202 Bottles of Wine for the Ball

Morgan Broadly was pleased to hear how well his Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir had done  last year in combination with Bergstrom Shea, and Shea's own wine, $300 each for the bottles. This time he gave us an '08 Shea Vineyard($50) and says that it tasted out very well at a gathering of winemakers recently. Very exciting to have another, and this year we have Alaxana's Shea, Bergstrom's, and I hope soon, Dick Shea's also. Morgan said that he had been at a tasting of some of the top wineries and that the '08s were showing well but most were not as "big" as the '06. I have tasted a few and have been impressed.
I headed north to Corvallis for a visit with my friend Jerry at Wineopolis but he was out so I stopped by the Pioneer Hopyard Vineyards tasting room located at

255 SW Madison Ave, and was given the '03 Pinot Noir ($19). This wine won a Bronze Medal at the 2005 Oregon State Fair and  is ripe with  huckleberry, blackberries, and currant. Long sweet finish with loads of acid and tannins. Drinkable now but you can keep it another 5-8 years. They keep the wine back for a number of years before releasing them. They are worth a stop, and yes, they are in a jewelry store but they have a wide selection of wines for sale including many Oregon wines.
Next stop was the Spring Hill Country Club to pick up a round for the 18@18 part of the auction. You can see how far I have to go at Oregon Golf and Music Project.

I left there and stopped by Springhill Cellars to pick up a bottle of the '07 Pinot Noir.
This wine needs time in the bottle. It has enough tannins and should mellow after a few more years. Very herbaceous, with sage, fresh cut Chard, dusty leather, black current, and a subtle hint of strawberry jam. A little harsh on first sip but much better on the second. It has lots of room mid-pallet for red sauce or spicy meats or pizza.

Had a nice drive up to Highway 22 on back roads and even the dairy farm that usually smells SOOO bad was calm. When I got to Red Hawk Vineyard and Winery I was treated to a pleasant visit with Betty, the owner, and Brandi who was doing the tasting (seen here) a taste of some very yummy wines, my favorites being the '08 Gamay Noir with tropical notes with red fruit and honey on the nose with a chocolate cherry, anise, and pepper taste. very approachable, good starter wine. The '08 Syrah was delicious! Big black fruit with notes of spice and earth, a little pepper on the back. I picked up a bottle of the '08Grateful Red ($15), also a good drinking wine. Able to stand alone or with food, it has soft black fruit, earth and slight hint of chocolate and strawberry. Long finish with spice.
I love the view from up on the hill. They look down over the Willamette and you can see for miles. Great place for a visit and a taste.
On the way through Dayton I stopped at Joel Palmer House to ask for a donation of a meal for two . Heidi and Chris Czarnecki gave a certificate for dinner for two and Heidi gave an overnight stay at Fox Farm Cottages., 
The Abbey outside of Lafayette is where all the wine for the auction is being kept, along with thousands of of other cases of Oregon wines so I called Rebecca and let her know I was getting close. We unloaded 5 cases of wine from the car and moved it to our assigned space along with all the other cases and magnums. It is getting pretty populated with good wines!

I got to McMinniville about 5:00 and instead of trying to hit any wineries I just went to my friend Thibaud's  house and put my things away. He came home and started marinating steaks and cutting up vegetables, and opening wine.Rebecca showed up with the rest of the fixings and we talked over some of his delicious wines By the time the food was ready we had developed quite an appetite and were ready for something besides great wine. Rebecca sugested the idea of having wineries sponsor tables at the auction for $200 and 6 bottles of their wines, three red, three white for the table.. They would get two seats and be able to talk about their wines, and they would get to stand for acknowledgment when their wines came up for auction.

Great meal, great company, and a much needed nights sleep and I was ready to face the day.

After a Latte' at the Safeway Starbucks I Drove up the hill through the dense fog of the morning to Winderlea Vineyard and Winery, where Donna and the dog gave me a bottle of the '07 Estate Pinot Noir ($50) and a beautiful box for it.From their tasting notes:The 2007 “Estate” pinot noir (formerly Goldschmidt) was picked on Sept 29th and Oct 15th. The core of the wine is two new blocks of Pommard planted in 2005 which we allowed to ferment in our new Taransaud wood fermenters. The remaining fruit was fermented in stainless steel and macro bins. In addition to being fermented in wooden tanks, the Estate was barrel aged in French oak barrels for 9 months prior to being bottled in August. (more) Last year the '06 Estate went for $150 in the silent auction so I look forward to another great sale.
I was sorry to have missed Bill but I will make a trip up just to sit on their deck and watch the vines grow.  I drove over to Four Graces, where as luck would have it, I had won their Facebook friends prize of a very neat zippered vest, a t-shirt, and an insulated wine bag that holds two bottles!
Melanie made sure I had the right size, XXL unfortunately, but I am working on it.
Driving out to Brooks Winery I realized I was almost out of gas so I turned back (that is so hard to do!) and filled up in Lafayette. I caught Heather before she had to leave and we tasted some of their wonderful wines.
The story of this winery is at once tragic and uplifting. The founder passed away at a very early age and his sister took over management, but ownership went to his young son, now 14,. the youngest winery owner in the world. I encourage you to visit and enjoy the wonderful energy coming from the staff and from the winery. I did not get to taste the wines that were selected for the White House State Dinner but you can buy them! I left with a bottle of the '08 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir($25). From their notes: On the nose beautiful primary aromas of minerals,dusty bing cherries, blueberries, beeswax, redcurrants, blackberries, spice, roses and a mouthwatering cornucopia of small red fruits pour from the glass. As the wine sits in the glass more dark and savory aromatics of tobacco, tar, smoke, freshly picked plums, bitter orange peel and grilled bread emerge.(more)
I had fun driving over the top of the hill and down the other side and in to Amity for a quick burger at Ashes Cafe, then a visit to Coelho Winery. They have a wonderful tasting room filled with fine wines and chocolate from the Brigantine monastery so you can indulge at least two vices while you are there.
This year they gave us a bottle of their '06 Divertimento Pinot Noir ($18). I will stop by again and taste it as they have no tasting notes posted as of yet. I am sure that even though it is 4 years in the bottle that is has enough structure to last for a while longer. Listen to Dave talk about his wines here in a video done by VineStories.
They are working on a huge project that will change the face of Amity, a new winery and tasting room with lots of space right on highway 99.
I drove back toward the north to Kristen Hill Winery where I picked up a bottle of an '02 Pinot Noir. This is a really small winery with a tasting room located in an adjacent house surrounded by Daffodils. Rustic and pleasant and they make really good wines. From their notes:

family owed and operated. Produces about 1000 cases per year. Specialty is sparkling wine. Our wines are served with down home friendliness in our German style tasting room next to the vineyards. You'll have such a pleasant experience, you won't want to leave. Great for novice wine tasters as we try to impart some wine education during the tasting. Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Blush, Port are also available as well as our 3 sparkling wines. No tasting fee.
I made a stop at Left Coast Cellars and met a very old dog, and nasty cat ( who has been seen dragging unsuspecting tasters in to the bushes), and a beautiful woman, Devon. The latter helped me through the tasting of their wonderful wines. 
The '07 Rose' of Pinot Noir is a very good afternoon in the sun kind of wine, light, yet rich with melon and soft red berry, and a taste of fruit cocktail and cherry. Not an overly sweet wine and no hint of grapefruit or citrus. Nice finish with just a little bit of sharpness.the most surprising wine was the '08 Left Bank Pinot Blanc. It has qualities that are hard to find in a white. Lots of good fruits like guava, banana, pineapple, kiwi, white grape, and citrus but with a remarkable mouthfeel of softness and body. It has one of the most complex endings I have tasted in a Pinot Blanc. I left with a bottle of the '05 Estate Grown Pinot Noir.
I drove over to Rickreal for a taste and a bottle from Cherry Hill Winery's new tasting room. Linda and I went to the Valentine's Day tasting there so I knew what I wanted. The new '08 Syrah($29), using Del Rio fruit, is a hit. Smokey, earthy, candied fruit, lush, soft mouthfeel, long finish. Like this a lot. Next stop was the Emerson Winery where I met the assistant winemaker and the owner and picked up a bottle of the '07 Avelina Pinot Noir. from Tom. From their tasting notes;
Showing excellent extraction, 2007 Avelina Pinot Noir is a deep ruby-garnet color in the glass. Clean and expressive scents of sweet currant and kirsch immediately greet the senses, followed by hints of spice, subdued oak, and perfumy, blossomy highlights. A taste reveals an intense, round, hedonistic wine built on flavors of black cherry and currant, giving way to exotic spices, vanilla, smoke, and minerality.(more)
Driving back the long way, I hoped to catch Lumos or Harris Bridge wineries open. No such luck.

The gathering will intensify over the next weeks leading up to the auction as I have about 55 more wineries that gave last year that I have not been to yet!

Howard Hughes' "Lucky Fedora" ? We Think So!

News! John Sleeter's son has contacted us and is compiling some of the stories he was told by his father about his relationship with Hughes. Look for more to come! We just found the initials HH '38 inside the leather band. We had been afraid to touch it as it is so old and fragile but someone wanted the serial #
( B669013) from inside the band. It is a "Royal Stetson" Whippet.
One of our board members gave us the hat for the auction. 

In his letter about the hat, he says:

For 35 years I was a practicing Medical Specialist in the Los Angeles area.  During that time my wife and I became very friendly with JOHN SLEETER,  a general practitioner in a neighboring community, and he and I developed a professional relationship as well.

One evening while my wife and I were the Sleeters' dinner guests,  John told us that while he was training at Los Angeles County Hospital, he came to care for HOWARD HUGHES, who was a patient there. Hughes had been taken to that hospital following a plane crash of his on July 7th, 1946. John,  for a period of time, became Hughes' physician.

That evening, knowing that I was a private pilot,  thinking I would appreciate it, John offered me a hat that Hughes had given him.  Was this the only such hat that Hughes had, since a famous photo of him showing him in the pilot seat of the Spruce Goose shows him wearing what appears identical to this one , or did he have multiple such hats, I do not know.

I kept it ever since and even considered donating it to the Smithsonian Museum Aviation Section at one time.  It now seems an appropriate time to make it available to a person or entity seriously interested in possessing what I consider to be a valuable and real bit of memorabilia.

  (John died in 2009. I downloaded his obituary from the Internet. It was from the Tama, Iowa local newspaper, the place of his birth, and it states that he had been Hughes' personal physician).   by Chuck (more info upon request)

Now that I have done a bit more digging, I have found that Sleeter was a Lt. and had indeed treated Hughes after the crash, and hitched a ride with him on his first flight after the ordeal. Read the book starting on the bottom of 157.page
I have also found reference to the hat being recovered and taken to a police station, then rushed to Hughes at the hospital. It kind of gave me chills, reading about the crash and his connection to Sleeter, and having the hat sitting here in front of me.

This may not be the hat he wore in the crash but all evidence leads us to believe it IS one of his hats.
If you have any aviation fans (with money) please let them know about this. Click here to see some of the other items up for auction.
We now have a letter from Dr Sleeter's wife attesting to the authenticity of the hat. 
To quote the letter: To whom it may concern,
Approximately 15 years ago my husband, Dr John W. H. Sleeter while guests at our home at 1200 S, Orange Groove Blvd, Pasadena, gave to Dr Charles Tannenbaum the hat that Howard Hughes gave him while he was under John's care after he was discharged from Good Samaritan Hospital after his plane crash.
I witnessed this gift being given myself
Patricia G. Sleeter
There is also a certificate verifying his service at the hospital that makes direct reference to Hughes case.
These may be sent by email upon request.
rcanaga@gmail.com

Newport, Old Port

Sometimes I get a little tired of driving all over the atse asking for "one bottle" so today I decided to do what I did last year and get as many in one place as I could.
The Newport Wine and Seafood Festival has been held there for the last 33 year and has helped many Oregon Wineries develop a following.
I arrived early so I could find a close parking spot. After last years experience of carrying cases three blocks, I did not want a repeat. After paying $5 to park, $5 to enter, $1 or $2 for tastes it begins to add up but the food was good and the people were much clamer on Sunday than I have seen on Saturday, or as they call it, "Kids day".
My first stop was to say hello to Orchard Heights, who already gave us an '06 Pinot Gris. Next to them was a local winery that I just have not had time to get to yet, Chateau Lorane, owned and managed by Linde Kester. He gave us a nice bottle of his '09 Viognier (off dry)($16) that is pure nectar. I like all sorts of Viogniers and this one hits all the right spots on my taste buds. Wonderful bouquets of floral notes, sweet pear and ripe apple, hints of fresh cut pineapple and sweet spice. Great way to start the tasting!
K&M Wines was next. I introduced myself to Mauro and Ken, the owners and ask for a bottle of their best.
They handed over their '06 Alchemy Vineyard Pinot Noir, a richly fruity '06 with a delicate mid palate of cherry and spices, a little pepper and vanilla(?) with a long finish, unlike some of the '06 Pinots that just drop off.
Next door the Hinman Vineyards /Silvan Ridge booth was busy and looked like they were doing well. My friend Angela decided it was time for a day off after Saturday's crowd so I missed her. They already gave us their '06 Cabernet Sauvignon ( see the blog). I stopped to visit with the folks at Willamette Valley Vineyards and to meet Kristine, who I have ben corosponding with for a hwile about the blog. They had givenus a couple of real treats, the '08 Griffin Creek Viognier, and a '07 Founders Reserve Pinot Noir.
Nice to put a pretty face to the voice!
Chateau Bianca, located on highway 22 west of the 99 intersection, where Andreas gave us a tasty '07 Pinot Gris ($14) .It has notes of orange oil, tropical flowers, and tastes sweet/tart with lime and crisp green apple and finishes with a bright clean and pleasant sweetness on the sides of the tongue.
Melrose Vineyards, who had given us a bottle of their '08 Pinotage, were almost sold out of it! Good thing I went early. (See blog). Around the corner was a very busy Sasha and Lorie at Sweet Cheeks Winery. After my hug, I visited with Stephanie at Seufert Winery. She has had a bottle waiting for me for a long time but I always seem to miss her at the tasting room in Dayton, so today I got the prize! She handed over a bottle of the '06 Barrel Select Pinot Noir ($40).  This wine has deep dark secrets of black current and earth, allspice and sweet cherry. Aftertaste of creme de cassis and pepper. Wow! I plan to drop by later this week to get a taste or three.
Territorial Vineyards was buzzing with tasters so I snapped a picture of Lisa and Deanna as I went by. I plan on visiting them in the tasting room in Eugene next week and picking up their donation.
Ray Walsh of Capitella promised a bottle of his pewter labeled '07 Succession Cuvee Pinot Noir($75). He was almost sold out at the show so I decided to wait and get one later. Last year he ran out so he gave us a magnum as a replacement!
One of my favorite people at the show last year, and this year, was David Hamilton. He makes what can be said to be the best fruit wine in, dare I say, the world? He does not make fruit flavored wine, nor white wine based fruit wine, he makes wine from the fruit! Man is it good. I tried his new Cranberry Wine ($17) and was so pleased with the tastes: Natural cranberry tartness with a concentrated sugar/acid balance that washes over your tongue and wakes it up. You smell the clean bright crushed berry tartness and an almost citrus note. Love it! This one is aged in steel barrels for two years and is such a prize. He gave us a bottle of this one and I plan on driving out to Mt Vernon for a visit. I can hit 12 Ranches at the same time, only 300 miles apart.
Wasson Brothers Winery is over 25 years old and has been making fruit wine and traditional wine for their neighbors and fans, and now, for everyone. They gave us a bottle of the great sparkling wine, Oregon Spumine ($16)(a take on Spumante' I guess).
Off to Pheasant Valley Winery and a chat with Scott Haggee. I missed them on my trip a few weeks ago so today he gave me a bottle of a wonderful  '06 Reserve Pinot Noir($28) that had just won Gold here at Newport!
Stopped and said hello to the folks at Hauer of the Dauen, Amity Vineyards, Eola Vineyard,and Cliff Creek,  then Stopped at Oak Knoll to arrange a visit.
My next bottle came from the Ribera Vineyards of West Linn. Darrel presented me with a bottle of the '09 Viognier after I tasted it. Apricot brandy nose with swet notes of fresh pear and ripe melon on the tongue. A little different than others I have tasted, a little more complex. I am guessing it will last and be best served a little warmer than the usual chill. Great aromas.

I picked up a bottle of surprise wine from Cooper Mountain Vineyards !  Jason was hiss usual friendly self, a good trait for a hospitality manager of a major winery! He had read what I wrote about them when I picked up their donation and gave me a bottle of the new '07 Malbec ($25)!. This is bottle from grapes grown on their estate in Argentina and shipped here. Not really an Oregon wine but...
I was surprised, and a bit pleased, to see an unusual winery among all the trads, Bodhichitta Winery, dedicated to nonprofit fund raising and still willing to donate one bottle to someone out of their usual clients. They gave a bottle of their '06 Contemplative Cabernet ($32). Pepper and dark fruit with a nose of smooth spices.
Down the booths I saw lots of old friends: Methven family, Rivers Edge, Valley View, Girardet, and Palotai and stopped for a taste and a chat or just a hand shake.
 My bag was getting a little heavy so I found an empty case at  HV Cellars,out of Myrtle Point, and one of their fine berry wines to round out the case. They gave me an Oregon Blackberry Wine ($20).
 They were kind enough to store it for me so I would not have to sit it in a hot car. I plan on going down next trip south and doing some serious tasting. I did have a glass of their Pinot Noir. This is a very interesting Pinot. Grown at a higher elevation in a warmer climate, it has pepper, dried fruit, tobacco and leather, with lots of cherry and Raspberry. The pepper stayed around just long enough to make you want another sip. Very nice.
I wandered off unburdened, but not for long. 

I had passed Vitis Ridge and did not stop as they were slammed with folks asking questions and tasting. When I went back by things had calmed down so I reintroduced myself (they gave last year) and was given the '05 Pinot Noir($26) very full bodied but elegant, lots of complex fruits and spices.and the '07 Marechal Foch ($18) (which I love!). Deep dark red with mild tannins and a soft mouthfeel.. I do think Sally (left) could have been having a little more fun though. I went away smiling!
Speaking of smiling, I dropped by Sienna Ridge to let Cindy know that she had given me an extra bottle of the '03 Pinot Noir instead of the '04 Pinot Noir . She gave me the '04 Pinot Noir($27) and told me to just keep the other one!  As I was leaving she held out a bottle of the '03 Cabernet Sauvignon($29) to add to the collection. I am overwhelmed by the amount of wines given for this project! I only ask "One Bottle" and am so surprised when we get more. They are so generous and friendly. I love to stop by and visit on the way south. 
I finally got a David Hill Winery Pinot Noir. I can't tell you how many times I drove out to Forest Grove, up the hills, and to the beautiful old house that is their tasting room, only too miss the person who could say yes. Today I found him and he said "Yes", Jason Bull, the winemaker, handed over one of the finest Pinot Noirs at the show. His '07 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir ($38), Cherry candy right out of the box in the nose, bright fruit and earthy complexity in the mouth, a vital and compelling wine that is simple enough to sip with friends but good enough to keep down for a while and drink with your lover. 
Mark at Noble Estate Vineyard and Winery teased me a bit, waving a magnum, but it was empty, so he gave a bottle of his '07 Syrah Reserve($28), This wine is aged in American oak and has a long, almost sweet start with a bright cherry and dark berry mid palette, a long smooth finish, and has good tannins to make it last for a few years. 
The owner of Crater Lake Cellars said that he had not seen the note I left when I drove out to see where they were located, in Shady Cove. I could not find a cove but I am sure there is one there somewhere and they were not around but I enjoyed the trip and had a nice meal. Anyway, when Steve heard my appeal he smiled and handed over a bottle of '07 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19). Chocolate cherry nose and rich chocolate, black cherry, anise, and dark earth make this a really superb wine, especially for the price.

On down the crowded path was Steve and Cristy of Misty Oaks Vineyard. Though they are fairly close to me I have missed them so far and this is a great opportunity to connect. They are located in the northern Umpqua Valley up on the side of a hill not far from Henry Estate Winery. Their wines are among the best in the region, starting with their Gewurtztraminer, an unbelievably good mix of tropical  flavors and spices, to their deep rich "big" red '04 Gobblers Knob Blend. They gave me the '06 Gobblers Knob Red Blend ($24), it's a bit more complex and approachable than the '04 and though it should be put down for a few more years, it is drinkable now. Red meat or Salmon!

While we are on the subject of oak, let me tell you about Lone Oak Vineyard. They are just down the road from Monroe on a south facing hill in the coast range. They are near Benton Lane but have a different micro climate. I have been drinking their Pinot Noir for about 5 years and am yet to be disappointed. They presented me with a bottle of '07 Pinot Noir ($20), lighter than the '06 with much more complex tastes and a very nice finish with a hint of fig.
I rounded a corner and ran in to the folks from Anthony Dell Cellars. They share space in McMinnville with my friend Rebecca Pitock -Shouldis who makes wine for Ghost Hill Cellars so we have known each other for a while. They were quick to give a bottle of '07 Rio Red ($22)and one of the '07 Pinot Noir($30). They also threw in a cool hat and two pieces of fine stem ware.
I stopped over at Hood River Vineyards and Winery with a special request. Last year they gave a bottle of their 1998 Zinfandel Port($38) and I used it as one of the prizes on the tables. It went for a lot of money so I decided to ask again. This time they gave me two.   They are one of the oldest wineries in the gorge. It was established in 1981 and has been a family operation the whole time.
In 1979 I bought a Tempernio from Bernard and kept it down for 7 years. When we opened it the wine was absolutely wonderful.
I made a stop at Pyrenees Vineyard and Cellars' booth and said hello. I was just there and was told by Dick that the estate wines would be in for the Festival so I took a chance and ask Jazz if I could have one along with the other one Dick had given down at the tasting room. She said yeas so I got a nice bottle of the very first wines produced from the estate, a '06 Cabernet Sauvignon. from their tasting notes:
A decadent bouquet of plum, blackberry and tobacco, with layers of dark fruit on the mid palate, ending with an alluring finish that goes on and on and on...
 How can I describe the next, and last acquisition of the day? I was completely taken by a sweet and cheerful woman who said she wanted me to try the wines in her booth made by Vinn Distillery. They were rice wines, but unlike any I have had before, and I have had a few, as for back as Viet Nam in 1969. these were out of this world! She gave me a  red, called Mijiu Fire and the white called Mujiu Ice. The red is made with black rice and spices while the white is made with brown rice. The tastes were unlike anny I have had and I will be interested in visiting their distillery to learn more. and to ask Michelle more about the wine.
Well, I am about typed out for the day so the nest trip will be to Amity and Carlton on Wednesday.

Jacksonville,Medford, and Grass Pants, part three of three

Let's see, where was I? Oh yes, flying pigs!

I left Devitt and drove down the road to Wooldridge Creek Vineyard and Winery visit Greg Paneitz and beg him for a bottle of his best. Didn't take much begging to get an excellent bottle of  '07 Syrah ($32), and as a treat, he also gave the newly released '08 Pinot Noir ($36) . Linda and I have been coming down to Ashland for years to attend the Shakespeare festival and a few years ago we were lunching at Allyson's and met Greg and Cara doing a wine tasting. The next day we drove to the winery and became wine club members and have been enjoying the wines every since.
One of the cool things about them is that they are always looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One way they have come up with is to buy used beer kegs, refit them, and fill them with wine (25 bottles) and inert gas. They use a stainless tap  for wine (Here is Greg with the newly designed Tap Pull). Beer uses brass and that is effected by the acids in the wine due to its copper component. The systems are sold complete and all the bar or other outlet has to do is have the tank refilled. The cost savings are enormous due to the lack of waste, bottle storage, breakage, etc. Standing Stone
in Ashland, Four Daughters in Medford, The Craterian Theater in Medford (16 taps for the intermission crowd), and The Melting Pot in Portland has installed the system. Look for the article in the Oregonian on the 2nd of March, I will link it from here and from news.
They also only use American made bottles with a thinner glass and smaller punts.
getting back to the really important stuff: WINE!
Greg let me taste a number of their wines beginning with an '08 Rose': Melon and Strawberry in the nose AND on the palate. Nice semi-sweet finish.
The Warwick '08 White Wine: White peach and vanilla in the nose and smooth ripe peach and pear with a little hint of honey in the mouth. Tannins, from being left on the skins, give it a complex and very pleasant mouthfeel. This is a keeper, unusual for a white.
Now the '08 Pinot Noir ($36): Chocolate covered cherry smell right out of the box, caramel, blueberry and black currents with a strawberry after taste. Nice tannins, great mouthfeel. I may bid on this one myself!
The '07 Syrah:($32): BIG nose! Black fruit with slight plum note over black current and a smokey undertone. Last was the '07 Tempernio: Tobacco, earth, chocolate and black fruit with bits of bright cherry. Very drinkable.
I bid Greg farewell and driving out of the winery, got this shot. You have to love Oregon weather, it was raining in Medford and Jacksonville.
Rosella's Vineyard and Winery was open and had a bottle waiting for me, a non-vintage Red Wine Blend ($18) that tastes like every grape it is made from. Strawberry, blackberry, chocolate, pepper, and a nice bite. I would match this with a good Parmesan cheese over red sauced pasta!
They are also pursuing the kegged wine concept. This is very exciting and is a good competitor to the California box wines.
I also tasted a really nice '06 Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine is aged in American oak, has great tannins, a complex structure, and great berry and earth notes. Good for at least ten years.
My last stop is one of the prettiest wineries around, and they just keep adding new things. The new tasting room is beautiful! Cal spent some time tastinga few of the wines as his staff left to get ready for one of the many events they have.
We started with a '07 Merlot that just got gold at the Chronicle tasting in San Fransisco. Lots of red cane berry in the mouth with a hint of red cherry, currents, and strawberry, with anise and clove in the back of the nose. Herby nose up front. Lovely wine.
The '07 Syrah is filled with big ripe berry and dark fruit, with a very subtla hint of pine. A little peper and spice. Long smooth finish.
The blended red, Soulea is a big earthy red with a pleasing ripe taste. Great for the purposes Cal and I were putting it to.
The last wine I tasted is what Cal donated, a wonderful '07 Cabernet Sauvignon that had all the right qualities. Firm structue with deep smooth black fruit and very slight  notes of tobacco and earth. Unfolds as it hits different parts of your moth. Very nice wine.

Time to drive back to Eugene.

Jacksonville, Medford, and Grass Pants, part two of three

Oh what a beautiful morning! raining in Medford and Jacksonville but as I entered the Applegate Valley, the clouds opened and the sun began to shine.
I had a loose appointment with Bill at Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden and had a really pleasant drive through the southern valley. Cow Horn is a biodynamic vineyard that produces award winning wines. Northwest Palette says: There’s much buzz about biodynamics in the Northwest wine world. A kind of über-organic agriculture discipline, it sees the farm as a holistic energy system, and demands extra time, care, and commitment from the farmer. If you want to know how good biodynamically grown and made wine can taste, seek out this wine from Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden in Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley. (more) 

Bill offered up a bottle of the Spiral 36($18) a Rhône-style white blend of Viognier, Roussane, and Marsanne. 
He also offered a tour and tasting for six as an auction item. He was getting ready to bottle but was happy to show me around and show me the new area of vineyards they are planting. He was also excited about an article about the recycling programs they have for bottles and corks. Watch the video here
They have their own bottling line and they were cleaning it while I was there. There is a LOT of cleaning involved in winemaking, mostly to control unwanted yeasts. I did not want to hold him up so I took off to my next stop, Valley View Winery. They 
don't open until 11:00 so I stopped at the Outpost for some great chili and conversation with Tiffany, the owner the Outpost and the Feed store. She has been working on this project for a year. After the former tenet left she decided to take a chance. While I was there she sold  a fishing license and tag, and got a request for a bunch of washers by a guy working on his boat. Stop by for a visit and say hello.

 When I got to Valley View Winery I had time to taste while waiting for Mark Wisnovsky the President, to get out of his meeting.  Sarah led me through tastings of:
'08 Viognier: Lower in alcohol, fresh nose of bright fruit and vanilla and peach on the tongue. Nice finish.
Anna Maria Chardonnay 2007: Very nice. After 30 years of winemaking they still have it right! Nose of citrus, pineapple, and with a taste of vanilla, fresh pineapple, and butterscotch. I recommend it with crab cakes.
Anna Maria Syrah Rogue Valley 2006: 2 years in oak give this a slight maple syrup, dark black cherry, and ripe plum, back taste of plum and spice.
 Anna Maria Merlot 2004: 9 months in oak give this a nice sweet butter under taste with black current and a great acid/sugar balance.
Anna Maria Cabernet Sauvignon 2006: This one wins Gold at this weekends Newport Wine and Seafood festival!  Black cherry and ripe plum, overtones of vanilla, and earth with aftertaste of vanilla and plum. Really a great wine!
Mark came out of his meeting and after some consideration, gave a bottle of the '06 Cabernet Sauvignon($24). One of my all time favorite Cabs came from Valley View way back in 1978.I had just returned from Germany for a visit before coming back permanently and drove my little 912 down to Ashland for a play and made a stop at one of the only wineries around. Anne sold me a case of the 1976 Cab and I got stung on the wrist by a hornet and dropped a bottle. What a waste! I wish I still had a bottle of that one.

Next stop, Fiasco. I interrupted Pamela, who was looking for a little solitude and instead, got me. If you have not been to visit them, go soon! The tasting room, their ideas, and the wine, are all worth the trip. They have a dirt floor, wine in barrels, and they sell jugs to the locals just like they do in Europe, where you can refill your jar of house wine. Very clever. Pamela led me though several of the wines from both Fiasco and from Jacksonville Winery which they also own. They donated one bottle from each winery.
From Fiasco, '05 Cabernet Sauvignon($38): Aged 38 months in French oak, this Cabernet is 85% Cab Sauv and 15% Merlot. Straw and earth with berry on the nose, rich plum and cherry with notes of vanilla and sage, cedar and toasted bread.
From Jacksonville Vineyard, '06 Merlot : Aged in oak for 30 months. Annis, clove, and sweet beery nose, lots of dry plum and dark berry flavors. Nice lasting finish.
I also recommend the '06 Super Tuscan, very good lighter red with great acid balance. Try it with Red sauce!  Really, all the wines I tasted were good to great. They are frequent award winners and should be a for sure stop on your trips South.

I did not get to taste at Longsword Vineyard but Tony gave me a bottle of their Accolade, a sparkling wine made originally for a family wedding but continued because of the demand. Love this one. We had some a few years ago when the tasting room was out by the road in a little fruit stand!
 I ask Matthew Sorensen about the rocks I had seen on the way in under the rows and he said "Got lots of rocks and this keeps the weeds down, keeps the vines warm, and collects moisture." It may take him a while to do all the rows but like he said, lots of rocks. Looks cool also!Devitt Winery is lust up the road and has a long history in wine. Brendon gave a gift certificate good foe ANY bottle(up to $35) of their wine. His grandfather, who owned and made wine for Pope Valley Winery in Napa, makes all the wines and they are tasty indeed!
Tasting the wines was a treat.The '07 Precipice: A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Zin, this wine gives up cane berry, chocolate, and spice to the nose,  with pepper front and back, and black current and sweet cherry notes.
Next came a smokey berry filled '07 Syrah with a rich mouthfeel and hints fo burnt sugar on the sides of the tongue.
My favorite is the '05 Cabernet Sauvignon: Black currents over dry blackberry and hint of sweet plum. Very good wine with lots of subtle flavors unfolding as you sip. I did not taste the 2007 Le Petite Oink" Labled and bottled as "WHEN PIGS FLY" but I plan on acquiring a bottle for a very good friend as a gift. He collects pigs and is one of the finest winemakers in Oregon, and he has a sense of humor!