Robert's Big Adventure

Tuesday I left Eugene too late to visit any wineries on the way to Portland to play golf at Heron Lakes, but I made up for it on Wednesday.
After playing 16 painful holes, then two that make me want to come back for more, I checked in to Northrup Station, had a nap, then headed off to 23Hoyt for an early dinner.
Open Table recommended them as a great place to eat and as a neighborhood gem so, trusting soul that I am...
The food was fantastic and the service was even better! Being a single dinner feel odd sometimes: just you and the food, and whatever entertainment is within sight or sound. The staff made me feel very welcomed and were attentive, polite, and at my side if I even thought of asking for something. The steak and fries were just right, though I suggested an aoli for the fries.
Back to the hotel to find the Ted Kennedy had died. Sad.

Wednesday morning brought me to Montinore Estate where proprietor Rudy Marchesi gave me a bottle of the Parson's Ridge'07 Pinot Noir. I tasted most of the wines and really loved the "Almost Dry Riesling" One of the best whites I tasted today and one of my favorites overall. The Parson's Ridge is a great wine. Pepper, black fig, complex and dry. I can't wait to see what it has in store after three or so years! Here is the bottle, held by Marc, the tasting room manager. I followed Ken and Barbie...yes, Ken and Barbie, to the tasting room and enjoyed sharing a moment of wine adventures with them.

OK, back to the wines. I left there and headed out to track down some Sake'.
I met one of the people in charge at Sake'One as he was leaving for his car and ask about getting "one bottle" for the collection. He was more than glad to help and we will have a bottle of "G" in the auction. Sake' is short lived , 5 -8 months, so I will pick it up just before the event. Loved all the tastes and could become addicted without much urging! I can't wait to go back for more tastes and a few bottles of my own.

I wandered up through the Hills to David Hill Vineyard and Winery to find yet again, after trying to connect in Jan. Feb, and March for a bottle for the last auction, that I had missed the person able to make a decision...should have called ahead but the drive, and the view, were worth the trip. And the wines I tasted were great.The Estate Gewurztraminer was bright with nice fruit and the Estate Pinot Gris was the perfect sweetness without being cloying. My favorite for just sipping is the Farmhouse Red. Smooth and rich. The Black Jack Pinot Noir "06 was outstanding! dark cherry and earthy. The tasting room is in an old house overlooking the vineyards and is just the right setting for a quiet moment with some great wine.
I will have to go back and try again.

Juanita Lint, owner of Plum Hill, whose wines are always good and often great, let me take a bottle of the '07 Chardonnay. I love this wine and think it is worthy of all the praise it has garnered.

Next stop, Elk Cove Vineyards. I found the manager doing tastings for a group of people from Hawaii and explaining shipping and the wine club. When she turned her attention to me I did the big ask! One bottle, please?
Martha Wagner came out and saw that it was me, again. She was so nice and gave a REALLY nice bottle! The 2006 Elk Cove Vineyards Reserve, signed by the winemaker. It received 93 points from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Stephan Tanzer, Parker gave it a 92, and Wine and Spirits, a 91. Decanter Magazine gave it 4 starts! Here is the bottle being held by an innocent passerby, actually, he was the bus driver for the tour group.
After thanking them again, I took off for Kramer Vineyards and was treated to TWO bottles! They gave a bottle of the '06 Estate Pinot Noir and one of the '06 Chardonnay. Julia let me taste most of the wines and just as last time, they were wonderful. The old vine (1984) Pinot was sooo good! Rhubarb and dark cherry with a dark sweet finish. This is Julia NOT blinking:)
One more stop and I will call it a day!
ADEA is one of my favorite places to hang out and visit. Feels like family. They know what they are doing and they do it well. I had run in to Ann and Dean at the IPNC and they promised me a surprise! They gave me a magnum of the '05 ADEA Reserve Pinot Noir! I sat around and tasted wines with Dean and went from '06, to '07, to'2000 and back again.
Do NOT believe what you here from the unschooled about the '07s. They are absolutely perfect Burgundian, ruby, complex, and very drinkable wines. I was astounded by the amount of depth and flavor in all of his '07s!
All the '07s I have tasted so far, with perhaps two exceptions, have been the kind that I cut my wine teeth on in Europe in the '70s. Buy lots now before the masses find out that they are great!

One last stop.
I was noodling around on Open Table while making a res at 23Hoyt and happened upon Jory Restaurant at The Allison Inn & Spa .
You can read my review on Open Table. God it was GOOD!

King Estate and Beyond

Today, after putting up labels on Anne Teigen's paintings at Sweet Cheeks Winery, meeting some very nice people from Mesa AZ. at Silvan Ridge, and visiting at Chateau Lorane , I took a chance and stopped at King Estate and ask for their donation of "One Bottle". Jennifer gave a bottle of the 2007 Signature Pinot Gris, and a bottle of the 2006 next Oregon Riesling. Both are from King but are different brands. I tasted both and must say I was pleased by what they present in the 2006 Riesling: crisp and fruity with a smooth finish. A great little summer wine. The Gris is a little tart and has nice fruit. Paired with a nice salad and white cheese...superb. That is the most distributed Pinot Gris in America!
At Chateau Lorane, where I tasted a few of the wines , I was brought up short by the 2006 Viognier (off dry)!I always enjoy a good Viognier but this is truly the best I have ever tasted. Peach, nectarine, pear, caramel, and it has a mouth feel of silk but is not cloying and sticky. Man, THAT is what I want for our auction!

A Little Golf Never Hurt...

Today I scored my first 9 holes for two from Oakway Golf Course here in Eugene. One of the items in the April Auction will be "9 at 9"; Nine holes for two at 9 courses around Oregon. Oakway was first because that is where, three years ago, I swung my first club. I barley broke 100...one 9 holes.
We are also offering "18 at 18" so I will keep you posted on progress with both wines and golf.

A Little Taste

Our friend Andrew, who is a director for the Eugene Opera, is staying with us for a few days, and tonight, after his fund raising event, we settled in for some deep and meaningful gossip. We shared a bottle of the Brandborg 07 Riesling. Oh My! Semisweet in the front with a nice acid and tart after taste. Very glad I bought a couple of bottles! Linda and I drank the Rose' yesterday after she got home. We sat on our deck and sipped the Rose and ate cheese and fresh Blueberries from the bushes. Ah, life is good, and so is Oregon wine!

Elkton Just for Fun...and Wine

Today I returned a few pieces to an artist in Roseburg and I meant to make it a fast trip, then I saw the Elkton sign.
Last auction I never made it to Elkton and therefore, never ask for One Bottle from any of the wonderful wineries hidden half way to the coast. I got there just before eleven and stopped by the local deli/restaurant Tomaselli's Pastry Mill and Cafe. I ordered a sandwich and was very pleased and surprised to find that they had NO COKE or PEPSI products, only VERY good natural sodas, and of course, wine. I enjoyed a visit with the owner, Marty, and after I finished my meal I crossed the street to Brandborg Winery where I was treated to a full tasting of their many wines. All were very drinkable but the 07 Riesling , the 07 Gewürztraminer were out of this world! Both got 90+ in Wine Enthusiast. Sue was a very gracious host and promised "One Bottle" for the project. It was in the 90's so I will wait to pick up their offering until I have my cooler in the car.
While I was tasting a couple of women walked in and said that they were working on a "special project" that sounded very intriguing. I told them they were more than welcome to use my blog and it's many meager entries in any way they felt appropriate. I met Sherry and her friend (taster) again at the next stop, River's Edge Winery.
Michael Landt offered me tastes of the current vintages and I was more that a little impressed by both the wine AND the prices! I think the 07 Barrel Select Pinot Noir was my favorite. Though "thinner" than the 06 or 05, it had a very front of the mouth pepper, Bing cherry, and annis that finished with soft fruit and a very nice mouth feel. All the wines were good but I was blown away by the Dulcet Cuvee'. This one you have to come and taste. "The 2006 Dulcet Cuvee' has a delightful tobacco scent in the bouquet, candied cherry flavor, and surprisingly smooth finish for a wine with 16.4% alcohol." to Quote from their web page.
He also promised a bottle, the 2007 Barrel Select Pinot Noir.
I was running late so I missed a stop at Bradley Vineyards but will see them next time.
I had to get to Henry Estate and drop of art so I took 138 toward Sutherlin. Nice drive on a summer's day! At Henry Estate I met a nice young couple and their dog, who was determined to get inside to visit the local boss(pictured here).
The Wine was great, as usual, and I did a quick taste of the Pinot Gris, peachy and aromatic, and the 06 Pinot Noir,lots of sweet fruit and ripe black cherry with a hint of mint and earth Both are worth a second taste and I will be back to walk through the wonderfully inviting front door. They promised another bottle for the auction on April 9th.

Auction set for April 9th

I was informed by Gina Ing that our auction date for 2010 has been set and now I can start gathering wines for the big event. I plan to gather at least 200 bottles this year and with any luck a few more.
The first bottle came from 720 and is the 2005 Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir. I have had it and it is very complex and assertive, fruity and also has a nice "dirt" taste.
In the next week I plan to go back and visit Corvallis and see what else I can bring back. I missed a few there last time, including the 720 so I am off to a good start.

Lots of Little News

Well, where to begin...Linda and I bought two cases of the "all Pinot Noir" cases at the auction and we have been having fun opening a few for dinner and for friends. We opened 2006 Thomas Wine Dukes Family last night and had to decant it and let it open up for a while. I am by nature an impatient man but the wait was well worth it. I had a big stak and a plate of various veggies with humus. The wine held its own and then some!
We saved a glass each and had it this evening before a concert. WOW.
The wine was made by R. Gary Andrus in his last year of active wine making.

The Project Begins Anew!

Well, because the wine gathering was so sucsessfull and so much fun to do, I decided to do it again and to start early.
Whybra vineyard is first this time of the "new" wineries. One of Linda's friends invited us to take part in a corking party last week and they said they would give a bottle of their Pinot Noir. I got to cork about 240 bottles!
Most, if not all, of the wineries who gave last time will give again and I will keep you posted on their wines and the tastings we do.
I look forward to an exciting new year!

New Video by Eric Silverberg

This is the first video that Eric made about our wine gathering project. We hope to keep it up and do a couple of wineries each month and encourage people to come and taste or order the wines we select. Lorrie from Sweet Cheeks and Angela from Silvan Ridge star. I am the old guy with the white hair.

Auction Over! Now We Begin Again!

The auction was about 3/4 of what I wanted but it was a very good one and a success in raising a lot of money for Oregon Mozart Players. The staff, Tiffany, Gina, and all the volunteers works sooo hard keeping up with what was coming in, and people donated so freely. The wineries are all in for next year and so are a lot more so this year I will get an early start and get the all. We sold 12 cases, 3 magnums, one 3.5 litter bottle (from Pfiffer) and 24 "table bid" bottles.
Willakenzie Estates, Opine, and Lavelle supplied the wine for the diners.
Thank to all for a wonderful evening and I look forward to next year!

Video of Lorrie and Robert

Here are Lorrie, from Sweet Cheeks, and Robert discussing the growth and the sharing in the Oregon wine industry and doing a barrel taste of the 08 Pinot Noirs.

These are just test videos that will be refined and will soon lead to a on line wine club based on interviews and visits to wineries around Oregon where we will taste the wines, make recommendations, and offer them to the public.

Iris Hill's New Cottage Grove Facility

This morning, after securing my wine stash, I headed out for Cottage Grove to visit Iris Hill's new digs. They had promised a bottle of 2007 Pinot Noir and I was eager to get it as it is the LAST BOTTLE (as far as I know) in the collection. I was pleased and surprised when Mike upgraded me to the fantastic 2005 Arete' Pinot Noir! Here is Laura with the bottle. Only 200 cases were made and there is very little left. "A stylish, silky, full bodied Pinot Noir with raspberry, black cherry, and spicy, earthy notes on the nose. On the palate the mouth is filled with ripe flavors of Marion berries, blueberries and black plums, with hints of cinnamon and oak spice followed by a long and elegant fruit driven finish. This wine has excellent cellaring potential".
Linda and I bought this when it was released and have it down until 20011-14.
I returned to the office and was greeted by a box that said "Otis Kenyon Wines" The Walla Walla Valley is in Washington BUT the winery and facilities for Otis Kenyon is in Milton- Freewater so...Oregon wine! They sent a bottle of their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon! Truely a great wine.
Well, I guess that is that for a while. The auction is tomorrow night and we have 180+ attendees so far. Let us hope for the best!

Putting the Cork in it!

Well, today is the clean-up day. I need to go to Cottage Grove and accept a bottle from Iris Hill and then track down a friend who has a bottle of Erath and a couple more for me.
The article in the paper was nice though I think they forgot to mention that ALL THE WINERIES DONATED THE WINE! It sounded like I bought it all. Oh well. To all the incredible wineries "Thank you again for your heart felt gifts. Wine is what you do, how you make your living, and is a real love. I know that to give so freely after being ask so often by so many is a burden. I don't know that I would have the patience to put up with it. That is why I limited my asks to ONE BOTTLE. Thank you again!
I will post tasting notes, wine recommendations, and travel tips over the next few months until I start the journy over again, hoping for even more next year.
More later
Thanks

Salem,Carlton, Dundee, Gaston, McMinnville, Lafayette for Wine

A long long day started with gathering up my paperwork and loading up on coffee. I arrived in Salem just as Honeywood Winery opened its doors. I had been there once many years ago when the just made fruit wines. I found a very good reason to return when I read that they had received a 90 in Wine Spectator for the 2006 Pinot Noir from their Eola vineyard. I tasted it while it was still tight and again after a few minutes and found it to easily deserve the 90 points. Very tasty and not as fruity as some. They gave me a bottle of 2006 Pinot Noir for the auction!
In Dundee I found Crumbled Rock Winery and saw the progress they are making on the barrel room, tasting room and crush pad/balcony. Very cool site. They bought the vineyard in '87 and she just retired so they are at it full time.They plan to open and be tasting by next year. Julia gave me a 2007 Pinot Noir. Very generous considering how few cases they made.
My usual stop for lunch was excellent as usual. The Bistro served up a hearty pork and bean soup( no, not THAT kind) with a rich flavor that paired well with the Ponzi Pinot Gris. I finished with some Tam cheese and a slice of smoked bacon and apple.
Sustained, I headed out for Carlton and a special treat: Barrel tasting with Patrick Taylor, the winemaker at Canas Feast. We tasted through his line in the tasting room, all delightful, and then went in and found the 2008 Sangiovasi. Wow! I also met with Patrick Taylor, the GM. I can't wait to attend one of the food pairings they do. After an hour of sip and spit I drove to the Abby where my friend Rebecca works. WShe arranged for me to have some of the wineries they store and ship to donate wine from there. She cased it up and saved me much time and raised my count by 18 bottles!Elkhorn Ridge-2007 Le Terre Foss Pinot Noir, Shea Wine Cellars-2007 Estate Pinot Noir, Daedalus Cellars-2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Trium- 2007 Pheasent Hill Pinot Gris, Cristom Vineyards-2006 Sommer Reserve Pinot Noir, Barbara Thomas Wines- 2005 Vigna Giovanni Yamhill Pinot Noir, Brittan Vineyards- 2006 Basalt Block Pinot Noir, Ardiri Estate Grown- 2006 Carmeros Pinot Noir, Winter's Hill Vineyard- 2004 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Anam Cara Cellars- 2006 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir ,CarabellaVineyard-2007 Pinot Noir, Seventeen Eighty-nine Wines-2007 Pinot Noir and Johan Vineyards-2006 Pinot Noir.
Be sure to click on the winery AND the wine.
Rebecca took me to see Steve Lutz, the winemaker and owner of Lenne Estate. What a view! We interrupted him in the middle of work but he was gracious enough to taste us through his wines and present a 2007 Pinot Noir.
On to Willakenzi Estate were I picked up a case of Pinot Noir and a case of Pinot Gris for the auction tables...you have to give them wine to drink or they just sit there!
I toured the winery and got to see the bottling machine, then went up for a little taste. I bade farewell to Thibaud and Rebeca and went in search of Plum Hill where I was greeted by Ghost Dog, who was very excited to see me, as you can see here, and a bottle of 2006 Pinot Gris presented by Juanita, the owner and with her husband, the operator.
My last stop of the day was at Youngberg Hill Vineyard and Inn. I want to take Linda there for a weekend. It is so beautiful and the view is fantastic! Wayne, the owner, gave a bottle of 2006 Jordan Block Pinot Noir.
Now I am back home and sorting the wines one last time. The Register Guard is doing an article on the wine collection and the auction in Thursday's paper .

Counting, Casing, and Watching New Video

Today is count, cross check, and case day. Here is a shot of the ones I have out on the dinning room table.
Eric has uploaded a test video to You tube about the wine gathering and has a good shot of Lorrie Norman of Sweet Cheeks Winery.

A few phone calls for final verification of gift certificates and a game plan for Wednesday's trip and I am done.

Look for the article in Thursday's register Guard with a picture of Bob Sogge.

Eugene to Roseburg and Back

Our semi annual pick up of Girardet Baco Noir was on Saturday. I left around 9:45 and got to the winery in time to miss the tour bus full of wine tasters traveling around the Umpqua Valley. The crew at GiradetWine Cellars had warned me not to show during the tour. Philippe greeted me and Offered a bottle of his fine Pinot Noir but I ask if instead, we could have the Baco. With a smile, he said" This is my baby" and gave me a bottle of his 2007 Baco Noir Reserve.
Philippe, and now his son Marc, have been making wine in Tenmile, near Winston, since 1971 and their Baco has been peoples choice in at least 4 competitions around the Northwest.
As I was leaving, after visiting with Philippe and tasting all the wines (and buying a lot of his sale wines plus our club wines) I set of for Eugene and my 1:30 haircut appointment. I had rather let it grow and stayed for more time at the winery.

Almost Done...

This whole adventure has been more about process than about product. It has given me a chance to learn about the Oregon Wine industry and about the people who live and work around it. I have met people who just travel around pruning, planting, weeding, and generally helping out for little pay, people who have invested their entire savings on a few acres and only grow grapes for others to use, and others who have created small kingdoms that employ hundreds of people in the various tasks related to wine.
I have tasted acidic, harsh, and unpleasant wines that were made from the very same grape that produced a wine so lush and full that drinking it seemed a sin.
But the quest continues.
South and east to Cave Junction and up the road towards Oregon caves leads us to Bridgeview Winery and a chance meeting with a rancher from Idaho, Holly Flowers, who owns and operated the Alpha Omega Ranch where she raises grass fed animals. Her dream is to raise yaks but the other ranchers nixed that idea, so horses, goats, cows and pigs it is. She was hauling a cow she came all the way to Cane Junction to buy, and on the way back she loaded up with wines.
The winery is famous for its second line wines sold in stores all over the world as Blue Moon. Yes, the ones in the blue bottle you see EVERYWHERE. They make a lot of wine and their reserve wines really are good. Tim Woodhead gave me a bottle of their Viognier 2007. I tasted through the whites and reds and ended up buying a couple of bottles.
I headed out the gate, past the swans, and turned down the road to the most remote winery in western Oregon: Foris. Holly was close behind hauling her trailer, with a cow that was getting lots of scenic views. We tasted the reds and whites and Jennifer (on the right) presented me with a bottle of Maple Ranch Pinot Noir. This is a delicious wine with great character and depth. Described by them as "Wonderful purity of fruit in the nose, red and black fruits layered with spice, cocoa and cedar aromas. Beguiling aromas, complex and ever changing in the glass. A hint of forest floor, a little touch of fine herbs, clove and allspice all add depth and complexity. While rich and full in texture, the fine tannins add structure and the wine finishes with a silky flourish of flavor". This wine shows the true meaning of terroir. As you stand and look around and see all the things that effect the wine and taste the forest and fresh clean air you begin to understand how much the "where" matters with wine.
Long drive back to the Applegate Valley and Troon, where I picked up a bottle of their Old Vine Meratage, Wooldridge, where Kara gave me a bottle of 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon,and Schmidt where the Judy presented a bottle of their wonderful Perennial White 2007.
The last stop was for a bottle of Velocity 2005 Red Wine, from grapes in the Rogue Valley, at RoxeyAnn, where I ate very good cheese, bread, and drank a glass of their wonderful Claret.
Next week is the very last road trip for wine.

Tuesday Afternoon

The collection has grown larger than I ever imagined and it is still growing. Sokol Blosser gave a bottle of 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. I taste black cherry up front and lighter fruit in the back andthe taste lasted longer than a lot of the 06 Pinots. I am always impressed with the level of giving from some of the wineries! I love the new Willamette Valley Wine map! The old one had numbers where the wineries were and you had to look them up. The paper the map was printed on tore very easely and was very frustrating. Now:beter paper, and names on the map!
Using this new tool, I found my way to ArborBrook and met Mary, and the winery cat, to collect a bottle of 2007 Heritage Cuve'e and give some pets.
I stopped by another winery in Dundee to pick up a bottle of Barron-Wahl 2007 Pinot Noir Estate. There is a nice article on them in the local paper.
I drove in to Carlton and Met with my friend Rebecca who works at the Abby where they ship wine. Boyd Teegarden was there from Natalie's Estate and gave me a bottle of his 2007 Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. (on the left). Many of the wine people I had met and who gave wine were there Cliff Anderson, Dean from ADEA, who got in to the wine biz as a steel fabricator, had great stories about a de-stemming machine.
The Gladharts were ther from Winter's Hill and were excited about the new landscaping at the vineyard.
I tatsed the 2006 Vista Hills Pinot Noir and faded out the door and for home. Long drive to Medford and Cave Junction in the morning.

Video of Sweet Cheeks Coming Soon

We are taping an interview with the staff at Sweet Cheeks Winery today and will post it as soon as it is edited.

A Car Full of Wine and a Japanese Bridge

When I drove back to Portland on Wednesday I stopped at Drakes Seven Ds and picked up a 5 foot by 3 foot wooden Japanese Bridge Linda and I had purchased last weekend. Yes, it JUST fit in the back of my Subaru wagon! So the wine case goes to the front seat and away we go. I went straight to the hotel in Newburg, ate at the local diner and caught up on email as THIS hotel has internets and googles.
Up and out early for breakfast in the lobby with twenty school kids attending some event at George Fox. Love the automated waffle machine!
I drove around a great deal looking for open wineries and just enjoying the drive. Forest Grove and the area is really interesting and the view from David Hill is breathtaking.
Lunch in Gaston and went up to Kramer Vineyards for a bottle of 2005 Chardonnay and a visit with the dogs. Thistle also makes wine there so I picked up their 2003 Pinot Noir and took off for McMinville. Panther Creek was holding a Stevenson-Barrie 2006 Freedom Hill Pinot Noir for me and as luck would have it Michael Stevenson, the winemaker, was there to hand it over himself.
I found Walnut City Wineworks a real joy. Jennifer was great to deal with and I added Z'ivo's 2002 Pinot Noir, 2006 Walnut City Reserve Pinot Noir, and Bernard Machado 2005 Pinot Noir to the list.
Next week is Carlton, Medford, and a few more random stops along the way.