Geocaching Comes to Lane County

Oct. 16, 2012
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Lawton, Director of Community Relations
(541) 743-8762; (800) 547-5445; www.EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Lisa@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Travel Lane County to Launch First Geocaching Tour on the West Coast - Kickoff Event - Saturday, Oct. 20, 9 to 11 a.m.
Eugene, Ore. – Travel Lane County will launch Oregon's first official geocaching tour this Saturday--one of only ten worldwide.

While geocaching has been around since 2000, GeoTours, featured on geocaching.com, are now being created as a way to guide sightseers to special scenic landscapes, attractions, historic sites and other points of interest located within a specific destination or territory.

Stretching from Springfield to the crest of the Cascades, Travel Lane County’s first GeoTour, focused on the McKenzie River region, will officially launch on Saturday, Oct. 20, between 9 and 11 a.m at the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Adventure Center in Springfield. More than 30 geocaching sites have been selected and prepped for the new tour, officially named the Eugene, Cascades & Coast GeoTour – McKenzie River Edition. The tour will lead cachers to everything from trailheads to waterfalls.

Armed with smartphones, or dedicated GPS (Global Positioning System) devices, both expert and novice geocachers can hunt for the hidden caches. The caches, which are typically small, waterproof containers or canisters, are filled with treasures and trinkets, along with an official logbook that cachers sign and date.

Travel Lane County is challenging people to complete the tour’s accompanying passport, which will require treasure hunters to find a minimum number of hidden caches in order to earn one of the 200 limited-edition trackable geocaching coins. Coins, as they are called among cachers, serve as trophies, collectibles, souvenirs or trading objects. Travel Lane County’s locally designed and produced wooden geocoin will be one of a two-part series. Those cachers who complete the passport will be entered to win a free McKenzie River getaway.

During the kickoff, the trackable geocoin will be displayed and interested geocachers can pick up an official Eugene, Cascades & Coast GeoTour-McKenzie Edition passport. The passport may also be accessed online. For more information, contact Travel Lane County at (541) 484-5307 or visit http://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/geocaching.

Travel Lane County is a private, nonprofit association dedicated to economic development through visitor spending. In 2011 visitors to Lane County generated more than $543 million in spending for Lane County’s economy. Travel Lane County is funded by room tax paid by visitors using area lodging facilities and campgrounds.

Catching Up

Man, where to begin? I have been off line for such a long time I feel I should say "I am sorry" to those who had been following my missives.
Some quick notes:
Luminous Hills 2009 Estate Pinot Noir---BUY IT NOW!!! It is beyond good. Creamy mouthfeel, layer upon layer of dark fruit with a lasting finish.
Ghost Hill Pinot Noir Blanc: Get off your dead ass and FIND THIS WINE!!! Nothing you have had for years compares.
King Estate Signature '09...Ok, not so much, but good with food. Very complex and goes well with grilled vegies and light meats. It seems to have "settled" and become softer and less defined over time.
My show of etchings on wood panels hanging now at Horse Radish in Carlton is going to be auctioned off for Salaud! on the 9th and 10th of November. Go take a look. I will be up to take a few real pics and will post them.

Wine and Etchings

WINE
Linda and I opened a bottle of '09 "First Class" Benton Lane Pinot Noir last night. This is an amazing wine! Dark chocolate dipped strawberry, cola, rich mouth feel and a very long lasting finish of berry and a hint of rose petal. Glad we have more. The wine has changed from good to great in the bottle.http://www.benton-lane.com/wines.html

Etchings
I am off to take shots at Maysara, R.Stuart, Ponzie, and Amalie Robert and to deliver a few finished prints.

Witness Tree

Evening Land

 

Domaine Drouhin

I also finished some of the etchings printed on wood and leafed.

Brooks

Penner-Ash

White Wines: Ice Cold or Flavorful? Your Choice!

How many of us have gone to modern, upscale restaurants and ordered a white win other than a Pinot Gris, Riesling, or Muscato (or variations) and had it served ice cold?
I have had it! The American public has been sold the idea the all wines white are served so cold that any taste that may escape is purely accidental. Now, when I go to a restaurant and order a white burgundy, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Sauterne, et al, I am DEMANDING it be served slightly below cellar temperature. I will not pay $$$ for something that tastes like water until it has been setting on the table for 45 minutes. I can understand small town diners, chain restaurant, or cheep dives not bothering to educate their clients, but the big boys need to step up and serve wine at a temperature that allows the hard work of the vintner, the love of the winemaker, and the essence of the grape to shine through!
Please ask you local upscale dining place to serve the wines at a proper temperature and lets start educating people about how wonderful white wines can be if you just stop killing them with coldness.
From Basic Wine Knowledge
White Wine Serving Temperature
For white wines, the opposite may be true. It’s better to serve a white wine too warm than too cold. White wines served too cold (under 45°F) lose many of their flavors and aromas.

However, you still want to serve your white wines colder than your red wines. Serving white wines at a lower temperature brings out their natural fruity, fresh, and sweet characteristics. You will want to serve your white wines at 45-55°F, depending upon the wine and your personal preference. A Riesling will be better a bit colder than a Pinot Gris or a Chardonnay.
Since most home refrigerators are kept at between 35-40°F, it’s best not to serve your white wines right out of the refrigerator.
Removing your white wine from the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before serving should bring them to about the right temperature. And, you can always warm the wine up by cupping your hands around the glass as you swirl.
If your white wine has been kept at room temperature, place it in the refrigerator or ice bucket for 30-60 minutes before serving.

Do NOT stay silent! If you are served a white wine that it not a Riesling or champagne ice cold, speak up! Why should you be paying a premium price for something that tastes like flavored water when you can actually have a wonderful wine experience?
Please send me you comments or experiences and I will post them.

Some New Etchings for SALUD!

I spent the last few days prepping etching plates and today I printed a few. Love how they are turning out. I will make a small edition for the wineries (2), SALUD! (2),and my own collection. If anyone would like one let me know. They will be priced at $125 printed on cotton artist paper,  unframed. The image is 5x7 inches.
 I will print one on wood and that will cancel the plate so it will be the last one. That will be gold leafed and framed much the same as the ones in my show last year at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Brooks

Erath

Scott Paul

Scott Paul on wood

I am working on Solena now. I printed one but found a CAT HAIR:( in the transparency AFTER I had exposed the plate.

IPNC Walkabout

We are waiting and relaxing in our wonderful room at Allison Spa before we jump tounge first in to 70 wines and a whole lot of great food tastes at IPNC Walkabout. Our friend Rebecca Pittock Sholdis is pouring her Ghost Hill Cellars wine today. I am presenting both Scott Wright (owner) and Kelley Fox (winemaker) of Scott Paul a print from the first of the editions I am doing for SALUD! this year.

We will be tasting and spitting lots of wine. Seems like a waste to some but NO ONE can taste that many wines and drink even a little of what is offered and survive.

$150 may seem like a lot for tasting wines but if you were to go to all 70 wineries and pay even $5 for tastings (some are as high as $15) you would be paying $350 and you would not be getting all the extras such as great foods and other treats. And you get to meet the winemakers and owners.

Well! We are back from the event and Linda is drawing a bath while I blog.

The wines were all over the place in both source and taste, from N.Z. to France, from BC and Washington, to right here in Oregon and south to California. It was an exciting event, with wine snobs, new tasters, and everyone between. I did my best to be objective, and because I enjoy the distinct difference the come out of Pinot Noir, I had a really good time!

My first taste was at ADEA and it was good to see my friend Dean and his wife Ann. They were always very gracious about donating "one bottle" and it was always a nice Magnum. The wine he was pouring today was the '09 Cherry Grove. This vineyards fruit produced an 89 point wine in '07 and this '09 is just starting to sing the same tune. This needs to lay down for at least 3 more years so that the complexity can anneal. Big wide mouth feel with a little tartness but a finish that shows real promise. Hold till 2015.

I visited with Alexana Winery for a moment and will do more extensive notes on them in a few days after I go up and visit the new tasting room at Alexana Winery & Tasting Room,12001 NE Worden Hill Road in Newberg, OR

Great wines made by Lynn Penner-Ash, especially the ones from their own vineyard.

Wendy and Anndy Johnston, from BC brought a very tasty wine from their winery, Averill Creek, to the gathering. They are located on the northestern part of Vancouver Isalnd near Duncan. The wine is rich and soft with a generous helping of black fruit and a bit of jam. Two of the other winemakers today commented on how surprised they were with the maturity of taste from these vines. I want to visit them and find out their secret.

The next wine was Bethel Heights, an Oregon stalwart, who's wines are consistently rich and welcoming. This year was no exception. The '09's are packed with dark berry and a good tannin reserve and should be held for another two to three years. Ben and Mimi Casteel were pouring some teriffic wine.

Maison Ambroise was well represented by owner and winemaker Bertrand Ambroise pouring his wonderful Pinot Noir. One of the best wines I tasted. Replete with blackberry and a hint of roasted meat, this wine is dark and rich and lovely. He grows all his own fruit and follows organic farming from start to finish.

Ellen Brittan of Brittan Vineyards was swamped with people trying to get a taste of the wine she was showing. I have tasted both the Gestalt Block and the Basalt Block and loved them both. She gave me a bottle a few years ago for the one bottle project and it sold VERY well. Please try some of their wines, you will not be disappointed.

Ray Walsh

Janie

Ray Walsh was doing his best to keep up with the demand for tastes of his Capitello Wines and I heard from a lot of folks that his was among the best there. He makes wine in both NZ and Eugene and for a couple of other wineries in Oregon. His wine is consistently rich and elegant as it was today.

One of the wineries I am doing an etching of this year for SALUD! is Brooks, so I stopped by to say hello to Janie and let her know I had taken the perfect (for my purposes) shot of the winery. I just picked up the three pack of their Rieslings and can't wait to do a taste comparison.

Craig Camp

After a visit to Juniper Grove Farm and a few samples of the incredible goat cheese they make, it was back to tasting.

Craig Camp of Cornerstone was very excited about his Oregon Pinot made by Tony Rynders. Dark, with hazelnut, black fruit, and a sweet high note finish, this wine is presenting great Pinot Noir quality. I plan on visiting and getting some to keep (2015).

A Couple of Coastal Catches

Looking south from Otter Crest

This morning we left Eugene heading for the coast a little later than we had wanted so we stopped at somewhere I had been meaning to visit for some time. Our Daily Bread is a member of Travel Lane County and I have been hearing about how great the food is, how big the wine list is, and how nice the owners and staff are. Today we found out for ourselves. The place is a converted church and is kind of quirky in a good way. It feels very relaxed and from the conversations I heard between the staff and what I assumed to be steady client, very jovial. The food was perfect and just the right amount. I had fish and slaw. The fish was fresh and hand dipped, then deep fried. It was not at all greasy and was perfectly done. Linda had a Thia wrap and had problems finishing the entire thing, but she powered through because it was so good, and it was healthy. I skipped the wine but looked at the impressive list of local wines, many of which were new to me, and that is indeed a feat! We shall return!
Next stop was at  Domaine Meriwether for a taste and a visit. We have a good stock of the sparklers but had not yet tasted the '06 Pinot Noir. Well rounded, smooth and with a lush mouth feel, it is an impressive wine. I like that they hold wines back for release as it gives them time to build a bit in bottle. I plan on going back and doing some more serious notes.
We drove up the coast to Newport and a bite and a taste of the beers at Rogue. Linda has never been a big beer fan but some of the ones she tasted today turned her head a bit. She really liked the Good Chit Ale while I like the Brutal IPA. Ask for a four glass taste next time you are in.

Dan with his '09 Pinot Noir

After a visit to Earthworks Gallery and the Newport Aquarium (MUST see the shark tanks you can walk through!!!) we Stopped for a taste at Flying Dutchman Winery at Otter Crest. Yes, they make wine on the coast, and these guys make it right there next to the ocean! Be warned, Dan (holding the bottle) can sell Eskimos to icewater so expect to by at least one bottle of their fine wines. I picked up a bottle of the Conductor's Reserve, a blend of cab, merlot, and other grapes. A percentage of the money goes to support the Newport Symphony I love visiting them for a glass and a stroll out the back to the deck where you overlook the Inn at Otter Crest and the beautiful Pacific. We got to meet some visitors who were having lunch out on the cliff: Three Cedar Waxwings were going after the abundance of berries on the Salal bushes.

We arrived at our final stop of the day in Depoe Bay. I sometimes take advantage of social media offers and this one has proved worth trying. We are staying at a little B and B called the Harbor Lights Inn that overlooks the worlds smallest navigable harbor. It is just perfect! Very nice folks and quiet, save for the gulls, but that IS the coast. Bob, the owner, directed us to The Tidal Raves restaurant saying that it is one of the best on the coast. He was right! We were greeted by the hostess and told there would be a twenty minute wait (something we are not used to) but that she would bring us our wine while we waited. I ordered  a bottle of Four Graces 2010 Pinot Noir and was very pleased. She brought us our wine on a serving tray with much flurry, and as Linda said, we were treated like royalty. The wine is soft and forgiving with a lush notes of cane berry and spice. The taste was perfect with both my Crab Louis, the Seared Sea Scallops on potato hash studded with sun dried tomato, bacon. and smoked tomato glaze, for Linda's Goat Cheese with a walnut crusted tart and for the grilled eggplant with marinara. All the food was fresh and local, was beautifully prepared and plated, and was pro. Everything was amazingly good and the wine was the topper. The decor is modern and novel while paying homage to the local. The menu is very heavily weighted to seafood, well duh!, but it has a nice warm spot for vegetarians like Linda. We will be sure to make the trip back for both the food and for the B&B.
We hada quiet night with the distant sound of the ocean and this morning Iwas awoken with the sounds of the gulls and the fishermen getting boats ready. Very relaxing and charming. When you come, bring a bathrobe or dressing gown.
We just met a nice couple involved with sea-edu.org, Go take a look! Very cool.
Other notes: The water presure is perfect! The view is wonderful and you get to watch the boats come and go.
In the morning we drive to Astoria and then to Portland for JAW Fest.

IPNC Coming This Weekend!

I am taking my lovely wife on an adventure up the coast of Oregon, then over to Portland for a weekend of theater, then an afternoon of wine tasting at the IPNC event and a stay at Allison Spa, with dinner at Jory. A full four days with lots of great wines and food.
We are staying at a small hotel in Depoe Bay called Harbor Lights Inn, overlooking the smallest harbor you have ever seen:

The World’s Smallest Harbor

Depoe Bay is the world’s smallest natural navigable harbor, currently covering approximately six acres, with a 50-foot wide, 100-foot long rockbound, dog-legged channel connecting to the Pacific Ocean. There are two freshwater creeks that flow into the harbor; North Depoe Creek enters at the northeasterly corner, and South Depoe Creek enters at the southeasterly corner. These creeks are very different in character. North Depoe Creek is rocky-bottomed and fairly fast flowing, while South Depoe Creek is sandy-bottomed and slow moving. Originally, the inner bay was shallow with a beach area on the east side surrounded by a cedar forest. Boats would simply anchor in the bay, afloat during high tide and resting on the bottom during low tide.

We plan on visiting Astoria for lunch, then heading east to Portland for the JAW Fest at PCS and a stay at the Westin.
The JAW festival allows for new works to be read before an audience and critiqued on the spot after the reading. Lots of plays have come out of the readings to be performed at theaters in Portland. It is a great way to see new works and meet the playwrights.
On Sunday we will check in to Allison Spa and head out for a day of wine tasting at IPNC's walkabout in the park. We are very excited this year as one of our best friends, Rebecca Pittock Shouldis, the wine savant at Ghost Hill, will be presenting. Her 2011 Pinot Noir Blanc is headed for fame and fortune and will be featured as an editors choice in an upcoming issue of a prominent wine mag! This is one of the most remarkable wines I have tasted here in Oregon.
We are having dinner  with our wonderful friends Rebecca and Thibaud Mandet, the star winemaker at WillaKenzie Winery, at Jory, and both have promised to bring a wine. Thibaud may bring a bottle of his 2009WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Aliette that just  received BEST PINOT NOIR FROM THE UNITED STATES in the recent Decanter World Wine Awards! The2009 Aliette scored a Gold Medal, then went on to compete for BEST IN SHOW Pinot Noir from the U.S., and won!  Should be a fun evening!
After a day of spa treatment I will put Linda on the plane for San Jose' and return home to get back to work on my prints for SALUD!

Impromtu Wine Class

Had a great day day! Stopped at Market of Choice and got to give an impromptu wine class to a couple of women up visiting from Grass Pants. Had them try the Spangler Chardonnay, a tasty Chard from the Umqua Valley with a totally unoaked taste. It opens with citrus, lime and sandalwood, followed by a mouth-feel and flavor of green apple, lemon and a bit of snap pea. Perfect for a hot summer day! Also recommended Drew's 2010 Harper Voit Surlie Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc is Drew Voit’s present to all wine lovers after the long winter. The Surlie name refers to the wine being aged "sur lie" which means “on the lees” ( the dead yeast cells), imparting a very enjoyable creaminess on the palate. Neutral oak barrels were used for fermentation. The wine is crisp and light, yet creamy and mouth filling .Creme fresh, lemon curd, Greek Yogurt, tonic water and bright limon.
I hope they enjoyed the wines.

SALUD! Prints and a Pint

On the way back from hanging art at PeaceHealth's HQ in Vancouver I took a little side trip down to Carlton and took a couple of shots of Scott Paul's tasting room hoping to find the perfect one to begin my etching. This year I am printing ten small sets of etchings and one set on wood like this one in my show last year at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum.The print on the left is the one I did last year for Ken Wright.

I think I got a couple of good ones to start with. I dropped my jars off at Republic of Jam then went around the corner to taste a bit at Troon. I got there in time for Cate to pour me a taste of a wine I had not had in the states, or at least did not remember. A few years ago on a trip to Europe, Chris tasted and fell in love with Vermentino. The best known examples come from northern Italy (particularly in the region of Liguria) and the island of Sardinia, where the wines are crisp, citrusy and generally unoaked. It is a fairly common wine served with fresh seafood and is a perfect match to the daytime meals. In '06 Troon grafted it to Chardonnay roots that were planted in '72 and it is the first to be grown in Oregon. It has also been grown in the Paso Robles area since about '94.
This '11 wine is made with 12% Viognier, adding a nice nose and a little more flowery notes to a bright, clean, and crisp wine with distinctive citrus character, refreshing acidity and surprising richness. I picked up a couple of bottles and plan on serving them at our next deck outing.
After a quick visit to R.Stuart's wine bar in Mac I drove down to Salem for a bite and a beer with my friend Rebecca, winemaker savant at Ghost Hill. We met at The Brick and sat outside. Salem has done such a great job keeping the downtown vital. There is outside cafe seating everywhere and all the tables were full.
I had a beer from my home town Ninkasi's Total Domination and one of The Brick's Bun-less Burgers. Perfect match! If you have not had this beer pr any of the others they make you are loosing out. It is the best beer I have ever tasted and, at 63, I have tasted a few, both here and all over the world.
Next trip will be to take shots at Penner-Ash.

Revisting Old Friends at Art in the Vineyard

Yesterday I took my wife Linda to Art in the Vineyard for our traditional walk through to see what we don't need and can't afford. But this year was much different: Linda met her friend Susan and I visited a lot of wine booths.
The first stop was for a taste of Methven's Pinot Gris. Light, clean, and nicely balanced with mellow fruits and a very pleasant mouth feel and aftertaste. Then a quick change of pace with a very good '11Gamay Noir. This is one of if not the best Gamay I have had in Oregon. Mellow, large black fruit, plums and rich ripe berry. Wow! This one is worth the trip up to the winery!

After chatting with Allen about the wines and the outlook for this years crop, I wandered over to AlexEli for a taste of another rare but worthwhile wine: '10 Muller-Thurgau. This was a real surprise as the only other time I have tasted this wine in Oregon was at a winery in Umpqua and it was NOT a great wine. This one is lush with pear and white peach with a great acid balance and a soft fruit finish. If you try no other wine at the wine booths, try this one.
Next stop was at Namaste' and a visit with Dave. I must say this was a day for different wines than I usually go for. At his booth I went for a bit of the '07 Merlot and was rewarded with a silky smooth, rich mouth filling taste. It is a spectacular wine and need no other description other than "great". It is not yet on his web site but ask for it when you visit and expect a real treat.
The tragic story he told me after I tasted and bought a bottle of his name sake wine, '07 "Big Red" made me glad I got one of these rare bottles. He had made a small batch of the killer wine and let it age and grow for a good long time. He was told it was ready to pick up so he loaded up the truck and brought it home. As he turned up in to the drive it shifted and he lost 19 cases. Heart broken, he finished the night with Jack D., not his wine. If you get the chance, please visit him and let him share the story and have a glass of an amazingly bold wine.
Across the way was the booth for Rivers Edge where the owners, Mike and Vonnie Landt, who started out in '96 and have been making very fine wines for a number of years. I love the '07 Pinot noir Barrel Select. It has turned in to a really superb wine and the only have a few cases left.

I stopped by Kandarian to see if Jeff was around but he had just stepped out. I was about to taste one his fine wines but Linda came and distracted me. Jeff makes wine for King Estate and his wines are only wines King does not make, such as a really tasty Syrah and a killer Sauvignon Blanc. We carry his wines at the Travel Lane County Adventure Center at Gateway. Stop by and grab a few bottles.
I visited with the folks from Rainsong and showed them the etching I did of there tree up the hill from the tasting room. Next was Lone Oak where I sampled a rich smooth Pinot. They are in a very old area of wine growing and are near Broadley. Great grape land and it is showing up in their wines. Dave and his wife Yvonne did their first production in '06 and the wines have been getting better every year.

Last stop was at Vitis Ridge where my friend Michael Bailey was hanging out. He is a wine broker who specializes in small production wineries and you have to be THIS TALL to go on his ride. He is very selective so I always trust his judgement on wineries. He introduced my to Vitis a few years ago when I was doing the one bottle project and they gave a bottle every year. The wines coming from the east side of the valley, across the freeway from the big wine ares, hold a lot of surprises. AlexEli is there as well as Pudding River and Silver Falls. They did a dead clever map showing why it is worth the drive and a visit.
I ended up with a bottle of Big Red, and a bottle of AlexEli Muller-Thurgau, a full tummy, and a happy wife.

My Friend John From Cornvally

Hi Everybody,

OK, so I was blathering on about rosé season being upon us, and summer right around the corner...

I'm sorry. That was wrong of me. Don't pack away your gore tex just yet. I forgot about the Oregon summer rule that states summer doesn't properly start until after the last fourth of July picnic is rained out. But a good rosé is a good rosé, and you don't need to be sweltering to enjoy one.

As usual, we'll have a couple of wines open for our free Saturday tasting. Many of our standard issue, snappy little fish wines are arriving in their 2011 versions, and we'll sample them out as they show up. The latest is the 2011 Pravis pinot grigio of Trentino. The new vintage is even more bright and lifted than the very good 2010 bottling. This is definitely not the over cropped, cash cow cuvee that you too often find in pinot grigio/gris in this price range. ($12.75)

The red wine has a very interesting back story. The iconic Chianti (and Montalcino and the Tuscan coast holdings too) producer, San Felice, has long made the wine for various clannish districts, or Contrada, of the nearby city of Siena. The historical celebrations and banquets for various events need wine, and San Felice helps supply it. One event you may have heard of is the Palio, a wild bareback horse race around the central plaza of the Piazzo del Campo. There are 17 Contrada in Siena, and twice a year, 10 of them compete in the horse race. The race is, of course, much more than a horse race. Each Contrada has its own colors, flag, and livery. The tiny hilltop village of Borgo San Felice seems to have a close association with Contrada d'Oca, (Goose), which actually won one of the races last year. Go ahead and google it, it's very colorful, and there's a lot of fascinating information (wikipedia is pretty comprehensive).

Oh, the wine. Almost forgot. This wine was only recently been bottled for sale, and despite being half merlot, it's very Italianate. Maybe that's because the rest is mostly sangiovese with a dollop of cabernet sauvignon. Very Tuscan, and very easy to like. Come taste it. Only $10.75.

So come on by, it will be good to see you.

Time to Wake Up an '08 Pinot Noir

Just opened a bottle of Ghost Hill's '08 Pinot Noir and am letting it catch its breath after having been tucked away sleeping in our special place for these last 3 years. First sniff: Hints of mint and ceder under bright berry and a fusion of really ripe strawberry still warm from the sun.
First sip:My mouth is AWAKE! It has lots of creamy mouthfeel and that has been added to by a bright, complex, and after taste of semi-sweet red fruit. Really a good time to drink this one, but it still has much more to give so if you have some, give it a few more years and be surprised!
http://www.ghosthillcellars.com/

Two Glorious Wines Against Some Very Odd Pairings

Salad for tonight's tasting: A REALLY green salad, finely slices cucumber (quartered), diced zucchini, finely sliced celery, chopped lime (shined) dressed with lemon infused olive oil and champagne vinegar.
Dipping sauces: 5 tsp maple syrup, 2 tsp Amaretto
Republic of Jam's Spicy Apricot jam with Hot sauce
Fig Jam with Fig balsamic
Baked sweet potato, mayo, and ginger paste
Various white cheeses (brie, Cowgirl white cheddar, and an Italian goat), slow cooked roast beef thinly sliced then grilled to crisp, sour dough crackers.
Paired wit two amazing wines, the '08 Jory Hills and the '08 Kiana from WillaKenzie.
The Kiana is rich with cedar, dark complex berry with hints of clove, earth and a subtle smokiness, and it pulled it's weight against all but the salad, while the Jory was light, joyful and bright, after a huge nose full of 777 and 677, and it paired with every cheese, sauce, and salad. Loved them both, but I must say that the Jory was my evening favorite.

From My Friend at Wineopolis

WINEOPOLIS News
Hi Everybody,
Looking out the window as I write this, it's hard to believe that rain is in the forecast. I was thinking about writing about some of the rose' that we have left from 2010, but that may be jumping the gun. Especially if it turns sodden for a week. Maybe I'll just wait for the 2011s to start arriving, and go for it then. It was nice and clear last night as I looked for some form of the northern lights, but the plasma storm the sun sent us the last couple of days wasn't as strong as predicted. It would have been nice to see a real show, but I guess it's just as well we didn't have problems with electronic communications that might have ensued. Not that I was personally worried, since I line all of my hats with aluminum foil (shiny side out), and that little precaution has proven effective on many occasions.
Since a little cloud cover should provide a little extra protection, you'll have to pop around for some wine tasting. Our free Saturday tasting will visit northern Italy, and feature the Veneto tomorrow. Since I'm expecting the 2011s to start rolling in soon, I thought that we might take one last look at the 2010 Cecilia Beretta Soave Classico. The Classico designation puts this Soave's origin in the old pre-expansion (and best) hilly portion of the vineyards of Soave. Where all the best garganega is grown. This balanced and elegant expression of flowery apple, apricot, and almond, massively outperforms its normal price of $10.75, but at its new (to make way for 2011?) price of $9.75, well, you know what I mean.
The red wine is a new vintage of an old favorite. But what a new vintage! The new 2010 version of Vaona's Valpolicella reminds me of the great 2007, but maybe a touch fresher and brighter. In fact, with that proviso, I'll repeat what I said about the 2009. "The medium weight, balanced and graceful, Vaona 2009 Valpolicella Classico is back. Slightly sour red and black cherry on both the nose and palette, earthy, with a nice herbal edge, this blend of corvina, corvinone, rondinella and molinara from the Veneto, is incredibly versatile with food. Only $12.75. Another direct imported small family owned bargain." Except for the slightly fresher and brighter part, the only other thing I need to change is the price. You will save half a buck from last time, only $12.25.
So, come on by, it will be good to see you.

2011 Pinot Gris by LaVelle

I just stopped in to pick up our bottles of Pinot Gris from LaVelle's 5th Street location, next to the new Inn at the 5th. The wines this year will be amazing across all the varieties, especially Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir and this one is a fine exsample of what to expect.
The wine is lush and has a citrus and tropical fruit nose and a dry, very pleasent mouth feel.
But the thing that I liked most was the complexity that it is showing only a few weeks after bottling! By the end of the year this will be absolutly dramatic!
Here are some notes about this wine from Mathew LaVelle, the wine maker.

Stone's Throw '08 Pinot Noir

One of the wines I was lucky to get at the Eugene Ballet's "Table Dances" event Friday night, from the wall of wine, was a Territorial Vineyards Stone's Throw Pinot Noir, '08.
This is a big wine with bold dark cherry, a bit of oak and lots of layers of soft, dark fruit. The smell drifts up at you with over notes of hay, and sweet berry. We opened it early today and let it open for a while before we had a taste, now many hours later it is tasting quite remarkable and will be a nice companion for my computer, my cats, and me.
Tonight we tried a new, to us, place for dinner, Rabbit Bistro here in Eugene. It is located in a PC Market shopping center, is small and quite, and has a bit of friendly pretence that did not put me off.
My wife is vegetarian and we eat away a lot. I all of our wanderings I have had little trouble finding something for her on the menu, or, if the menu is limited, something off menu to satisfy her. One of the best examples was trip to Scottsdale and a meal at Lon's. They are known for MEAT, MEAT, and more MEAT, yet they went out of their way to make a very complete and perfect meal for both of us. This is the case more often than not, unless you are in some podunk little town where vegetarian means a cheese sandwich, grilled if you are lucky.
Rabbit has no vegetarian items on the menu, and after I was warned that no special meal would be made, they made a very nice little Pot Pie with mushrooms, onions, broccoli, carrots, and potato. She enjoyed the butter lettuce salad also.
I had he hanger steak and the same nice little salad. The meat was well cooked, tasty, and done on a Yorkshire Pudding which was a nice touch.
We each had a glass of '09 Haden Fig Pinot Noir. Erin Nuccio has a great story and is someone to watch in the exciting new crop of Oregon wine makers. They also make a Pinot Noir Blanc that is very good (but not nearly as amazing as Ghost Hill's Pinot Noir Blanc, this is a must drink!) Read about Erin here.
We recomend Rabbit Bistro for a well prepared meal, a glass of good wine, and least I forget, a fine desert ( mine was the Apple Crisp with Guinness Icecream!)
Now back to the last sips of this tasty little wine local!

High Pass Surprize! High Pass '08 Walnut Ridge Pinot Noir

There are many wineries in Oregon whose name comes to the tip of ones tongue such as King, Ken Wright, Domaine whatever, but some of the lesser knows have big things to offer.
Last night I dug in to the cellar for a wine that would be good for our kitchen rack, a wine that Linda could open while I was gone and not feel guilty about not sharing.
I was very surprised to find a bottle of High Pass' Walnut Ridge Vineyard '08 Pinot Noir. I had forgotten gathering this one but as we bought it at auction, I felt compelled to taste.
When I opened it and sat it on the counter I walked in to the living room and sat down for some TV. Moments later I began to smell red berry and chocolate. I got up and went in to the kitchen and poured a glass of this aromatic wine.
As it warmed and opened it began to display a much more complex nose. Heavy notes of dark berry, cooked rhubarb, chai, and chocolate were almost overwhelming!
I sipped a bit, expecting a heavy, hard taste but instead was greeted with a most pleasant and soft fruit forward taste that lingered, with top notes of sweet apple and a perfect balance that left me wanting another sip.
This is one of the most interesting and complex Pinot Noirs I have tasted from the lower Willamette Valley. I would highly recommend this wine to keep for at least 5 more years or drink now with lots of salad and game meats as it will stand against any heavy gamey meats and have room to spare. 

Cherry Hill Surprise!!!

On the way home tonight I stopped at Grocery Outlet on River Road in Eugene to check out what cool stuff they had hiding in the isles. I found an Australian Olive Oil, some really good salami, and an '07 Cherry Hill Papillon!!! This wine is just sooo good! Dark cherry nose with notes of anise, straw, and must, and a taste of ripe berry, black fruit, and clean acids that pair really well with red meats. I opened a bottle with a roast beast, odvacodo, and onion combo and it held up wonderfully!
And the killer! They are selling it for $4.95!!!
Those bastards who underrated the '07's should burn in heck. But those of us who bought all the '07 we could get our hands on know the truth!
Run, do not walk, to you Grocery Outlet and SCORE!

Oregon Wines in Kegs in Washington

The good folks at Wooldridge Creek  and others are making huge strides in educating bar owners on the value of tap wine. I checked in to the Heathman Lodge up in Vancouver WA. last night and went next door to the club room for a snack before turning in only to find two fine wines ON TAP!
Wooldridge's very good Pinot Noir (I did not think to check the year but from the taste I would guess '08) and Boedecker's Pinot Gris, again I have no year but from the taste I would say '10.
What a joy! The woman serving was very engaging and fully vested in the idea of wine in a keg.
She said men would come up and point to the tap and say "I'll have a beer." and she would have to explain that beer comes in a bottle,  wine comes in a keg.
She went on about how much it saved them in wasted wine, bottle disposal, and how well the argon system keeps the wine perfectly drinkable.
I was so pleased to see this. Here is a link back to a post I did a couple of years ago.
They also have kegged wine at Sfizio in Eugene and many other locations around the Northwest. Ask you favorite restaurant  about their house wine and see if they have figured out how to save money and the environment and still serve excellent wines.