Wine Enthusiast Raves

Wine Enthusiast recently threw on their party hats and gave our wines a serious fist bump in their upcoming April issue (on sale March 26, 2024). Check out these rocking scores:

92 points Pet Matt 2022 Sunnyside Vineyard Riesling (Willamette Valley).

Matt Berson of Love & Squalor is a skilled Riesling practitioner, so I was excited to try his pétillant-naturel-style sekt. It did not disappoint. Green papaya, peach fuzz, hazelnuts and yeasty brioche aromas segue into flavors of a mineral-laden tonic water garnished with lemon. This wine is bone-dry and ready to dance. Editors’Choice. —M.A. buy here

91 points Pet Matt 2022 Sams Vineyard Sparkling Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Southern Oregon).

This pinkhued pétillant-naturel wine with brash acidity is more fun than we deserve. Crushed strawberries and sunflowers paint an aromatic picture made even more irresistible by notes of thyme and rose petals. Flavors of candied nectarines, saline and juniper berries rub up against a chalky texture. Hidden Gem. —M.A. buy here

94 points Love & Squalor 2019 Reserved Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley).

It’s always the quiet ones. The winemaker named this wine “Reserved” because he thinks it only hints at its potential. Trust me, it is already excellent. Dark raspberry, orange peel, basil and clove aromas lead to flavors of white tea and red cherries. Lemony acidity matches with brawny tannins. Drink now–2034. Cellar Selection. —M.A. buy here

91 points Garageland 2022 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley).

In Garageland, the wine is always a great value, and The Clash is always playing. The latest Garageland Pinot Noir offers dark raspberry and pine needle aromas accompanied by a trace of cranberry. Boisterous acidity backs flavors like cherry, dark chocolate, cedar and coriander. Best Buy. —M.A. buy here

95 points Love & Squalor 2022 Gamay Noir (Willamette Valley).

This is one of the best reds I tasted in 2023. It is a 100% whole cluster, partialcarbonic maceration wine that aged in neutral oak for 11 months. It’s Tootsie Roll and bergamot aromas remind me of the Terry’s Chocolate Orange I’d get in my stocking as a kid. Cranberry-orange and raspberry pastille flavors meld with green tea and thyme notes. Editors’ Choice. —M.A. buy here

91 points Love & Squalor 2021 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley).

While the wine’s aromas of ripe blackberries and freshly cut grass are nice, the show really begins with the first sip. Rich boysenberry sorbet and dark chocolate flavors glide on a palate as smooth as silk and the Fine Young Cannibals. This is a fuller-bodied Pinot Noir with gentle acidity and plush tannins. —M.A. buy here

Wine Enthusiastic for LOVE & SQUALOR!

Our latest reviews in Wine Enthusiastic have been stellar! Check it out:

Love & Squalor 2018 Dry Riesling (Willamette Valley)

As dry and crisp as fall leaves crunching underfoot, this brilliant Riesling displays aromas and flavors of Granny Smith apples, Anjou pears and a not-quite-ripe honeydew melon. A plethora of herbs, from chamomile to lemon basil, make appearances. The acidity is brisk and so is the wine's texture. MICHAEL ALBERTY

RATING 92
DESIGNATION Dry
VARIETY Riesling
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 12%
CATEGORY White
DATE PUBLISHED 4/1/2023

BUY HERE

-----------------------------------------

Love & Squalor 2021 Gamay Noir (Willamette Valley)

This partial carbonic maceration Gamay Noir is a “must try.” It is fresh and vibrant, with enough acidity to light a small village. Aromas of black cherries and Emmental cheese are joined by a lively cucumber note. Strawberry and raspberry flavors are flanked by basil and apple pectin. MICHAEL ALBERTY
RATING 92
VARIETY Gamay Noir
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL13%
CATEGORY Red
DATE PUBLISHED 4/1/2023

BUY HERE

-----------------------------------------

Love & Squalor 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

What an amazingly floral nose. Aromas of blackberries, seagrass, jasmine, hibiscus and orchids—it's like tasting wine with a Hawaiian lei around your neck. Dark-cherry and chocolate flavors and a touch of toasted coconut dominate the palate. Decant, as the tannins are still grippy. MICHAEL ALBERTY

RATING 91
DESIGNATION Reserve
VARIETY Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL13%
CATEGORY Red
DATE PUBLISHED 4/1/2023

BUY HERE

--------------------------------------------

Love & Squalor 2019 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

A really classic Willamette Valley Pinot nose, with lots of red cherries, black tea, orange zest and a streak of Thai basil. Nice, bright acidity steals the show from soft tannins with a subtle grip. The wine tastes like a soda fountain cherry phosphate mixed with blackberry, straw and lemon verbena flavors. No squalor here, just a whole lot of love. MICHAEL ALBERTY

RATING 92
VARIETY Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 13%
CATEGORY Red
DATE PUBLISHED 4/1/2023

BUY HERE

OUR NEWEST RELEASE IN WINE ENTHUSIAST

Love & Squalor Dry Riesling Scores in Wine Enthusiast

This new vintage drops the alcohol more than a full point from the previous year, but it remains a dry, steely wine whose electric tension punches up ripe citrus fruit, notably grapefruit, and tart, racy acids. For that style of bone-dry Riesling this is ground zero, with a lipsmacking finish. PAUL GREGUTT

• RATING 91

• ALCOHOL 11.5%

• DATE PUBLISHED 8/1/2020
  

Buy the newest Love & Squalor Dry Riesling Willamette Valley 2017 here<

Wine Enthusiast Reviews are in... 93pts & Editors Choice

93 points
Editors Choice

L&S 2015 Riesling Willamette Valley 

This utterly delicious dry Riesling has just enough roundness to cut through the acidity. Its lush mix of citrus and stone fruit gathers strength and focus as it roars across the palate. It's instantly accessible yet built for enjoyment over the next decade.

VARIETY Riesling
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 12%
DATE PUBLISHED 2/1/2018

Review online: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2015-riesling-willamette-valley/

---

92 points

L&S 2013 'Antsy Pants' Reserve Riesling

This 2013 is the current release. Its lovely floral highlights distinguish the aroma and carry into the flavors. Sourced from 40-year-old vines from the Brooks and Sunnyside vineyards, it was fermented entirely with native yeasts to almost complete dryness.

DESIGNATION Antsy Pants
VARIETY Riesling
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 11%
DATE PUBLISHED 2/1/2018

Review online: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2013-antsy-pants-riesling-willamette-valley/

---

92 points

L&S 2015 Sunny Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir

This well-balanced wine pushes cherry fruit front and center, underscored by refreshing minerality. The tannins are polished and firmly set on the finish, with a cinnamon kick that resonates long after the last swallow.

DESIGNATION Sunny Mountain Vineyard
VARIETY Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 14.4%
DATE PUBLISHED 2/1/2018

Review online: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2015-sunny-mountain-vineyard-pinot-noir-willamette-valley/

---

92 points

L&S 2015 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

This well-known and widely-admired vineyard doesn't disappoint in this wine, delivering lovely cherry fruit touched with a citrusy edge. The concentration builds gracefully, with tasty highlights of chocolate-covered orange peel and roasted coffee.

DESIGNATION Temperance Hill Vineyard
VARIETY Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 14.2%
DATE PUBLISHED 2/1/2018

Review online: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2015-temperance-hill-vineyard-pinot-noir-eola-amity-hills/

---

91 points
Editors Choice

L&S 2015 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Lovely cherry lollipop flavors introduce this smooth and tasty effort. Its juicy and irresistible sweet fruit is highlighted with sliced orange and lemon peel notes. A streak of coffee runs through the finish, and the wine is substantial enough to cellar for another half decade or longer.

VARIETY Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 13.8%
DATE PUBLISHED 2/1/2018

Review Online: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2015-pinot-noir-willamette-valley/

---

91 points

Love & Squalor 2015 Sunnyside Vineyard Riesling  

The first-ever vineyard-designated Riesling from Love & Squalor, this is bone dry and as tart as lemon juice. Its green apple fruit shows excellent concentration. For acid lovers, this will be a revelation. If acid isn't your thing, look to the winery's regular Riesling instead.

DESIGNATION Sunnyside Vineyard
VARIETY Riesling
APPELLATION Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY Love & Squalor
ALCOHOL 13%
DATE PUBLISHED 2/1/2018

Review online: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2015-sunnyside-vineyard-riesling-willamette-valley/

---

Reviews by Paul Gregutt, a Contributing Editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine, a founding member of the magazine’s Tasting Panel, and reviews the wines of Oregon and Canada.

90 pts for L&S SINGLE VINEYARD 2014 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Just a single barrel of this designate was bottled—too bad, as it's a tasty wine with bold fruit flavors of cranberry and cherry. Baking spices and a streak of cola come through also, and this should drink nicely into the mid-2020s.

PRICE $52,  Buy Now
DESIGNATION Temperance Hill Vineyard
VARIETY Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, US
WINERY love & squalor
Print a Shelf Talker Label
ALCOHOL 13.5%
BOTTLE SIZE 750 ml
CATEGORY Red
DATE PUBLISHED 4/1/2017

source: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2014-temperance-hill-vineyard-pinot-noir-eola-amity-hills

Interview with the winemaker Matt Berson talking about the single vineyards wines can be seen here

Best 100 wines of 2016 says Wine Enthusiast. Guess who’s #53?!

#53

Love & Squalor 2013 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

93 Points Editors’ Choice

A sensational value, this is a Pinot lover's wine, beginning with the gorgeous color of a deep red/orange sunset. Cherries, chocolate, and a light touch of orange peel elevate the aromatics and inform the well-integrated midpalate. The wine lingers gracefully through an immaculate finish.

You can buy the wine online here (click)

The article can be seen here: http://www.winemag.com/toplists/top-100-wines-2016/

Wine Enthusiast Reviews are in again – 93 points!

Fine winemaking is on display here...

— Paul Gregutt Wine Enthusiast June 2016

love & squalor WV Riesling 2013 - 93 Points - Editor's Choice
This packs tremendous flavor into a low-alcohol wine with moderate residual sugar. Peach pit and juice, green apple and citrusy acids start it off. The flavors keep going through a long, complex finish, adding subtle notes of herb and cut grass.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Riesling 2011 - 92 Points
Ignore the silly name and focus on the important particulars—old vine (planted 1976), wild yeast, biodynamic farming. Absolutely bone-dry yet bursting with complex minerality, citrus rind, and penetrating acidity, it has phenolics that give length, breadth and detail.

love & squalor WV Pinot Noir 2012 - 91 Points - Editor's Choice
Fine winemaking is on display here, as the blend includes grapes from six far-flung vineyards. It’s artfully melded, with brambly berries, Bing cherries, cola, cocoa and red licorice notes. Seamless and buttressed with natural acids, it’s not at all reliant on barrel flavors, having seen just 6% once-filled oak, with the rest neutral.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Pinot Noir 2011 - 91 Points
The proprietary name indicates that this is the winemaker’s reserve cuvée, a three-barrel selection mixing equal proportions of grapes from the Eola Hills, Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge AVAs. It’s austere, tight and yet authoritative, showing compact wild berry fruit, Mediterranean herbs and a slight saltiness. It’s best to cellar it until 2020, or give it a good long decant.

Thanks Mr. Gregut 

source: http://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/love-squalor-2013-pinot-noir-willamette-valley

Wine Enthusiast Reviews Are In!

“Fine winemaking is on display here...”

— Paul Gregutt Wine Enthusiast June 2015

love & squalor WV Riesling 2013 - 93 Points - Editor's Choice
This packs tremendous flavor into a low-alcohol wine with moderate residual sugar. Peach pit and juice, green apple and citrusy acids start it off. The flavors keep going through a long, complex finish, adding subtle notes of herb and cut grass.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Riesling 2011 - 92 Points
Ignore the silly name and focus on the important particulars—old vine (planted 1976), wild yeast, biodynamic farming. Absolutely bone-dry yet bursting with complex minerality, citrus rind, and penetrating acidity, it has phenolics that give length, breadth and detail.

love & squalor WV Pinot Noir 2012 - 91 Points - Editor's Choice
Fine winemaking is on display here, as the blend includes grapes from six far-flung vineyards. It’s artfully melded, with brambly berries, Bing cherries, cola, cocoa and red licorice notes. Seamless and buttressed with natural acids, it’s not at all reliant on barrel flavors, having seen just 6% once-filled oak, with the rest neutral.

love & squalor Antsy Pants Pinot Noir 2011 - 91 Points
The proprietary name indicates that this is the winemaker’s reserve cuvée, a three-barrel selection mixing equal proportions of grapes from the Eola Hills, Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge AVAs. It’s austere, tight and yet authoritative, showing compact wild berry fruit, Mediterranean herbs and a slight saltiness. It’s best to cellar it until 2020, or give it a good long decant.

link to them here

Thanks Mr. Gregutt