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Cowhorn Wines – Two Ways with Lamb Chops
I have been wanting to write about Cowhorn Wines since visiting in 2018 and 2021. Recently, I decided to highlight their robust Spiral 36 as a partner for grilled red meat like lamb chops. White wine lovers need to have food choices beyond fish and chicken, right? While processing photos from my visit to the winery and recent dinner, I was reminded that I had enjoyed a Cowhorn red wine this winter. You guessed it, with lamb chops.

The conclusion: Don’t limit yourself to red with meat, white with fish. There are plenty of robust white wines perfect for red meat. Likewise, lighter bodied red wines will pair beautifully with fish, chicken and other lighter foods. Take a look below at the two pairings below, which would you try first?

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. The wines were purchased at retail. The winery visit was part of the 2021 Wine Media Conference. Wineries sponsor acitivities, but participants pay for their own travel, lodging and the conference.

Click on any photo to see a full-size slide show.

Rack of Lamb on the Grill with Cowhorn Spiral
Julie was out with friends, so I took the opportunity to thaw out my ever-ready half rack of lamb from the freezer and looked for a fun side dish. I made another batch of a Thai-Style Crunchy Salad we had recently enjoyed.

Cowhorn Spiral 36 White Blend 2020 Applegate Valley, OR ($32 purchased at the winery, online here) 14.1% abv
A blend of 25% Viognier, 30% Marsanne, and 45% Roussanne, classic Rhone white grapes. The grapes are organic and biodynamic, the wine was co-fermented (all three grapes together) with native yeasts in 20% new oak, then aged on the lees for 6 months.

Eye: Medium Lemon
Nose: Medium plus aromas of apple blossom, yellow apple, pear, beeswax, almond, a bit of passionfruit
Mouth: Dry, medium plus acidity, full body with rich texture, high alcohol, medium plus finish, medium plus intensity flavors echoing the nose with the addition of a hint of oak.
Observations: Rich while retaining a bright freshness, a very nice choice for a white wine enthusiast enjoying grilled red meat. In addition, the wine was a more harmonious pairing with the Thai salad than a red wine would likely have been.

Cast Iron Lamb Chops with Cowhorn Sentience Syrah
It’s rare for me to cook lamb chops anywhere but the grill, however, this winter we were deep into renovating our new apartment in Minneapolis. I had a free evening, but no time to brave the winter cold so I stayed indoors. The next best thing to a grill is my trusty Lodge cast iron. Alongside the lamb chops (topped with rosemary and thyme) I seared mixed veggies we had on hand.

Cowhorn Sentience Syrah Applegate Valley, OR 2014 ($95 a library wine today, online here) 13.4% abv
100% Syrah grapes farme

Eye: Medium garnet
Nose: Medium plus aromas of blackberry, black plum, leather, black olives, rosemary.
Mouth: Dry, medium plus acidity, medium plus fine grained tannins, medium plus body, medium plus aromas, medium plus finish. Flavors followed the aromas with a bit of roasted meat in the background.
Observations: Delicious with lamb chops, this wine has matured gracefully and was a highlight to the meal.

Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden
Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden is a Demeter certified Biodynamic Vineyard located in Southwest Oregon’s Applegate Valley. Originally developed by Bill and Barbara Steele, the vineyard and winery changed hands in 2021. I met Bill Steele during my first visit in 2018. We met the new general manager, Katherine “Mini” Banks during a visit organized as part of the 2021 Wine Media Conference. Mini explained the history of the site during our tour and lunch.

Visiting Cowhorn
If you’re a fan of lesser-known, up-and-coming wine regions, you should give the Rogue Valley in Southwest Oregon (including the Applegate Valley) serious consideration. The region has much to see and do, with multiple wineries ready for visitors. You’ll want to include a stop at Cowhorn, you can set up your visit here.