I firmly believe that regardless of your wine budget we all like a good value. As I’ve stated before, I’m well entrenched in the camp that believes value is a relative term. You can have wines that represent value regardless of the price point, they just need to outshine in one manner or another what’s generally on offer, in their tier. Oregon’s Chemistry is a born of collaboration between two Estate Wineries (Stoller and Chehalem), that is in fact a value brand.
They have a total of six wines currently in the portfolio and they’re priced at $25 across the line. A couple of the wines produced are from Washington Stare fruit. But the two I’m looking at today have an Oregon appellation. I remember as a kid when Columbia records came out with a designation, “The Nice Price.” In their case these were classic albums that had been out a few years, now available at a few dollars less than before. These wines are of course current releases. But they are at what I consider “the nice price.” For me that means they offer more value in the bottle than the sticker would indicate. There’s nothing about that, which isn’t nice. While the suggested retail on these is $25, you can easily find them on the shelf under $20, a very sweet spot. Take a look at wine-searcher and the average price for these wines is $15.
It’s important to have wine on hand that’s easy on the budget. What that budget is varies for each individual. Bottles in your everyday drinking pile can serve a few great purposes. Firstly they protect you from the temptation to open wines you were waiting to develop in the cellar or for a special occasion. They’re also perfect when someone stops by unexpectedly and you want to open something to be hospitable on one leg. These everyday wines are also perfect when you’re bringing something to a potluck or other casual gathering. In any case these two wines from Chemistry fit all of those criteria for me. But most important, they need to be good wines that well represent the grape (s) in question. For more about that, please read on.
Chemistry 2023 Oregon Pinot Gris ($25)
This is entirely Pinot Gris sourced from sites around Oregon. Enticing Bartlett Pear aromas lead the charge here. Ponderosa lemon underlies it. Continued references to orchard fruit are evident on the palate alongside nectarine and apricot. Bright acid ties everything together. There was a time that tasting in Willamette Valley, nearly every producer had a Pinot Gris that leaned towards the overly fruity and somewhat sweet side. This is not that wine. There’s fruit here to spare, but everything is well balanced and proportionate. This exactly what I’m looking for in Oregon Pinot Gris.
Chemistry 2023 Oregon Chardonnay ($25)
This is 100% Oregon Chardonnay. Over the last decade, give or take, Chardonnay has been on the rise in Oregon. It was always there, but there’s a lot more of it as wine growers and consumers realize how great the possibilities for the beloved grape are in the area. What I have found to like, in many Oregon Chardonnays over that time, is a purity of fruit. This Chardonnay has plenty of that. Anjou pear and Genoa lemon pear offer appealing first whiffs. Apple and pear notes drive the palate alongside hints of baking spices. A closing bit of lemon zest leads to a memorable finish. This is a tremendous value for an everyday drinking Chardonnay. Certainly something to consider as a case purchase.
I tasted these wines on their own, without food. I’d recommend Jamaican Jerk Chicken to pair with the Pinot Gris. It would also work perfectly as a welcome wine. A cheese and fresh fruit board would be great with the Chardonnay. Lemon Chicken would also be inspired with the Chardonnay.
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