Dec 30, 2022
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A to Z Wineworks
| Owner(s) | Cheryl Francis, Bill Hatcher, Debra Hatcher, Sam Tannahill |
| Web site | www.atozwineworks.com |
| Link to this site |
A to Z Wineworks in Newberg, Oregon is a fast growing negotiant that sources and blends juice from all over Oregon. Founded by Sam Tannahill, Cheryl Francis, and Debra and Bill Hatcher. The wines, including Pinot Noir, are very popular daily drinkers that are widely available. The company's byline is “Aristocratic wines at democratic prices.”
Sam Tannahill has a master touch with blending, bringing wine from more than 30 different vineyards together for the Oregon Pinot Noir in 2008. The wines focus on value (A to Z wines are priced from $12 to $19), and the winery is now one of Oregon's largest.
The company also includes William Hatcher and Francis Tannahill labels, and Rex Hill, which the partners bought in 2006 with Gregg Popovich.
In 2014, A to Z became the world's first winery to earn a new certification focused on socially and environmentally responsible business known as B Corp.
Articles About A to Z Wineworks
Large Review of 2009 & 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs With a Few from 2008 & 2011 (9.7 5/9/2012)
Oregon Pinot Noir Starts Here: A Sampling of Entry Level Wines (10.36 8/29/2016)
Pinot Briefs (10.49 2/26/2017)
Pinot Gris: Oregon’s Signature White Wine (7.15 3/26/2009)
Plenty of Oregon ’08 and ’09 Pinot Bounty in the Marketplace Oregon (8.45 11/1/2011)
Rece$$ion Bumpers (7.15 3/26/2009)
Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Pinot Noir (9.34 12/17/2013)
Small Sips of Odds & Ends (6.57 4/7/2008)
Small Sips of Oregon Pinot (8.19 8/8/2010)
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (11.23 5/12/2018)
Reviewed Wines
2015 A to Z Wineworks The Essence of Oregon Oregon Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $24, screw
cap. A selection of fruit from 35 vineyards blended to produce a celebratory cuvée to celebrate the
winery’s 15th anniversary. A to Z is Oregon’s best selling wine brand. Classy black and white
bottle label and neck ring.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. This wine evolves nicely in
the glass over time and offers plenty of Pinot pleasure for a modest price. Aromas of black cherry,
rhubarb, earthy flora, spice and seasoned oak barrique. A middleweight spiced black cherry core
has some length and intent, there is redeeming balance, and the whole package is juicy and easy
to like. Tremendous value.
Score: 91.
Reviewed May 10, 2018
ARTICLE »
2014 A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $19, screwcap. Winemaker Michael Davies attempts
to specific vintage traits with each vintage bottling.
·
Light cherry red color in the glass. Oak-embossed, with
aromas and flavors of blueberries and cherries dipped in espresso. Very elegant, even shallow, with oak barrel
treatment overriding the delicate core of spiced cherry fruit.
Score: 86.
Reviewed August 29, 2016
ARTICLE »
2011 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $15, screwcap.
·
Moderate ruby red color in the glass. Pleasant
aromas of black cherries and oak spice. Refined, brisk and elegant, featuring flavors of cherry and raspberry
with a shadow of oak in the background, finishing with a flourish of cherry and a kick of citrus-laden acidity. A
little too much oak on board for my taste with the oak becoming more evident the longer the wine sits in the
glass.
Score: 85.
Reviewed December 18, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $20, screw cap.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass.
Aromas of oak-kissed cherries with a hint of spice and acacia. A fruity and uncomplicated wine with lighter
weight flavors of red cherries and raspberries framed by bright acidity. Won’t turn your head, but pleasant and
easy to drink. Decent.
Reviewed May 11, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $17, screw cap. A large production blend that is consistently
dependable.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of cherry pie, spice, vanilla and
seasoned oak. Crisp cherry flavor in a straightforward, lighter style with well honed structural tannins and
bright acidity. Soft in the mouth with admirable finesse, finishing with a mild herbal oak note. Good.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $16, screw cap. A to Z Wineworks
makes “Aristocratic wines at democratic prices.”
·
Moderately light reddish-purple
color in the glass. Fragrant with berry and cherry fruits and some herbal oak and
brioche notes. Light on the palate with a demure core of red stone fruits with
hints of loamy earth, sage and a touch of citrus peel on the finish. Clean, direct,
well-defined and well-priced. Good.
Reviewed August 7, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris
13.0% alc., 30,500 cases, $12, screw cap.
·
Very shy
aromas of tropical fruit including guava. Light and delicate expanding somewhat with
time in the glass but still is rather dilute.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $15, screw cap. “Aristocratic wines at
democratic prices.”
·
Aromas of ripe red berries which are slightly confected and
herb-kissed. Crisp and juicy with reserved tannins and a lively touch of citrus zest
on the finish.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $20, screw cap. This wine is from A to
Z Wineworks in Newberg, Oregon, a fast growing negocient that sources and
blends juice from all over Oregon. Founded by Sam Tannahill, Cheryl Francis, and
Debra and Bill Hatcher. Very popular daily drinker that is widely available. Byline
is “Aristocratic wines at democratic prices.”
·
Pleasant cherry and strawberry fruit in
a straightforward style with a likeable smoky accent. Light-bodied and easy to drink, it has decent acidity
and is a perfect accompaniment to an Easter ham.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2015 A to Z Wineworks The Essence of Oregon Oregon Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $24, screw cap. A selection of fruit from 35 vineyards blended to produce a celebratory cuvée to celebrate the winery’s 15th anniversary. A to Z is Oregon’s best selling wine brand. Classy black and white bottle label and neck ring. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. This wine evolves nicely in the glass over time and offers plenty of Pinot pleasure for a modest price. Aromas of black cherry, rhubarb, earthy flora, spice and seasoned oak barrique. A middleweight spiced black cherry core has some length and intent, there is redeeming balance, and the whole package is juicy and easy to like. Tremendous value. Score: 91. Reviewed May 10, 2018 ARTICLE »
2014 A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $19, screwcap. Winemaker Michael Davies attempts to specific vintage traits with each vintage bottling. · Light cherry red color in the glass. Oak-embossed, with aromas and flavors of blueberries and cherries dipped in espresso. Very elegant, even shallow, with oak barrel treatment overriding the delicate core of spiced cherry fruit. Score: 86. Reviewed August 29, 2016 ARTICLE »
2011 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $15, screwcap. · Moderate ruby red color in the glass. Pleasant aromas of black cherries and oak spice. Refined, brisk and elegant, featuring flavors of cherry and raspberry with a shadow of oak in the background, finishing with a flourish of cherry and a kick of citrus-laden acidity. A little too much oak on board for my taste with the oak becoming more evident the longer the wine sits in the glass. Score: 85. Reviewed December 18, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $20, screw cap. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of oak-kissed cherries with a hint of spice and acacia. A fruity and uncomplicated wine with lighter weight flavors of red cherries and raspberries framed by bright acidity. Won’t turn your head, but pleasant and easy to drink. Decent. Reviewed May 11, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $17, screw cap. A large production blend that is consistently dependable. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of cherry pie, spice, vanilla and seasoned oak. Crisp cherry flavor in a straightforward, lighter style with well honed structural tannins and bright acidity. Soft in the mouth with admirable finesse, finishing with a mild herbal oak note. Good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $16, screw cap. A to Z Wineworks makes “Aristocratic wines at democratic prices.” · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Fragrant with berry and cherry fruits and some herbal oak and brioche notes. Light on the palate with a demure core of red stone fruits with hints of loamy earth, sage and a touch of citrus peel on the finish. Clean, direct, well-defined and well-priced. Good. Reviewed August 7, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris
13.0% alc., 30,500 cases, $12, screw cap. · Very shy aromas of tropical fruit including guava. Light and delicate expanding somewhat with time in the glass but still is rather dilute. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $15, screw cap. “Aristocratic wines at democratic prices.” · Aromas of ripe red berries which are slightly confected and herb-kissed. Crisp and juicy with reserved tannins and a lively touch of citrus zest on the finish. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $20, screw cap. This wine is from A to Z Wineworks in Newberg, Oregon, a fast growing negocient that sources and blends juice from all over Oregon. Founded by Sam Tannahill, Cheryl Francis, and Debra and Bill Hatcher. Very popular daily drinker that is widely available. Byline is “Aristocratic wines at democratic prices.” · Pleasant cherry and strawberry fruit in a straightforward style with a likeable smoky accent. Light-bodied and easy to drink, it has decent acidity and is a perfect accompaniment to an Easter ham. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »