Give yourself a pat on the back if you know or like any of the following 5 west coast wines. These are all a good value and not so known so if you have a chance to taste them, do.
Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Blanc (Oregon) - I really noted the meyer lemon scent of this wine right off the first note and vintner Todd Hamina also pointed out a great apricot smell lying in wait as well. There is even a light floral quality. Simply put it has an amazing nose. I am not a big fan of Pinot Blanc but have had this wine 3 times and once lined up against other old world Pinot Blanc. It stood up to the test too. Its young and lean, with definite flavors of meyer lemons and some apricot, with an evaporative finish that both surprised me and that I enjoyed. Easy to drink this seems like a good summer wine, crisp and light, straw gold, and with flavors easy to enjoy but that don't linger. Two great additional qualities to this wine - the label looks lke a 60's or 70's formica floor :) and its a real value - $ 15/bottle
J. Christopher Cristo Irresisto 2006 Oregon Pink Wine (Oregon) - Don't turn up your nose to pink wine is the lesson with this to me. This was a very limited production wine of only Pinot Noir grapes not allowed to stay with the skins. The result, an exciting and sophisiticated Rose style wine that has the depth of scent and legs of a Pinot Noir but with flavors of strawberries and dry minerals. This wine is not colored like a pink wine either but golden in color with a pinkish tinge to it. When describing this wine to a friend I told her "its easy like Sunday morning". I think you should hum a few bars of that song while tasting this wine done Very right. If you are lucky enough to find any left call me at 503-555-5555 so I can buy it before you. ;) Perfect with that Sunday omelette or even some BBQ steelhead. A complete find for the tastes and value - $ 13/bottle
Maysara 2006 Roseena Rose (Oregon) - Like the prior wine a lesson learned here too. I grew up thinking Rose was a blend from Sutter Home sticky sweet wimpy wine from a box. Now I am eager to try Rose from France or from Vintners who can do it right. This Rose is actually from Todd Hamina before he left to start his own vineyard. It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. The color could best be described as watermelon juice pink (and yes I am stealing that description from the local wine shop as it fits well). I had this wine with a brunch of a Jack Cheese and spinach omelette with baked shallot strings and fresh diced tomato. The wine was warm bodied and had a relaxed drink of rasberries and strawberries with floral tones and a straw tasting lean lift at the finish. Try it with BBQ spare ribs too - I did and oh yeah! Very fun and a value again $ 13/bottle
Switching gears here...
Cana (pronounced Kane-ah) 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabs can hit or miss with me easily; sometimes being too full or over flavored in my opinion with leather, chocolate, smoke, et al. That is why I was glad to taste this wine from Contra Costa County CA. Plenty of plums with a taste of cedar in the finish this wine really left its mark on me. I thought it had a subtle but deep nose of fruit and something more I couldn't pick out. Good structure, full body, with a smooth deep mouthfeel to it of dark silk. The real suprise in this wine to me was again the value - $ 17-18/bottle. It certainly tasted like a wine at higher cost.
Farella Park 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - I'm throwing in a bit of a heavy hitter here in my opinion . Its not a value wine as the others at around $32/bottle. However this inky dark Cab from California is one that if you like the style of Cabs of the 70's & 80's you should find a way to taste. Its black velvet feel, deep forest tannins, plus currant and very ripe fruit flavors. It has great finish too with a peppery woodsy leave in the mouth. Big and full bodied its one I feel will really show you a strong contender in a California Cab. If you find a tasting I recommend trying. $$
I hope you enjoyed reading about this fab value 5. More to come soon and after next week I might even be almost or competely caught up!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
In Defense of Oregon Grape
After mentioning how much I have liked the wines of Burgundy one might think I have simply dismissed my home and state I love. Not so, there are many Oregon wines I am also ecstatic about. I think in being new to Burgundian wine it intrigues me and attracts my attention with an old word palate. Oregon soil simply is not the same. That does not however mean you have to search abroad for quality wine.
J. Christopher 2005 Sandra Adele Pinot Noir - This is a wonderful representation of an Oregon Pinot Noir from a Vintner I had not had before. When I took my first initial nasal inhale it warmed me to scents of old tractor axel, farmyard, and wonderful ripe cherries and berries drug through leaves. I loved the interesting layered nose! It has good structure and alcohol from start through finish, with a wonderful taste of ripe fruit/berries and perhaps even a bit of smokeyness or summer blooms? This is a wine drinking very well right now and if you want a local wine sure to impress I am hard pressed to think of an '05 that you could do better with. Buy now and drink now before its gone. $$ 30-36/bottle
Erath 2006 Estate Select Pinot Noir - I tried this wine up at Erath next to their more standard store sold Pinot Noir as well as two premier more expensive Select Erath Pinot Noirs. This one easily out did its other Erath Pinot Noirs. This wine is what I would call a standard bearer of many Oregon Pinot Noir. It has the qualities I think of... Black cherries on the nose, nice color but with a deep hue, bold ripe full cherries, raspberries, and garden herbs in the taste, with solid structure, and nice moderate finish. If you had a person you wanted to describe Oregon Pinot Noir to this would be a good way to go. No unusual scent or tastes here, just a quality wine ready for the glass. After my tasting I also found out that this wine was rated 99th/100 of the top 2006 wines of the world. Now I dont know which rating system so take such for what its worth - personally I buy from what I like not from a number (unless its cost). $$ 30-35/bottle.
J. Christopher 2005 Sandra Adele Pinot Noir - This is a wonderful representation of an Oregon Pinot Noir from a Vintner I had not had before. When I took my first initial nasal inhale it warmed me to scents of old tractor axel, farmyard, and wonderful ripe cherries and berries drug through leaves. I loved the interesting layered nose! It has good structure and alcohol from start through finish, with a wonderful taste of ripe fruit/berries and perhaps even a bit of smokeyness or summer blooms? This is a wine drinking very well right now and if you want a local wine sure to impress I am hard pressed to think of an '05 that you could do better with. Buy now and drink now before its gone. $$ 30-36/bottle
Erath 2006 Estate Select Pinot Noir - I tried this wine up at Erath next to their more standard store sold Pinot Noir as well as two premier more expensive Select Erath Pinot Noirs. This one easily out did its other Erath Pinot Noirs. This wine is what I would call a standard bearer of many Oregon Pinot Noir. It has the qualities I think of... Black cherries on the nose, nice color but with a deep hue, bold ripe full cherries, raspberries, and garden herbs in the taste, with solid structure, and nice moderate finish. If you had a person you wanted to describe Oregon Pinot Noir to this would be a good way to go. No unusual scent or tastes here, just a quality wine ready for the glass. After my tasting I also found out that this wine was rated 99th/100 of the top 2006 wines of the world. Now I dont know which rating system so take such for what its worth - personally I buy from what I like not from a number (unless its cost). $$ 30-35/bottle.
Ruby Red Sippers
To continue with my tastings of Burgundy I wanted to recommend a couple of red Burgundy. Fortunately these two do not have the cost of the prior white Burgundy. Burgundy can run ya deep into your pocket book! These are both very good value for the cost however and I prefer them both to many Northwest Pinot Noir and also over later Oregon Pinot that I will list.
Guillemot Savigny Serpentier 1er Cru 2005 - Wow this is an athletic wine I thought when I first tried it. It really gives a big berry forward push into the mouth. It has a very nice moderate body and wonderful Burgundian mineral nature with a mouthfeel of silky smooth garnet colored silk sheets. Great flavors with lingering cherries and kirsch on the tongue but a bit gravelly at the finish. I would think cellaring this wine for a few years or so and it should be quite outstanding. On the high side of $$ around 40/bottle
Regis Bouvier 2005 En Montre Cul Burgogne - When I took my initial aroma hit of this wine I was hit over the head with a soft giant blackberry! Then as my senses calmed I noted a wonderful brambly smell of leaves and tannins like being deep in a brier. This wine is certainly cellarable and in 5-15 years should develop further, but it is approachable now and at the low side of $$ (20-25/bottle) its a real steal of a wine!
I have now had this wine 4 times since Christmas and only was disapointed once when it took forever to open up. Its great with a whole roasted thyme chicken and is a foodie wine that makes me feel like I am sitting in the french countryside with a provincial meal and glass of happiness. This is another wine brought in through Kermitt Lynch by the way.
(If you speak French yes that is the real name on the bottle of the wine) :)
Guillemot Savigny Serpentier 1er Cru 2005 - Wow this is an athletic wine I thought when I first tried it. It really gives a big berry forward push into the mouth. It has a very nice moderate body and wonderful Burgundian mineral nature with a mouthfeel of silky smooth garnet colored silk sheets. Great flavors with lingering cherries and kirsch on the tongue but a bit gravelly at the finish. I would think cellaring this wine for a few years or so and it should be quite outstanding. On the high side of $$ around 40/bottle
Regis Bouvier 2005 En Montre Cul Burgogne - When I took my initial aroma hit of this wine I was hit over the head with a soft giant blackberry! Then as my senses calmed I noted a wonderful brambly smell of leaves and tannins like being deep in a brier. This wine is certainly cellarable and in 5-15 years should develop further, but it is approachable now and at the low side of $$ (20-25/bottle) its a real steal of a wine!
I have now had this wine 4 times since Christmas and only was disapointed once when it took forever to open up. Its great with a whole roasted thyme chicken and is a foodie wine that makes me feel like I am sitting in the french countryside with a provincial meal and glass of happiness. This is another wine brought in through Kermitt Lynch by the way.
(If you speak French yes that is the real name on the bottle of the wine) :)
Blanc or Rouge Its all Beautiful Burgundy to me
My first White Burgundy were from vintner Francois Jobard. I have to say I have yet to have tasting from this vintner I did not flip over. Welcome to heaven on the palate!!
Francois Jobard 2004 Burgogne Blanc (White Burgundy) - This is a classic Chardonnay. Not like what some may think of the Australian or Oregon Chardonnay. There are many complex layers of various swirled citrus, vanilla, oak, and with a wonderfully minerally nature to the wine much NW wine lacks. I have often found Chardonnay to be acrid, chalky, and uneven but this was wonderful. This makes US Chardonnay I have had seem like a cousin thrice removed. However its not inexpensive - $$$$
Next the 2005 Francois Jobard Meursault en la Barre - my oh my! - with flavors and aroma of wet gravel, sour mash, crisp golden apples, mild vanilla, oak, & heaven in a bottle; this one is gonna cost ya - I'd sell my soul for a case of this wine and it would cost that much to get one! $$$$
Both of these wines are imported through Kermitt Lynch Wine Importer - you can look them up online to find a dealer in your area to ask if they have or will be doing tastings of these wonderful burgundy chardonnay grapes done oh so right. Find them and taste them soon before they are all bought up!
Francois Jobard 2004 Burgogne Blanc (White Burgundy) - This is a classic Chardonnay. Not like what some may think of the Australian or Oregon Chardonnay. There are many complex layers of various swirled citrus, vanilla, oak, and with a wonderfully minerally nature to the wine much NW wine lacks. I have often found Chardonnay to be acrid, chalky, and uneven but this was wonderful. This makes US Chardonnay I have had seem like a cousin thrice removed. However its not inexpensive - $$$$
Next the 2005 Francois Jobard Meursault en la Barre - my oh my! - with flavors and aroma of wet gravel, sour mash, crisp golden apples, mild vanilla, oak, & heaven in a bottle; this one is gonna cost ya - I'd sell my soul for a case of this wine and it would cost that much to get one! $$$$
Both of these wines are imported through Kermitt Lynch Wine Importer - you can look them up online to find a dealer in your area to ask if they have or will be doing tastings of these wonderful burgundy chardonnay grapes done oh so right. Find them and taste them soon before they are all bought up!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Getting caught up
I am getting so behind in getting posts up - apologies. The longer I wait the more people will have to read to catch up. I hope you take the time to do so though and I will try to keep posts short and pertinent.
To start I will venture to the wines of Burgundy. The tastings I have been attending have really opened my palate to Burgundies both white and red. There are some Tremendous wines from this region. They can unfortunately be costly but not all are and in some instances I have found what I consider much superior wines to Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the same or less cost. I was a firm believer in NW wines for a long time but take note Oregon Vintners many of you still just miss the mark.
A brief note for those not familiar with wines from this region. Red Burgundy is Pinot Noir grapes and White Burgundies are Chardonnay grapes. Oregon Vinters have traditionally labeled their bottles with the grape but in Burgundy you will typically see vintage, vintner, and region information. Kind of fun once you realize you know what you are drinking. :)
On to the tastings...
To start I will venture to the wines of Burgundy. The tastings I have been attending have really opened my palate to Burgundies both white and red. There are some Tremendous wines from this region. They can unfortunately be costly but not all are and in some instances I have found what I consider much superior wines to Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the same or less cost. I was a firm believer in NW wines for a long time but take note Oregon Vintners many of you still just miss the mark.
A brief note for those not familiar with wines from this region. Red Burgundy is Pinot Noir grapes and White Burgundies are Chardonnay grapes. Oregon Vinters have traditionally labeled their bottles with the grape but in Burgundy you will typically see vintage, vintner, and region information. Kind of fun once you realize you know what you are drinking. :)
On to the tastings...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The path to grape expectations
It has been some time since I have had names and vintages that I could rely on. I admit to having strayed to the beer side for a while. :) And in Oregon - why not!?! Still when a new local shop opened just 2 blocks from my work with tasting every Friday night it was the perfect reason to educate myself and expand my tastes. I have not missed a Friday in over 2 months since I first went there.
This blog will list the wines I am tasting, and as stated in the header to have those reading to go hopefully find a way to taste the wines. I also encourage you to find a place in your locale where you can consistently go and taste wines and ask lots of questions. I have been very fortunate to find a purveyor that meets that for me. He even puts up with my sometimes very uneducated questions and has been very helpful in furthering my knowledge.
I wont list wines here I don't like as I don't see the point in that. These are wines with interesting stories that left a mark on me. I will try to be very descriptive as well in my opinions and include cost and in my opinion value of the wines. Here is the costs key:
$ 0-20
$$ 20-40
$$$ 40-60
$$$$ 60-100 or more
My wine education is still in its beginnings but I am learning quickly. If you already are very educated hopefully this will expose you to some wine perhaps you have not tried or if you are more the beginner I hope it inspires you as well to the path of grape expectations. :)
This blog will list the wines I am tasting, and as stated in the header to have those reading to go hopefully find a way to taste the wines. I also encourage you to find a place in your locale where you can consistently go and taste wines and ask lots of questions. I have been very fortunate to find a purveyor that meets that for me. He even puts up with my sometimes very uneducated questions and has been very helpful in furthering my knowledge.
I wont list wines here I don't like as I don't see the point in that. These are wines with interesting stories that left a mark on me. I will try to be very descriptive as well in my opinions and include cost and in my opinion value of the wines. Here is the costs key:
$ 0-20
$$ 20-40
$$$ 40-60
$$$$ 60-100 or more
My wine education is still in its beginnings but I am learning quickly. If you already are very educated hopefully this will expose you to some wine perhaps you have not tried or if you are more the beginner I hope it inspires you as well to the path of grape expectations. :)
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