Three Days of Wine: Day One, Part two

After leaving Walnut City Wineworks I Drove up through Lafayette to Stoller Vineyards for a visit with Grace Cargni, Director of Events,
and to pick up a very special bottle of wine, the '06 Cathy's Reserve. This is one of the finest Pinot Noirs around and has been pleasing pallets since it was released in 2008. It won Gold in the 2010 Oregon Wine Awards for Pinot Noir over $35 and it is well deserved. In the bottle for 4 years, it is coming close to being perfect. It started out as a well structured and rich wine made from Pommard Clone that comes from the oldest, and therefore deepest rooted block they have. Planted in 1995 in Jory soil, the vines have reached down in to the sweet spot, as they say, and are producing spectacular juice.This wine will be sold in the silent auction in a special wooded holder.
Another thing that sets them apart is their dedication to Solar Energy. They have a full array of cells on their buildings and it have lowered their operation costs considerably. They were the first LEED certified winery in Oregon.
One last stop before the tasting rooms closed for the day. I had a few choices and traffic was starting to get tight so I stopped in at Argyle for a treat, and to ask for a bottle again this year. Last year and the year before they gave a bottle of one of my favorite bubbly wines, the Black Brute. This is a bold wine made from Pinot Noir grapes with lots of character and strength. It pairs with Summer Salads and salmon, and really, just about anything you want. I highly recommend this wine.
I was out of auction forms so I called the office and had them fax up the paperwork.
Cathy in the tasting room called Cathy in the office and they decided I warranted another bottle this year, but this time I was given a bottle of a still wine they are very proud of, the '08 Nuthouse Pinot Noir. No, it is not named for some insane asylum, but rather the hazelnut plant where the winery now operates.
The taste of the Nuthouse Pinot Noir is rich and smooth with hints of wood and spice. Dark fruits play over the mouth and finish with a soft, long wisp of cane berry and plum. Over  the past few years this wine, in different vintages, has scored in the 90's consistently and this one will be no exception.
I tasted through all the wines while I was waiting. The Nuthouse Chardonnay is the most amazing one ever! It takes on the taste of hazelnuts to such an extent that I thought it was an added flavor! Sooo good! The 2000 Extended Triage Brute was there to taste though they are sold out. This wine got a '95 From Wine Spectator and is NOT what you mix with orange juice! Wow!

I met a lovely family, the Merrells from Cincinnati, Ohio. Spence and Audry were visiting their daughter Heather, who is in school at George Fox. They had a full weekend planned and were having a great time in the tasting room. I love seeing people from all over the country enjoy Oregon wines! As you can see, the father was dress appropriately.
I ended the day with a wonderful meal at Biggio Hamina's tasting room where I had a wilted cabbage salad with bacon and rolled flank stack stuffed with arugula paired with, first, the '10 Melon, then the '10 "Fourteen" Pinot Noir. You HAVE to go and try this place out! See my first revue here.
Next stop, Yamhill Carlton tasting at Anne Amie.

Day Two of SIP!

It was great to spend time with Rebecca and Thibaud, seen here in the add for IPNC. They are truly the greatest. That's me in the blue shirt in the back left side having a great time!

Now I have to go gather wines. The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is amazing by its self but pack it with fine wines and food and you have a formula for fun. My first stop today was at Troon, where the lovely Joni presented me with a bottle of '09 Kubli Bench Zinfandel, a lush, rich wine with spicy sweetness and a long dark fruit finish. The tasting room they opened in Carlton was a good idea and allows some of Southern Oregon's wines to get a little attention in the land of Pinot Noir. Stop by for a visit next time you are up that way.

Brian Jordan, owner of Eliana Wines was new to me so I stopped to say hello and find out more about his wines. I was excited to learn about their approch to wine making. They are making a Bordeaux style blend of 56% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc and  16% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is among the better blends I have tasted over the last few years. With its rich front of berry and slight oak leading to smooth mouth filling dark berry and earth. Overall light and clean aftertaste that will go great with beef and roasted vegetables. He gave me a bottle of the '08 Reserve for the auction and I plan on making a trip down to take a closer look and a longer taste.

After a bit of a snack I visited with Bethany and Brad Ford (and their soon to be addition to the family) for a taste and to see how things were going. Illahe Vineyards located outside of Dallas and the wines are really good this year. I really loved their '06 but this one is one of the best I have tasted! Raspberry, lots of dark cherry, a hint of island flowers in the nose with sustained after taste of dark berry and black cherry. They have sold their grapes for 25+ years to some of the top wineries and it is nice that they are now taking it to a new level and making their own. Worth a visit. They gave me a bottle of the '08 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.

Todd, owner of Biggio Hamina Cellars, looked a little worn out but was in great spirits and very busy giving out tastes of his fine wines. We had had three of his Pinots last night with beef stew and I was looking forward to tasting them again. All of his wines have a distinct flavor that shows his hand in the making. Rich and lush with lots of layers of fruit and flowers combine in various ways to create some truly fine wines. the best place to taste them is at the new tasting room and winery just outside of McMinnville, where you can also get a very good meal. Todd handed over a beautiful '08 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Near the entrance, in a place that you had a chance of missing on the way in, was Namaste Vineyard's booth where Dave was pouring tastes and sporting his signature hat. I love his wines, but of all of them, the Tranquility Riesling is my favorite. It has a flavor much like the Northern Rhien wines that I like and is full of interesting spices and fruit.

A lot of people chill their Riesling to the point where you can't really taste all the nuances but I like mine just below room temp.. Dave gave us a bottle of the '09 Tranquility Riesling and I may bid on that one myself.
I was getting a little rushed as I had to be home for an afternoon event so I ran to the next few booths and gathered up what I could. Kathken Vineyards,  located in the hills outside Salem off Orchard Hieghts Road, they are in prime land for grape growing and their wines show it well. I did a quick taste of the '08s and really enjoyed the estate so Ken gave me a bottle of '08 Estate bottled reserve Pinot Noir and off I went.
Crater Lake Cellars's owner, Steve Gardner, gave us a bottle of the Firehouse Red #4 they made for a fund raiser for the fire department this year. 

It is a combination of lovely red and black fruit, a light pepper spiciness, accent with smooth tannins and acidity. 

I walked over to WildAire Cellars booth and watched as a bunch of people elbowed their way in for a taste. Things were getting pretty crowded by 1:00 and the wines they were tasting were very popular. I picked up a bottle of the '09 Clay Court Vineyard Pinot Noir and said my thank yous and headed for the door. Be sure to visit them in Carlton when you are there. They are wonderful folks and really know how to make great wine.

A Treat Before Departure

On the way out of Carlton I stopped by The Abbey Wine Warehouse to visit

Rebecca Marie Pittock Shouldis, who is also the winemaker for Ghost Hill, and took her to pick up her car. Rather than waste the better part of an afternoon doing something constructive, we decided to visit, (me for the first time) Todd Hanina's new tasting room, eatery, wine making facility ET AL.

Located on the west side of McMinnville, just outside the city boundary, set back to the left in a brand new build to suite spot, is a very cool wine oasis.
We met Todd and sat down for some serious tasting and after his wifeCaroline Biggio Hamina arrived, some great plates of cheese and meats.
The layout of the place is perfect for wine making, food and wine tasting, and for just relaxing with friends. Comfortable, spacious, and open, with lots of parking (pun intended as you will see when you visit).
The details of the construction and finish are simple and elegant and if he does not start selling his light fixtures soon he is missing a bet! Barrel skeletons? Perhaps not the best descriptor, but close as you see.
The wines were wonderful and his range of product is impressive. Try the '08 Hawks View Pinot Noir and the 2008 Zenith Vineyard Cuvee Lucca. Everything he put up to taste was good to great so take a chance!

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Tod Hamina, Naked (wine, that is)

The  first wine interview is at Naked up in Hood River then about half way through we get to see Todd Hamina sorting and tasting!
http://explorenorthwest.podomatic.com/entry/2010-12-13T12_46_39-08_00

Nice Blog about Biggio Hamina

I am a big fan of Todd's wines and his way of approaching wine making. His wines are consistently good and his Pinot Gris is no exception. Though I do like most Oregon Pinot Gris, here is another opinion.

Here is a blog from "Beyond the Bottle"

I am not a big fan of Oregon Pinot gris, as most seem monochromatic to me. I rarely buy it, opting instead for more interesting white varieties from the state such as Chardonnay and Riesling. My subjective palate even finds Pinot blanc more intriguing than most Pinot gris.

The Biggio Hamina 2009 Pinot Grigio Cougar's Mark Vineyard Willamette Valley (12.9%) is an exception and- more