Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Come to My "Un-Opening"
Monday, December 17, 2012
An Open Bottle: Abbelone '09 Pinot Noir
Today, after the tilers left, after I took Linda to the airport, and after I fed the cats, I went in to the cellar and poked around, looking for something I had not had very much time with.
I chose a bottle of 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir by Abbelone Wine, partly due to the label done by Jane West, who I used to show at my Portland Gallery years ago.
First Open: High notes of eucaliptus, cedar, and cool black fruit in the nose. Nice mouthfeel with black fruit and a little hard candy.
10 Minutes: Cedar and black caps with blueberry notes in the nose. A little warm strawberry and blackberry with some notes of mint and earth.
30 Minutes: Ok, now we are open! Complex coffee, big black fruit, cedar in the top notes, and just a hint of Asian spice. The mouth-feel has become soft and delightful. Hints of jammy strawberry, a bit of Blueberry dancing around with cooked strawberry jam. Warm and inviting with a pleasant finish. . It is delicate and would not do well with spicy food.The acid balance lends itself to Salmon and lightly cooked veggies.
Here are the notes I did last year when we did a tasting at Travel Lane County's Adventure Center.
Very lovely wine.
You may find out more from South Willamette Wineries.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Long Drive But Nice Rewards
Today I had a pleasant drive to Portland to pick up a framed painting at Pearl Framing. The frame stock for one of the works was back ordered so I must make a return trip next week. There are rewards you have to give yourself when things do not go just right so that life evens out. Today my reward was lunch at The Parish on NW 11th at Evert. A blossom of Louisiana nestled in the Pearl just waiting to be plucked.
I made a reservation on OpenTable and after a little visit to Powell's and Whole Foods, wandered in and was greeted by Sabrina, who showed me to a nice table with a view of 11th and handed me a menu. I watched the trolly pass and thought about the sights and sounds of New Orleans and riding the Streetcars there. The smells coming from the kitchen helped form the memory.
I was not looking to stuff myself so I found and ordered the Wedge Salad, a nice big quarter head of fresh crisp lettuce drizzled with a creamy buttermilk Ranch dressing and served with soft cooked egg. Then I added three pan fried oysters and topped it of with a glass of INOX, Chehalem's nice little '11 Chardonnay.
There are few wines that would have gone as well with the meal as this one did, perhaps Ghost Hill's Pinot Noir Blanc, but this is what they had and I was more than pleased. Crisp fruit with just that perfect hint of slate and a very smooth and delicate mouth feel. It worked with both the salad and the oysters, cutting the creamy dressing and enhancing the flavors of the fried oysters. This wine is one of the best of their INOX label that I have tasted. Unoaked and brilliant with ginger and white peach along the good minerals. Loved it!
The oysters were small, perfectly done, and lightly breaded in cornmeal and all the delicate flavors came shining through.
I enjoyed reading the New York Magazine while slowly cruising through the meal, letting the tastes mingle and enhance each other but alas, the meal was done and I had to move on. I thanked Tobias Hogan, one of the owners. He and his partner had another oyster bar called EaT in north Portland. When the cooking school, In Good Taste, closed after Barbara Dawson decided to combine it with her location in Lake Oswego, they stepped in and brought Portland a little more classy sample of Louisiana.
I highly recommend this place and let me tell you, from past visits, the rabbit and andouille jambalaya is out of this world, or at least out of Oregon.
I made a reservation on OpenTable and after a little visit to Powell's and Whole Foods, wandered in and was greeted by Sabrina, who showed me to a nice table with a view of 11th and handed me a menu. I watched the trolly pass and thought about the sights and sounds of New Orleans and riding the Streetcars there. The smells coming from the kitchen helped form the memory.
I was not looking to stuff myself so I found and ordered the Wedge Salad, a nice big quarter head of fresh crisp lettuce drizzled with a creamy buttermilk Ranch dressing and served with soft cooked egg. Then I added three pan fried oysters and topped it of with a glass of INOX, Chehalem's nice little '11 Chardonnay.
There are few wines that would have gone as well with the meal as this one did, perhaps Ghost Hill's Pinot Noir Blanc, but this is what they had and I was more than pleased. Crisp fruit with just that perfect hint of slate and a very smooth and delicate mouth feel. It worked with both the salad and the oysters, cutting the creamy dressing and enhancing the flavors of the fried oysters. This wine is one of the best of their INOX label that I have tasted. Unoaked and brilliant with ginger and white peach along the good minerals. Loved it!
The oysters were small, perfectly done, and lightly breaded in cornmeal and all the delicate flavors came shining through.
I enjoyed reading the New York Magazine while slowly cruising through the meal, letting the tastes mingle and enhance each other but alas, the meal was done and I had to move on. I thanked Tobias Hogan, one of the owners. He and his partner had another oyster bar called EaT in north Portland. When the cooking school, In Good Taste, closed after Barbara Dawson decided to combine it with her location in Lake Oswego, they stepped in and brought Portland a little more classy sample of Louisiana.
I highly recommend this place and let me tell you, from past visits, the rabbit and andouille jambalaya is out of this world, or at least out of Oregon.
A Little Flight Music
My friends at WildAire Cellars have come up with a great idea to get us through the coming chill.
Bring your instruments by for a free wine tasting and relaxing hour on Sunday afternoons. The rain has set in for the winter, here in Oregon. It's feels good to sit around the fire and drink hot chocolate and watch football, for a weekend. Let us tempt you out of the house. Come play music with us, or just come sip a little wine and listen to the music. For the past month, we have had some local Carlton musicians stop in at the shop to play on Sundays, and they would like some audience participation. I know many of you strum a little guitar. Please come out and support your local music scene. They start playing at around 3:30 in the afternoon will will stay around until dinner.
The wines they produce are really tasty, plus they are just great people, so stop by and bring your music, or just listen and have a flight.
WildAire Cellars Tasting Room
Open September-April - Fri-Mon 12-5
May-August - Daily 12-5
May-October - Friday 12-7
or by appointment anytime call 503 883 3325
www.WildAireCellars.com
jean@WildAireCellars.com
For more events and information contact
http://northwestwinestoyou.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Changes Coming at Wine Advocate
Eric Asimov writes about the changes coming to Parker's mag now that he is stepping aside a bit. His influence on the industry has been deep and wide. Not everyone agrees with his taste or approach but he has been one of the biggest influencing forces for many years.
For many wine lovers, the news that Robert M. Parker Jr. is planning to sell a portion of his influential newsletter, The Wine Advocate, to a group of Asian investors and step down as editor in chief does not so much signal an end of an era as acknowledges changes that have been under way for a decade.
The article, by Lettie Teague in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, also reports that the print edition of The Wine Advocate will soon be eliminated, and that Lisa Perrotti-Brown, a correspondent for The Wine Advocate based in Singapore, will take over editorial control. Mr. Parker will assume the role of chairman, and he will continue to write for the newsletter, primarily covering the wines of Bordeaux and the Rhône.
Mr. Parker is still the world’s most influential wine critic, at least in the sense that his words help set the prices of the top-flight Bordeaux market and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as well as the auction market for old benchmark wines. In a larger sense, though, the peak of Mr. Parker’s influence, when he along with other publications like Wine Spectator shaped how several generations of Americans thought about wine, has passed. The move recognizes a new reality, that the center of orbit for critics like Mr. Parker is now in Asia rather than North America. MORE
For many wine lovers, the news that Robert M. Parker Jr. is planning to sell a portion of his influential newsletter, The Wine Advocate, to a group of Asian investors and step down as editor in chief does not so much signal an end of an era as acknowledges changes that have been under way for a decade.
The article, by Lettie Teague in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, also reports that the print edition of The Wine Advocate will soon be eliminated, and that Lisa Perrotti-Brown, a correspondent for The Wine Advocate based in Singapore, will take over editorial control. Mr. Parker will assume the role of chairman, and he will continue to write for the newsletter, primarily covering the wines of Bordeaux and the Rhône.
Mr. Parker is still the world’s most influential wine critic, at least in the sense that his words help set the prices of the top-flight Bordeaux market and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as well as the auction market for old benchmark wines. In a larger sense, though, the peak of Mr. Parker’s influence, when he along with other publications like Wine Spectator shaped how several generations of Americans thought about wine, has passed. The move recognizes a new reality, that the center of orbit for critics like Mr. Parker is now in Asia rather than North America. MORE
Friday, December 7, 2012
Oregon Wine Gets a Look in California
Eve Bushman, who writes Wine 101 and other wine articles, did an interview with me and published it in the West Ranch Beacon. Here is a link and an exert.
Last week readers were introduced to Oregon resident Robert Canaga. We covered much of his beginnings, his entrance into wine and his art. This week we will finish up our interview learning about Oregon wines. 2. What is unique about Oregon wines; for example what varietals are best produced with the terroir? I am not sure I understand the question as wine is produced and has terroir. That is the Umami of wine, that 5th taste that is indescribable but is obvious. Oregon has many wine regions. Of course the one that gets the most attention is the Willamette Valley, where I think we have 7 AVAs and many more unspecified areas for growth. Mostly Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay but now we are growing cold climate Syrah, and all kinds of colder climate grapes for blending and small release bottlings.
In the Umpqua AVA and its neighbor, Red Hills Douglas County (smallest AVA in Oregon, perhaps in the USA) they grow Pinot Noir, Italian reds, syrah, and even Pinotage, along with Rieslings, Muller-Thurgau, and some more little surprises, like Grüner Veltliner.
To the south we have the Rogue and Applegate Valleys where they grow hot weather grapes and also lots of Pinot Noir that is closer to Napa that Willamette Valley grapes.
Each specific area has its own terroir and after a while you can tell where the grape is grown just by the smell. A great example is Forris Vineyard’s Pinot Noir: It is grown in the coast ranges almost to the California border near Oregon Caves. The land is rich with organics and the deep volcanic soils. You can smell the forest floor and the wet rock and it adds to the complexity of the wine. Another example would be the different Syrahs grown here. The ones grown down in the Rogue Valley floor are hot, smoky, big fruit, and a bit harsh in some years where the ones grown just a few miles away up the valley are much more gentle and the fruits, while big and bold, are even more complex and you can pick out the details of the wine. MORE
Last week readers were introduced to Oregon resident Robert Canaga. We covered much of his beginnings, his entrance into wine and his art. This week we will finish up our interview learning about Oregon wines. 2. What is unique about Oregon wines; for example what varietals are best produced with the terroir? I am not sure I understand the question as wine is produced and has terroir. That is the Umami of wine, that 5th taste that is indescribable but is obvious. Oregon has many wine regions. Of course the one that gets the most attention is the Willamette Valley, where I think we have 7 AVAs and many more unspecified areas for growth. Mostly Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay but now we are growing cold climate Syrah, and all kinds of colder climate grapes for blending and small release bottlings.
In the Umpqua AVA and its neighbor, Red Hills Douglas County (smallest AVA in Oregon, perhaps in the USA) they grow Pinot Noir, Italian reds, syrah, and even Pinotage, along with Rieslings, Muller-Thurgau, and some more little surprises, like Grüner Veltliner.
To the south we have the Rogue and Applegate Valleys where they grow hot weather grapes and also lots of Pinot Noir that is closer to Napa that Willamette Valley grapes.
Each specific area has its own terroir and after a while you can tell where the grape is grown just by the smell. A great example is Forris Vineyard’s Pinot Noir: It is grown in the coast ranges almost to the California border near Oregon Caves. The land is rich with organics and the deep volcanic soils. You can smell the forest floor and the wet rock and it adds to the complexity of the wine. Another example would be the different Syrahs grown here. The ones grown down in the Rogue Valley floor are hot, smoky, big fruit, and a bit harsh in some years where the ones grown just a few miles away up the valley are much more gentle and the fruits, while big and bold, are even more complex and you can pick out the details of the wine. MORE
Monday, December 3, 2012
A Little Late Night Nectar
A few weeks ago I had the occasion to shop the local Bi-Mart for bird seed and unsalted peanuts for my new friend the scrub Jay. I recalled what a large wine area they they used to have years ago so I wondered over for a look. There, on the highest shelf, a lone bottle, marked down to $11.99, was a bottle of Bradley Vineyard '07 Riesling. I picked it up, trying to act nonchalant as I placed it carefully in my cart and made for the register.
A little history: I was at Bradley in '08 when he released this one and he gave one to the "One Bottle Project" plus I bought one after tasting. I was light and crisp with nice German tones and I bit of that lovely petroleum hint on the nose. It was light and crisp then but it had a deep undertone of apple and white fruit. Now it is golden toned with a heady nose of baked apple, ripe pear, and honey. In the mouth it transforms with elegant pear and caramel with a tartness that is not at all unpleasant. Nice acid and sugar balance. Truly nectar of some god somewhere.
If you have not taken the time to drive off the freeway to Elkton, DO IT! There are three wonderful wineries there and each has won many awards. The micro climate there has its own unique way of developing the fruit.
Visit Brandborg, River's Edge, and Bradley and you will be charmed and amazed!
A little history: I was at Bradley in '08 when he released this one and he gave one to the "One Bottle Project" plus I bought one after tasting. I was light and crisp with nice German tones and I bit of that lovely petroleum hint on the nose. It was light and crisp then but it had a deep undertone of apple and white fruit. Now it is golden toned with a heady nose of baked apple, ripe pear, and honey. In the mouth it transforms with elegant pear and caramel with a tartness that is not at all unpleasant. Nice acid and sugar balance. Truly nectar of some god somewhere.
If you have not taken the time to drive off the freeway to Elkton, DO IT! There are three wonderful wineries there and each has won many awards. The micro climate there has its own unique way of developing the fruit.
Visit Brandborg, River's Edge, and Bradley and you will be charmed and amazed!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
$100 Blind Luck
We had an occasion to open a very good bottle
of wine last night with dinner. I went to our small cellar and closed my
eyes and picked up the first bottle I touched: '06 Cathy's Reserve
Pinot Noir. Single vineyard Pommard, 147 cases produced.
Oh my! Ceder, black fruit, outstanding balance with a mouth filling
smoothness. It was so good it is hard to describe but it made every
single thing in our simple repast elegant and sumptuous. It was an
honor to have been given one of these bottles each year by Cathy for the
"one bottle project" I did. Cathy passed away in November of last year.Stoller has become one of the most respected wineries in Oregon and was noted in the December issue of Wine Spectator in the feature about Oregon wines.
The Reserve is only available at the tasting room and is not a low priced wine. This one is $100.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
CHAMBER MUSIC AMICI at MARSHANNE LANDING
MARSHANNE LANDING
IS PROUD TO PRESENT
CHAMBER MUSIC AMICI
IN CONCERT
7:00 PM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
Chamber Music Amici returns for their 3rd performance at MarshAnneLanding. CMA is one of the premiere chamber ensembles in the Pacific
Northwest. Their excellence cannot be overstated. Their performance
will include:
Max Bruch’s String Quintet in A minor
For 2 violins, 2 violas and cello
Luiz Costa’s Sonata for cello and Piano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sonata in G
For piano and violin
Chamber Music Amici is the resident chamber ensemble at the
Wildish Theater in Springfield. The ensemble includes violinists Sharon Shuman
and Pilar Bradshaw, violist Holland Phillips, and U of O Professor Emeritus
Victor Steinhardt on piano. Guest performers include violist Friz Gearhart and
cellist Jed Barahal who is visiting from Portugal. The ensemble performs on
vintage instruments including a rare Guarneri violin from the early
1700’s.
The evening’s performance will take place in the Gallery
at MarshAnne Landing, the winery’s tasting room which showcases the
extraordinary talents of over 20 local artists.
Due to limited seating, reservations are required (Please call 541-459-7998).
Admission of $30 includes abundant appetizers.
MarshAnne
Landing is located at 175 Hogan Rd, just 3 miles off I-5 Exit 142This seris of concerts is worth going to. Wine AND music, what more could ask for?
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Tasty Weekend
We did not do the mass tastings this last weekend as Linda and I have an aversion to large crowds of people "tasting wine" at a rapid pace, so we took a nice drive up to the Amity Hills to deliver a painting done by yours truly to Rebecca Pittock Shouldis and Thibaud Mandet for their new house. On the way up HWY99 Linda started to feel a bit peckish so I convinced her that Left Coast Cellars would have food she could eat at the little cafe/tasting room. I was wrong but not unhappy. The winery was having an open house and we got to taste an array of wines, and get enough snacks to carry us through till dinner.
The wines from Left Coast are usually very good and this little tasting was a good pause on the road north. Linda liked the Pinot Gris the most and I kept coming back to the '08 Pinot Noir. Both are very good but I think that the Pinot Noir has a rich and lasting character that will stand for another 10 years. It was a bit chilly so the flavors did not develop as much as in the tasting room but still good. It is funny that wineries seem to be oblivious to what foods they pair with their wines. Cheddar cheese and most other hard cheese does not usually work with tastings nor do salty crackers. Someone should right a book.
We left happy and sated and dropped off the painting with Rebecca and Thibaud, then headed north to shop for furniture at Parker's in Beaverton where we may have found THE coffee table.
Next stop was Modera for an overnight stay at our favorite small hotel. I always love staying there as my friend William Park did all the art!
After we settled in and got our bearings we took the trolly up to 10th and Couch, hopped off and strolled down to 9th for a meal at Eleni's Philoxinia. We were absolutely taken by the first meal we had there and this one was even better! The menu is varied enough that it is never boring. We had the shaved Fennel and cabbage salad and the crispy Kale to split and I had the Black Cod as my main course. We could have been there all night!
For drinks I made it a point not to drink wine with this meal as that is all I ever try, so we settled on domestic and foreigner Gin's. I had an Aviation Martini with a twist and she went for a good old Bombay Sapphire version of the same. Remarkably, the Gin paired very well with the fennel and cabbage salad! I may have to alter my tasting approach.
I must say the meal was one of the most enjoyable we have had in the last few weeks. Everything was perfectly done and perfectly presented, down to the bread and oil.
We strolled back to the hotel by way of Nordstrom and eluded the temptation to buy anything, but we did see a pair of pants that I shall NEVER wear.
Back to the hotel for a nightcap. A Shot of
This morning we had a hardy breakfast at Nel Centro then headed down to the Peal for a little window shopping. As of late, I have begun to vary my taste a bit left of my Lebanon upbringing and have discovered John Fluevog's shoes. This is my third pair so I am officially and addict!
He sent me an email a few months ago telling me about his new store in Portland and as they also have women's shoes, we went for it.
The Fluevog store is really a fun place to shop. The staff is happy and helpful and the product is very fine. We will be back.
We were getting a little hungry before the play so we were trying to think of a place where we could get a quick meal and not fall asleep during the play. We had spotted a small place down Davis across from Gallery 903 that used to house a chocolate store and had been transformed in to a small Mexican restaurant so we decided to take a chance. Los Gorditos was a perfect find. The food is fresh, tasty, and cooked on the spot. Very good!
We went to A Midsummer's Night Dream at PCS
and though I have seen many versions of this play, I thought they did a good job of it. If you get the chance, please see it as you will enjoy it, and if you have the chance, see The Santa-land Diaries!
We ended the day with a quick stop at Sur le Table for a mortar and pestle, and of coarse some pastry knives that I will transform in to paining knives.
Al in all a good weekend and I can recommend Left Coast Cellars , PCS, Eleni's Philoxini
Los Gorditos, and of coarse, John Fluevog's.
The wines from Left Coast are usually very good and this little tasting was a good pause on the road north. Linda liked the Pinot Gris the most and I kept coming back to the '08 Pinot Noir. Both are very good but I think that the Pinot Noir has a rich and lasting character that will stand for another 10 years. It was a bit chilly so the flavors did not develop as much as in the tasting room but still good. It is funny that wineries seem to be oblivious to what foods they pair with their wines. Cheddar cheese and most other hard cheese does not usually work with tastings nor do salty crackers. Someone should right a book. We left happy and sated and dropped off the painting with Rebecca and Thibaud, then headed north to shop for furniture at Parker's in Beaverton where we may have found THE coffee table.
Next stop was Modera for an overnight stay at our favorite small hotel. I always love staying there as my friend William Park did all the art!
After we settled in and got our bearings we took the trolly up to 10th and Couch, hopped off and strolled down to 9th for a meal at Eleni's Philoxinia. We were absolutely taken by the first meal we had there and this one was even better! The menu is varied enough that it is never boring. We had the shaved Fennel and cabbage salad and the crispy Kale to split and I had the Black Cod as my main course. We could have been there all night!
For drinks I made it a point not to drink wine with this meal as that is all I ever try, so we settled on domestic and foreigner Gin's. I had an Aviation Martini with a twist and she went for a good old Bombay Sapphire version of the same. Remarkably, the Gin paired very well with the fennel and cabbage salad! I may have to alter my tasting approach.
I must say the meal was one of the most enjoyable we have had in the last few weeks. Everything was perfectly done and perfectly presented, down to the bread and oil.
We strolled back to the hotel by way of Nordstrom and eluded the temptation to buy anything, but we did see a pair of pants that I shall NEVER wear.Back to the hotel for a nightcap. A Shot of
This morning we had a hardy breakfast at Nel Centro then headed down to the Peal for a little window shopping. As of late, I have begun to vary my taste a bit left of my Lebanon upbringing and have discovered John Fluevog's shoes. This is my third pair so I am officially and addict!
The Fluevog store is really a fun place to shop. The staff is happy and helpful and the product is very fine. We will be back.
We were getting a little hungry before the play so we were trying to think of a place where we could get a quick meal and not fall asleep during the play. We had spotted a small place down Davis across from Gallery 903 that used to house a chocolate store and had been transformed in to a small Mexican restaurant so we decided to take a chance. Los Gorditos was a perfect find. The food is fresh, tasty, and cooked on the spot. Very good!
We went to A Midsummer's Night Dream at PCS
and though I have seen many versions of this play, I thought they did a good job of it. If you get the chance, please see it as you will enjoy it, and if you have the chance, see The Santa-land Diaries!
We ended the day with a quick stop at Sur le Table for a mortar and pestle, and of coarse some pastry knives that I will transform in to paining knives.
Al in all a good weekend and I can recommend Left Coast Cellars , PCS, Eleni's Philoxini
Los Gorditos, and of coarse, John Fluevog's.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Rare Opportunity This Weekend
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 11:00 to 5:00
The wines from this vineyard have been really good, with the '08 just bursting with flavor and character. I think they will be tasting the '11 Pinot Gris, the '11Tracktown Red, and the '08 Pinot Noir and the Pinot Noir Reserve. Update: I was just informed that for a $1 more you will get to taste an all-star! The '06 Pinot Noir Reserve decanted from Magnums. This is indeed a score!
The '08 Pinot Noir is just amazing! While many '08s were huge and bold, this one was gentle and a bit more quiet, so it has lasted.
I have tasted this wine each year from its release in '09. As it has developed in bottle, it has gained complexity and though it seemed to fall off a bit in '11, it has now (as of right now) recouped it strength and character, showing fine upper notes of spice and current and a hint of warm cedar and toast. The taste is tight at opening so let it relax for 30 minutes before you get too serious about tasting. I store at about 62 degrees so I always let the wine stand for a while before I drink it.
At 10 minutes: The aroma has softened and become more black current, island spices, and cedar. The taste? Delicate and a bit sweet on the tip of the tongue and a mouth filling softness. Slow cooked dark berry with nice current and just ripe cherry.
At 20 Minutes:Darker, richer notes of black fruit with island spice in the very high notes. The cedar has softened but still lingers.The taste has turned from bright to soft and warming winter spices and berry compote but still has a bright finish with little explosions of fruit. This such a good wine!
At 30 Minutes:The cedar is back on the nose and the spices have retreated a bit. Oh my, the taste has become very complex and is rife with berry, dark cherry, and cola. Wow!
Guess what we are having with dinner tonight?
After 45 minutes it has become nectar. Soft fruit with warm spice, hints of cedar and cola and a very slight cocoa linger . OK, back to painting!
Please Ignore Problem, Trying to Fix It
The wines from this vineyard have been really good, with the '08 just bursting with flavor and character. I think they will be tasting the '11 Pinot Gris, the '11Tracktown Red, and the '08 Pinot Noir and the Pinot Noir Reserve.
The '08 Pinot Noir is just amazing! While many '08s were huge and bold, this one was gentle and a bit more quiet, so it has lasted.
I have tasted this wine each year from its release in '09. As it has developed in bottle, it has gained complexity and though it seemed to fall off a bit in '11, it has now (as of right now) recouped it strength and character, showing fine upper notes of spice and current and a hint of warm cedar and toast. The taste is tight at opening so let it relax for 30 minutes before you get too serious about tasting. I store at about 62 degrees so I always let the wine stand for a while before I drink it.
At 10 minutes: The aroma has softened and become more black current, island spices, and cedar. The taste? Delicate and a bit sweet on the tip of the tongue and a mouth filling softness. Slow cooked dark berry with nice current and just ripe cherry.
At 20 Minutes:Darker, richer notes of black fruit with island spice in the very high notes. The cedar has softened but still lingers.The taste has turned from bright to soft and warming winter spices and berry compote but still has a bright finish with little explosions of fruit. This such a good wine!
At 30 Minutes:The cedar is back on the nose and the spices have retreated a bit. Oh my, the taste has become very complex and is rife with berry, dark cherry, and cola. Wow!
Guess what we are having with dinner tonight?
After 45 minutes it has become nectar. Soft fruit with warm spice, hints of cedar and cola and a very slight cocoa linger . OK, back to painting!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Snooth Features My Best Friends Wine!
Snooth has a list of $40-$50 Pinot Noir and Rebecca's wine, Ghost Hill Cellars '09 , 93 points, is at the top of the list!
Also from Oregon are an '09 Torii Mor Pinot noir, a '10 Dobbes Family Pinot Noir, and a Raptor Ridge '10 from Dick Shea's vineyards.
Nice to see some Oregon wines finding their way on to this list. Check it out.
Also from Oregon are an '09 Torii Mor Pinot noir, a '10 Dobbes Family Pinot Noir, and a Raptor Ridge '10 from Dick Shea's vineyards.
Nice to see some Oregon wines finding their way on to this list. Check it out.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Lunch at King Estate
What can I say? The food is amazing, the wine id good, he veiws are remarkable, and the staff id grasios and perfectly trained.
We took my mother in law for lunch and had the best meal of the week. Linda ordered the flight of Pinots ranging from the '09 to the '11. She liked the '09 best (as did I) I went against my better judgement and had a glass of the just released '11 Signature Pinot Noir. I must say that I knew what I was going to get before I got it as I have tasted some of the other '11's from the barrel so I was m\not disappointed, but rather, I was optimistic. The wine is very tight, the tannins are a bit harsh and the over all taste is a bit even and bland, BUT the fruit is there, the acid balance it good, and in 6 months, this will be an outstanding wine, in a year it will be perfect, and in 10 years it will be sought after.
I had the Alaskan Scallops with fresh corn for a start, then moved on to a Hanger steak that was perfectly done. Linda's mom had the Salmon and was smiling for most of the meal. All in all a wonderful lunch and I highly recommend buying a few bottles of the '11 to lay down. It will be an amazing vintage.
We took my mother in law for lunch and had the best meal of the week. Linda ordered the flight of Pinots ranging from the '09 to the '11. She liked the '09 best (as did I) I went against my better judgement and had a glass of the just released '11 Signature Pinot Noir. I must say that I knew what I was going to get before I got it as I have tasted some of the other '11's from the barrel so I was m\not disappointed, but rather, I was optimistic. The wine is very tight, the tannins are a bit harsh and the over all taste is a bit even and bland, BUT the fruit is there, the acid balance it good, and in 6 months, this will be an outstanding wine, in a year it will be perfect, and in 10 years it will be sought after.
I had the Alaskan Scallops with fresh corn for a start, then moved on to a Hanger steak that was perfectly done. Linda's mom had the Salmon and was smiling for most of the meal. All in all a wonderful lunch and I highly recommend buying a few bottles of the '11 to lay down. It will be an amazing vintage.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Singing in the Vineyards
MarshAnne Landing
Is proud to present
SIRI VIK and NATHALIE FORTIN
in
“A NIGHT AT THE CABARET”
7 PM Saturday, November 24
We hope you can join us for a truly
exciting night to remember!
Making her premiere performance at MarshAnneLanding Siri Vik will bring her powerful
alto voice to the heart of Cabaret music. Siri
specializes in European Cabaret – a unique amalgam of classical, pop, and
musical theatre styles which flourished in the 1920s-30s. She has won national
acclaim for her work in this area. Siri has performed as a singing
actress on operatic, concert, and musical theatre stages in New York,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City, London, and in several cities
in Italy. She is highly regarded for her full range of
technique and spirit. Siri lives in Eugene and is a
music instructor at Lane Community College..
Nathalie Fortin excellence
on the piano will have us all traveling excitedly to foreign lands and earlier
times. Nathalie has her Doctorate of Musical Arts with a major in
Keyboard Collaborative Arts. She has participated in various musical
festivals in Europe and North America. Nathalie currently resides in
Eugene where she works with the Oregon Bach festival, Lane Community College,
Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, and the University of
Oregon.
The
evening’s performance will take place in the Gallery at MarshAnne Landing,
the winery’s tasting room which showcases the extraordinary talents of over 20
local artists.
Due
to limited seating, reservations are required (Please call 541-459-7998). MarshAnne Landing
is located at 175 Hogan Rd, just 3 miles off I-5 Exit 142.
Admission of $30 incudes abundant appetizers.Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Number 7 on Wine Spectator Top 100 List!
Shea Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Shea Vineyard Estate 2009
94 points / $40
3,555 cases made
Willamette Valley, Oregon
In 1989, owner Dick Shea left a career on Wall Street to pursue
his interest in wine, purchasing 200 acres of land in the Willamette
Valley and planting it to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Shea sells grapes
to some of Oregon’s top producers, and in 1996 started making his own
wine. The 2009 Estate bottling blends Pommard, Wädenswil and Dijon
clones from various portions of the sprawling vineyard and is fermented
in both stainless steel and wooden tanks.Supple, rich and complex, layering its dark berry, black cherry, pink grapefruit and exotic spice flavors on a velvety frame. The finish lingering effortlessly. Drink now through 2019. 3,555 cases made. –HS
This is an amazingly good wine and is just starting to come on. I tasted it in '10 just after it was released and it showed character then. Lots of toss up between red and black fruit with fine tannis and a long aftertaste of citrus and berry.
Get some!
Brigadoon at Travel Lane County
Last night I stopped by for a taste of Brigadoon's wines at the Adventure Center at Gateway. I was more than pleased with what they had to offer.
The first taste was the '11 Pinot Blanc. Two people there said it tasted like a Sauvignon blanc. That made Chris Shown smile a little bit as he explained how half the wine was barreled in new french oak and half was developed in steel tanks, then they were blended. Best of both worlds as far as I am concerned. The grapefruit, slight lemon, and fresh cut pear are layered over hints of butterscotch and the finish leaves just enough bite from the acid that your mouth waters waiting for more. I would pair this with a fatty fish and roasted fall vegetables. The brightness will balance well with oils and fats.
The next wine was the '10 Lylee Pinot Noir. This is "the best $30 wine you can get for $20" as Chris likes to point out, and it may well be. Smooth, well developed, and with lots of structure. Fine balance between the acids and fruit. This is an everyday meal wine that loves a little attention. I poured it in the Oregon Pinot noir glass we sell at Travel Lane County and let people smell the amazingly rich and bold fruits and floral bouquet.
Last on the list but far from least is the Taproot Pinot Noir. Aged for16 months on oak, this wine is meant to be held down for 6 to 8 years but if you must, you may drink it now. I enjoyed watching it open slowly in the glass, from an almost bright fruit to, after about 30 minutes, a soft and complex wine with layers of dark berry and jams under sweet, light hints of strawberry and winter spices. Very good wine!
To pair with the wines we were treated to some Chocolate Decadence. They brought an assortment of chocolates ranging from what I assume was about a 70% to a milk chocolate. The tstes were perfect with the wines and I am going to have to go out today and visit the shop in Valley River Center to find out more.
We often have Tuesday evening tastings at the Adventure Center on the second Tuesday of the month so check for what is coming.
The first taste was the '11 Pinot Blanc. Two people there said it tasted like a Sauvignon blanc. That made Chris Shown smile a little bit as he explained how half the wine was barreled in new french oak and half was developed in steel tanks, then they were blended. Best of both worlds as far as I am concerned. The grapefruit, slight lemon, and fresh cut pear are layered over hints of butterscotch and the finish leaves just enough bite from the acid that your mouth waters waiting for more. I would pair this with a fatty fish and roasted fall vegetables. The brightness will balance well with oils and fats.
Last on the list but far from least is the Taproot Pinot Noir. Aged for16 months on oak, this wine is meant to be held down for 6 to 8 years but if you must, you may drink it now. I enjoyed watching it open slowly in the glass, from an almost bright fruit to, after about 30 minutes, a soft and complex wine with layers of dark berry and jams under sweet, light hints of strawberry and winter spices. Very good wine!
To pair with the wines we were treated to some Chocolate Decadence. They brought an assortment of chocolates ranging from what I assume was about a 70% to a milk chocolate. The tstes were perfect with the wines and I am going to have to go out today and visit the shop in Valley River Center to find out more.
We often have Tuesday evening tastings at the Adventure Center on the second Tuesday of the month so check for what is coming.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Grand Opening of New Winery
One of my favorite winemakers, Drew Voit, has opened his own winery! For years he has worked for others creating great wines. He worked at King Estate when I met him, then for Dick Shea where he used some of the best fruit in Oregon to produce amazing Pinot Noir. Now he is, as you will read below, on his own, but still reaching out to help his friends and fellow wine makers. His wine was featured in Rex Picket's book, "Vertical".
This
has been a season of change for our family at Harper Voit Wines. Going
into the fourth vintage of our family business, Drew has left his
full-time role as Winemaker at Shea Wine Cellars, to focus on the Harper Voit label, act as consulting winemaker for a group of select
clients(including Shea), and begin a new project as Winemaker for a
small group of elite, small-production wine brands in our new winery.
The New Winery
We've
just concluded a busy Harvest 2012 in our new facility located on the
historic Beacon Hill Vineyard in the Yamhill Carlton District AVA. Drew
will be producing the wines from a few brands whose names you will soon
know and covet: Eminent Domaine, Old School Vineyard, Toluca Lane Wines,
Rocky Point Cellars, plus a few top-secret new projects TBA.
The New Releases
This
month we are releasing our 2010 Pinot Noirs and 2011 Pinot Blanc. The
2010 Pinot Noirs were made in very limited quantities. The near perfect
end to the growing season was punctuated by an onslaught of birds which decimated the meager crop and left us with half the production of some
of the most beautiful wines Drew has made over the years. Our
production, cut in half by the loss, consists of 5 barrels of our
flagship Strandline Pinot Noir, representing 125 cases, and a meager 23
cases of our finest effort to date, the 2010 Harper Voit Old School
Vineyard Pinot Noir.
In
addition, our new release 2011 Harper Voit Surlie Pinot Blanc is
already nearly 1/3 sold out. Mineral driven and focused, this singular
expression of a Old World classic variety won't last long
The Inaugural "True" Open House
Some
of you have visited us in our earlier open house events in the past few
years, huddled in the back of our favorite wine shops and wine country
restaurants and wine bars. No longer...
Thanksgiving
2012 is our first open house event in our new facility, located just
off Laughlin Road between Willakenzie and Colene Clemens, and just
across the narrow valley from Beaux Freres and Patricia Green.
We
will be open from 10-4 on November 17th and again on Friday-Saturday
the 23rd and 24th. Pouring with us will be our good friends and
winery-mates Wildaire Cellars and Eisold Smith Wines, as well as Drew's
new winemaking clients, Toluca Lane, Eminent Domaine, and Rocky Point
Cellars. Tasting fee $20 to taste all of these small production wines.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
SALUD! Prints
here is the listing in the catalog: LOT 11
ROBERT CANAGA SOLAR PLATE ETCHINGS
ON WOOD
Robert Canaga has been a printmaker for 25 years. His
quest to print etchings directly on wood stems from
no reason other than the fact that it has never before
been done. When printing an edition of etchings of
the wineries of Lane County for an event at the Jordan
Schnitzer Museum last year, Robert found a product
that his friend Mark Golden of Golden Artist Colors
had given him to try years ago. He opened it, painted
some on a piece of one eighth inch birch plywood,
and let it dry. After inking up an etching plate he was
working on and setting the press to accommodate the
wood and the plate, he taped the plate to the wood,
and had his studio assistant hold it in place while he
turned the wheel on the press. The pressure had to
be immense so turning the wheel was no small feat of
strength. When it came out the other side, he gingerly
lifted the plate to reveal a PERFECT PRINT!
Etchings are done by exposing a copper or zinc plate to
acid which eats away at the unprotected areas, allowing
small amounts of ink to collect after the plate is wiped.
Paper is placed on the plate and run through a press at
high pressure, forcing it into the inked areas. When
the print is pulled, the images appear. This process can
be repeated many times, creating an edition. Using
a polymer plate on steel, exposing the image to UV
light, washing it with water, hardening it, and inking it,
Robert creates a print. After creating a series of paper
editions of the prints, he completes his final print on
wood and “cancels” the plate, as after being printed
on wood it is never able to hold another image. These
prints on wood are truly one of a kind.
These artist original, first edition prints are printed on
wood, gold leafed, and framed. Created exclusively for
Salud!, they depict scenery from the following wineries:
• Amalie Robert Estate
• Brooks Winery
• Domaine Drouhin Oregon
• R. Stuart & Co.
• Erath Winery
• Evening Land Vineyards
• Maysara Winery
• Penner-Ash Wine Cellars
• Ponzi Vineyards
• Scott Paul Wines
• Soléna Estate
• Witness Tree Vineyard
Donated by Robert Canaga
Next year I will choose twelve more wineries and do it again.
The Allison Inn & Spa Gets Acclaim
We love this place and am so glad they are being recognized as a leader in accommodation and luxury in America's wine country!
In the November 2012 edition of Condé Nast Traveler, The Allison Inn & Spa has been named
#3 in the Pacific Northwest and #1 in Oregon as voted by our patrons.
#3 in the Pacific Northwest and #1 in Oregon as voted by our patrons.
Travel + Leisure followed suit, naming us the #1 Wine Country Hotel in the United States and
#4 in the world.
#4 in the world.
Perfectly paired with this news is the successful harvest of pinot noir grapes at The Allison's vineyard—
five acres of vines that serve as a backdrop for guestroom windows and terraces.
five acres of vines that serve as a backdrop for guestroom windows and terraces.
"There are only good things to say about this year’s harvest of The Allison grapes," said Chad Vargas,
Vineyard Manager and Viticulturist at Adelsheim Vineyard, which oversees our vineyard operations.
"The weather took a quick turn to excellent sometime in June, just after the grapes finished flowering.
What followed was many days of dry weather with temps above 80°F."
Vineyard Manager and Viticulturist at Adelsheim Vineyard, which oversees our vineyard operations.
"The weather took a quick turn to excellent sometime in June, just after the grapes finished flowering.
What followed was many days of dry weather with temps above 80°F."
This year will mark the first vintage of The Allison wine, to be bottled and named in the coming year.
With the accolades and this year's growing conditions, we are thankful and confident—2012 is a great year!
With the accolades and this year's growing conditions, we are thankful and confident—2012 is a great year!
Celebrate the harvest with a recipe featured on our website for Roasted Delicata Squash Soup
by Executive Chef Sunny Jin.
by Executive Chef Sunny Jin.
Snooth Lists Oregon wine in Top 25 Premiums
Snooth.com just released the results for the Top 25 Premium Wines of 2012 from
their "People's Voice Wine Awards." Their readers nominated wines from
all over the world, including only one from Oregon, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2009 Pinot Gris.
Click here to view the whole article.
For today, November 8 only, to celebrate Oregon wine, they offer you free shipping on 6 or more bottles of our 2011 Pinot Gris. Follow the link below to our online store or call 800-344-9463 to easily order by phone.
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2011 Pinot Gris
Try this wine with oysters, scallops or a sweet and spicy salmon.
Click here to view the whole article.
For today, November 8 only, to celebrate Oregon wine, they offer you free shipping on 6 or more bottles of our 2011 Pinot Gris. Follow the link below to our online store or call 800-344-9463 to easily order by phone.
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2011 Pinot Gris
Try this wine with oysters, scallops or a sweet and spicy salmon.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
A Nice Surprise Hiding at Bi-Mart!
Yesterday was busy and filled with early meetings, working in the studio, and a quick trip to Bi-Mart for unsalted peanuts for my new master, the scrub Jay who comes and yells at me through the window when he needs more nuts.
When I got there I found the peanuts, picked up some cat food on sale, and as I was passing the wine area I glanced up and saw '07. That caught my eye as I am in love with most of the '07 Pinot Noirs I have found lurking on store shelves around Oregon. That vintage was underrated at the time and few people understood how wonderful it would become after it had time in the bottle.
I found no Pinot Noir BUT I found another gem: Airlie '07 Marechal Foch! This wine was made from estate grown fruit. If you are not familiar with the grape, here is a link that talks about its attributes and its problems. I have always found it a great wine for warm weather parties and for a BBQ on the deck. It stands up to just about any spicy foods and even tastes good with the good old hamburger. It is one of a few reds that can be chilled a bit and still retain its flavor.
Tonight I opened a bottle and let it stand in the kitchen for an hour while I tasted a bit of the '10 Ghost Hill that was left from last nights meal.Here are the notes on this killer wine.
When I got there I found the peanuts, picked up some cat food on sale, and as I was passing the wine area I glanced up and saw '07. That caught my eye as I am in love with most of the '07 Pinot Noirs I have found lurking on store shelves around Oregon. That vintage was underrated at the time and few people understood how wonderful it would become after it had time in the bottle.
I found no Pinot Noir BUT I found another gem: Airlie '07 Marechal Foch! This wine was made from estate grown fruit. If you are not familiar with the grape, here is a link that talks about its attributes and its problems. I have always found it a great wine for warm weather parties and for a BBQ on the deck. It stands up to just about any spicy foods and even tastes good with the good old hamburger. It is one of a few reds that can be chilled a bit and still retain its flavor.
Tonight I opened a bottle and let it stand in the kitchen for an hour while I tasted a bit of the '10 Ghost Hill that was left from last nights meal.Here are the notes on this killer wine.
Bayliss-Bower Pinot Noir
2010 Vintage
Wine Enthusiast
90 Points
"From a lighter year, this clean, delicate wine is a model of elegance. Mixing strawberry and raspberry fruit with a touch of watermelon, it carefully blends in a small amount of wine aged in new oak. An enticing hint of mocha is the result."
2009 Vintage
Wine Advocate90 Points
"Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of smoky herbs, rose and spice cake. Fleshy and smooth in texture, with gently sweet cherry and dark berry flavors picking up a touch of anise with air. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect, finishing broad and long. This will be drinkable soon."
Wine Press Northwest
Recommended
"The Bayliss family has owned this land since 1906 but only started planting it to vineyard in 1999. Its 10th vintage brings fun and fruity aromas of black cherry soda, strawberry, currants, dried orange peel and vanilla. Inside are black cherries amid a juicy mid palate that funnels into a tannin profile that zeroes deeply into the corners of the mouth."
"From a lighter year, this clean, delicate wine is a model of elegance. Mixing strawberry and raspberry fruit with a touch of watermelon, it carefully blends in a small amount of wine aged in new oak. An enticing hint of mocha is the result."
2009 Vintage
Wine Advocate90 Points
"Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of smoky herbs, rose and spice cake. Fleshy and smooth in texture, with gently sweet cherry and dark berry flavors picking up a touch of anise with air. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect, finishing broad and long. This will be drinkable soon."
Wine Press Northwest
Recommended
"The Bayliss family has owned this land since 1906 but only started planting it to vineyard in 1999. Its 10th vintage brings fun and fruity aromas of black cherry soda, strawberry, currants, dried orange peel and vanilla. Inside are black cherries amid a juicy mid palate that funnels into a tannin profile that zeroes deeply into the corners of the mouth."
It has become even more interesting now that it has sat in my cellar for a couple of years.
Anyway, back to the Foch: The nose is a heavy black berry and dark spice with a hint of cedar and vanilla. The first taste is of big tannins and black cherry with a nice bite on the top of the tongue and an after taste of plum and pepper. I tasted this one when it was first released and it has softened and become wider in the mouth, much less astringent, and is just a treat!
A great find for those of you who like a bargin and love to find that special bargain. $7.99 if you can find it!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
A Trip to the Opera Saved by the Food
We attended a poorly staged version of Don Giovanni ( you can read the opinions here) on Sunday and the only good thing I can say about it was the singing was very good even when layered over odd staging, odder timing, and questionable direction, and that we enjoyed our per-opera meal at Nel Centro. As I told friends "The opera was great except for the staging,
the pacing, the timing, the director, the costumes, the humping (think
poodle and leg) and the acting. The singing and the lighting were good."
We made our reservations using OpenTable just prior to arriving to make sure we would have a seat. As always, we enjoyed the quiet morning murmur of the dining room and the prompt and unobtrusive staff. We come up often for Opera and theater and this has become our "safe" place to dine. I had the rabbit confit with tiny lintels and a small salad dressed perfectly, while my wife had an omelet that she seamed to enjoy as there was nothing left and she was smiling. We both enjoyed a glass of Evesham Wood Pinot Noir ('09)that set perfectly with both our meals. On nights that we stay at Hotel Modera, the building they inhabit, we always try to make it back for a nightcap at the bar. The outside seating is perfect, with heating fires and hanging garden. They have expanded the inside seating and we are less often left standing and waiting for a place to sit. This is a very active restaurant and due to the location and the standard of food and drink, has become quite popular.We will be back for the food, but I fear this was our last Portland Opera.
We made our reservations using OpenTable just prior to arriving to make sure we would have a seat. As always, we enjoyed the quiet morning murmur of the dining room and the prompt and unobtrusive staff. We come up often for Opera and theater and this has become our "safe" place to dine. I had the rabbit confit with tiny lintels and a small salad dressed perfectly, while my wife had an omelet that she seamed to enjoy as there was nothing left and she was smiling. We both enjoyed a glass of Evesham Wood Pinot Noir ('09)that set perfectly with both our meals. On nights that we stay at Hotel Modera, the building they inhabit, we always try to make it back for a nightcap at the bar. The outside seating is perfect, with heating fires and hanging garden. They have expanded the inside seating and we are less often left standing and waiting for a place to sit. This is a very active restaurant and due to the location and the standard of food and drink, has become quite popular.We will be back for the food, but I fear this was our last Portland Opera.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Brandborg Winery's "Elkton-Villages Nouveau"
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)