had a chance to taste it, and it's very good. Bernau describes the 2003 pinot, at & 36;17, as our just-for-fun wine, fresh and fruity, not quite as special. It originally came out with another label. The resveratrol content was added later. Willamette Valley Vineyards, at Turner up near Salem, also bottles Griffin Creek wines, made with Rogue district grapes. BRIDGEVIEW VINEYARDS OF CAVE JUNCTION has once again come out with some drinkable inexpensive reds. One is its Blue Moon 2002 Cabernet-Merlot blend, the other Blue Moon 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. Each retails for about & 36;8, and can possibly be found on sale for less. The grapes for both were grown in the Applegate Valley. I prefer the blend. Bridgeview won the top award at the Oregon State Fair a while back with an earlier cab-merlot. This one is another winner, with excellent flavor. Bridgeview was one of the numerous wineries represented at the recent annual Gold River Distributing tasting. Two other budget-conscious Oregon wines I especially liked there were Cooper Mountain 2003 Reserve Pinot Gris, silky and smooth, and well priced at & 36;11; and Montinore 2002 Pinot Noir, tasty and well balanced, in the & 36;13-& 36;14 range. Troon of the Applegate has a new blend out, the 2003 Druid's Fluid, made of syrah and zinfandel. It is less sweet that its predecessor, a fact that pleases some, not others. The price is & 36;20. A couple of other notables from elsewhere were David Bruce 2003 Petite Sirah from California, musty and interesting, & 36;20; and Whitehaven 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand where many fine wines of this type are made, & 36;16. ROXY ANN OF MEDFORD has two new whites out, 2004 Viognier and 2004 Pinot Gris. The Viognier is elegant. The price is & 36;22. Roxy Ann's 2003 Pinot Gris was perhaps my all-time favorite of that varietal and it sold out. The new one is another excellent wine, maybe not quite so special (it's tough to compete with nostalgia) but still superior. It's & 36;16.50. KENDALL-JACKSON OF CALIFORNIA makes a lot of good moderately-priced wine, but also some upscale releases. I recently had the opportunity to try its 2003 Chardonnay Grand Reserve (& 36;20), and its 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Grand Reserve (each & 36;26). The chardonnay is close to perfection, well-balanced, great flavor, not overly oaked, and the cab is rich, yet gentle. I thought the merlot was not quite as good, but still notable. TWO OTHER GOOD CHARDONNAYS I've enjoyed in restaurants recently are Bethel Heights of Oregon and Banrock from Australia. A glass of Bethel Heights costs & 36;5.75 at River Ranch in Eugene and Banrock is the house white at & 36;4.50 at the Sweetbrier in Tualatin. SPAIN IS NOW THE FIFTH largest exporter of wine to the U.S., behind Italy, Australia, France and Chile ' in that order. And three new wines now being distributed here are of the Camp Viejo label. Each is 75 percent tempranillo, blended with a few other grapes. Best of the lot is the 1997 Gran Reserva, with complex, rich flavor. It is also the most expensive at & 36;19.99. But my second choice is the least expensive, & 36;9.99, the 2001 Crianza, pleasant, with a hint of sweetness. The 1999 Reserva, & 36;12.99, is on the light side ' good on the first day but loses something on the second. ALSO SAMPLED RECENTLY: Edmeades 2003 Mendocino Zinfandel. Here is a smooth, classy California zin for & 36;18. Very pleasant. Argyle Chardonnay. A pleasant, somewhat spicy Oregon white from Dundee. It's & 36;5.25 a glass at the Hungry Woodsman in Medford. Cleve Twitchell is a retired Mail Tribune editor and columnist. E-mail him at [email protected] MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 4, 2005 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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