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December 09, 2009

Patricia Green 2008 Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir

Before opening the Patricia Green 2008 Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge (13.6%), I enjoyed reading the bottle's label describing where the grapes were sourced (26 acres of mixed clones planted in 1984) and the vineyard manager who oversees their cultivation. In the glass, this Patricia Green pinot noir was a slightly cloudy garnet red, delivery an earthiness that gave way to red fruit and then to perfumed floral notes. The fruit and floral perfume was then replaced with another level of earth that made this wine very intriguing. Overall, I liked the texture of this wine and its...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:51 PM | | Comments (0)

December 03, 2009

The Eyrie Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

The Eyrie Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills (13.5%) demonstrates astute viticulture and fine craftsmanship relative to its ripe vintage peers. What a terrific wine this was to enjoy over several nights. In the glass, this Eyrie pinot noir was a slight cloudy, ruby red delivering notes of perfumed and floral strawberry fruit, earth, and then cherry. The combination of red fruit and this forest floor component was incredibly enticing. In the mouth, this wine offered a silky texture, with a clear concentration of fruit, but not overwhelming like other Oregon pinot noirs from this same vintage. There were a...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:57 PM | | Comments (0)

November 28, 2009

Connections: Scott Paul Wines

It's only fitting that Scott Paul Wines serve as the inaugural post for my new "Connections" series. This Carlton-based producer truly epitomizes what it means to connect consumers to the larger context offered in wine, especially that which exists between the old and new worlds of winemaking. How does Scott Paul accomplish these connections? First and foremost, Scott Paul has distinguished itself for pouring and selling an ever expanding portfolio of Burgundy wines alongside their Oregon pinot noirs: Cuvée Martha Pirrie, La Paulée and Audrey. Not only does this approach offer a constructive frame of reference to each tasting...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:32 PM | | Comments (1)

November 27, 2009

Profile: The Allison Inn & Spa

If you're planning a visit to the Willamette Valley, then The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg deserves to be at the top of your list of places to stay. Granted, there are less expensive options available in the valley, but for those seeking a more inclusive resort experience, The Allison is it. A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to spend two nights at The Allison (full disclosure: a special rate was provided), which opened in September to considerable fanfare. Why the fuss? Until now, nothing like this hotel and conference center existed in the Willamette Valley....

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Posted by Thad W. at 06:45 AM | | Comments (0)

November 25, 2009

This Thanksgiving, drink what you like, but ask...

It has become clearly gratuitous when wine writers, be they professional, blogger, or otherwise, suggest to you, the consumer, what you should be drinking this Thanksgiving. It's all rubbish, quite frankly, to recommend certain wines, when the fact is that this annual celebration remains one of the only meals when just about any wine suffices, especially knowing the subjective nature of the American palate. For those on the writing side of this equation, I encourage critics, columnists, and bloggers to read, study, and internalize Alder Yarrow's timeless post, "Stop The Thanksgiving Wine Recommendations". As to consumers, I encourage you to...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:27 PM | | Comments (0)

November 22, 2009

Maysara 2007 Pinot Noir "Jamsheed" McMinnville

The Maysara 2007 Pinot Noir "Jamsheed" McMinnville AVA (13.7%) is a clear, garnet red in the glass, delivering dusty bright notes of strawberry fruit giving way to herbs, earth, and curry spice. This Demeter Certified Biodynamic® wine offers a clean, silky mouth feel, with vibrant cherry fruit, bright acidity and an earthy finish. We paired the Maysara "Jamsheed" with a Pagliacci mushroom primo seasonal pizza featuring "wild Chanterelles, woodsy Shiitakes, rich Portobellos and mild Buttons. The mushroom blend accompanies mozzarella and provolone cheeses, onions, freshly roasted red peppers, capers and fresh parsley on olive oil seasoned with thyme and...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:08 PM | | Comments (0)

November 21, 2009

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay Dijon Clone

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay Dijon Clone (14.5%) was a beautiful clear, golden yellow. Aromas of wood, cream, and ripe tropical fruit were a bit overwhelming. Flavors of old, over-ripe pineapple and melon were predominant. This Oregon chardonnay was over-extracted, over-oaked, and over-alcohol. It was far too cloying and viscous for my taste. The only thing pleasing about this wine was its color - the smell and taste made this undrinkable. Unfortunately, it is yet another far too common example of how such...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:47 PM | | Comments (0)

November 19, 2009

WillaKenzie 2007 Chardonnay Clos Marco Willamette Valley

In the glass, the WillaKenzie 2007 Chardonnay Clos Marco Willamette Valley (13.5%) was a very light, greenish gold color, offering notes of pear, melon and yeast on the nose along with minerals and wet stone. This Oregon chardonnay had a very nice texture in the mouth, delivering a mix of crisp acidity and a bit of honey ending in a nice, lasting finish. Flavors of pear and peach were present as well. We paired the WillaKenzie with smoked salmon pasta that was tossed in a sauce of sauteed shallots, olive oil, this wine, and fresh dill. A green leaf...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:28 PM | | Comments (0)

November 17, 2009

It's all inconsistent subjectiveness, folks...

Over the weekend, I had an interesting exchange with a reader who stated that I was "completely wrong" in my evaluation of a particular wine. Even after pointing out the fact that my assessment was purely subjective, this person was bent on trying to prove me wrong, essentially inferring he was right. Let me be clear: there is no right or wrong when it comes to evaluating wine, for smell/taste remains in the nose/mouth of the drinker. Furthermore, a drinker's impressions of wine are rarely consistent when returning to the same bottle. Not convinced? Then I encourage you to read...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:18 PM | | Comments (1)

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir Elton Vineyard

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir Elton Vineyard was a clear, ruby red color delivering floral notes of red and black fruit along with cedar and wood. In the mouth, this Oregon pinot noir was well balanced, with good texture and bright acidity. Tannins were present as was a predominant flavor of oak, even though 20% new French oak was used. We paired the WWV Elton Vineyard with grilled beef tenderloin and sauteed cremini mushrooms served on a bed of egg noodles with...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:45 PM | | Comments (0)

November 15, 2009

WillaKenzie 2008 Pinot Blanc Estate Grown Willamette Valley

The WillaKenzie 2008 Pinot Blanc Estate Willamette Valley (13.8%) was a clear, light green-yellow in the glass delivering floral fruit notes of peach, apricot and apple along with hints of talc and minerals. This Alsatian style pinot blanc offered a rich mouthfeel, with crisp acidity and a slightly sweet finish (.3% residual sugar). We paired this certified sustainable wine with some comfort food: black beans w/sauteed onions on steamed rice with grated cheddar cheese and fresh chopped tomatoes on top. At $18, the WillaKenzie 2008 Pinot Blanc offers a terrific quality-to-price ratio. I am glad to have picked up two...

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Posted by Thad W. at 12:48 PM | | Comments (0)

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Riesling WV

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. The WVV 2007 Riesling Willamette Valley (10%) was a clear. light golden yellow in the glass with faint notes of petrol, wet stone, and minerals. In the mouth, this Oregon riesling offered nice floral honeysuckle flavors with crisp acidity leading to a slightly sweet finish (residual sugar = I found this Willamette Valley Vineyards riesling to be a terrific wine, one that we enjoyed on its own as well as a lead to a various meals over the three nights we tasted it. Depending on where you...

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Posted by Thad W. at 12:32 PM | | Comments (0)

November 13, 2009

La Paulée de Carlton 2009

What a terrific Saturday it was last weekend as a result of my attending the 4th annual La Paulée de Carlton, hosted by Scott Paul Wines. The event kicked off Saturday afternoon at the Scott Paul winery in Carlton, where a packed tasting room was enjoying a variety of new and old world pinot noir (no tastings fees were charged) with various appetizers available as well. Upon entering the place, I was immediately approached by Martha Wright, who along with her husband, Scott, are proprietors of Scott Paul Wines. The warm greeting shown by both Martha and Scott was extended...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:30 PM | | Comments (0)

November 10, 2009

Brick House 2007 Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge

In the glass, the Brick House 2007 Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge (13.5%) was a clear, light golden yellow color with creamy notes of yeast and minerals. Even though the fruit flavors were a bit muted for my taste, this Oregon chardonnay offered nice acidity, good balance, and a delicious finish. While not captivating, it did complement our coq a vin. Overall, I was a bit conflicted with this wine, for I wasn't blown away neither was I turned off. Even at its $29 price point, I would be willing to give this Brick House chardonnay another try. Related Links Katherine...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:31 PM | | Comments (1)

November 09, 2009

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard WV

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard (13.5%) was a clear, golden yellow color offering fleeting hints of pear and pineapple fruit that led to clear notes of vanilla, cream, and nutmeg. In the mouth, this Oregon chardonnay reminded me of egg nog, with its flavors of nutmeg, clove, toast, vanilla and cream. Overall, it was a bit too reduced and creamy for my taste. There was decent acidity in the wine, but the egg nog aspect put me off. We paired this...

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Posted by Thad W. at 10:23 PM | | Comments (1)

November 07, 2009

A fall weekend in the Willamette Valley

The wet, windy weather aside, this has been a terrific two days in the northern Willamette Valley. You can expect a number of posts on where my travels took me and the experiences I had soon. In the meantime, here's a quick run down of the people met and places visited this weekend. On Friday, I had a nice visit with Todd Hamina of Biggio Hamina as well as Dean and Ann Fisher of ADEA in Gaston. I then met up with Steve Lutz of Lenné Estate in Yamhill. Capping off the day, I had a wonderful dinner at...

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Posted by Thad W. at 11:30 PM | | Comments (0)

November 05, 2009

Kung Fu Girl 2008 Riesling Washington State

At $12, the Kung Fu Girl 2008 Riesling Washington State (12.5%) offers a terrific quality-to-price ratio. In the glass, this Washington riesling was a clear, light straw color, delivering notes of pineapple, citrus, honeysuckle and then a bit of Bazooka bubble gum (no kidding). In the mouth, the Kung Fu Girl riesling has a fullness to it, but not viscous or cloying. The floral, honey characteristics are first evident, followed by well-balanced, crisp acidity, and then a lasting finish that seemed to bring all of these disparate pieces back together. We enjoyed this wine on its own before dinner...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:24 PM | | Comments (0)

Brick House 2007 Cuvee du Tonnelier Pinot Noir

Plain and simple, the Brick House 2007 Cuvée du Tonnelier Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge (13.4%) is a terrific wine. In the glass, this Oregon pinot noir was a light, cloudy ruby red offering spice, then strawberry and raspberry, followed by wet earth on the nose. In the mouth, the Brick House Cuvée du Tonnelier delivered terrific red berry fruit flavors, great acidity, and a long delicious finish. A myriad of flavors continued to be discovered as this wonderful wine evolved in the glass. We paired it with two hearty soups, a white bean chicken and a black bean chili. This...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:54 PM | | Comments (0)

November 01, 2009

Paul Gregutt makes a case for Oregon riesling

In today's Pacific Northwest magazine, Paul Gregutt offers recommendations for three mixed cases of wine, one of which is comprised of rieslings from Washington and Oregon. It appears Gregutt has developed a certain fondness for Oregon riesling just as I have over the past year. Here is an excerpt from Gregutt's introduction to his mixed case of Pacific Northwest riesling: Washington has reclaimed riesling as a signature grape, but it also thrives up and down the coast. These days, I am especially fond of Oregon rieslings, which are widely available at winery tasting rooms, but not always brought up to...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:32 PM | | Comments (0)

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Dry Riesling WV

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Dry Riesling Willamette Valley (11%) was a clear, light gold color, offering notes of petrol, honeysuckle, strong minerality, especially wet stone. In the mouth, the WWV riesling delivered bright acidity creating a crisp, clean texture wrapped with delicious fruit flavors leading to a pleasingly long finish. We drank this wine first on its own and then alongside a salad, which was comprised of green leaf lettuce, thinly sliced Washington honeycrisp apples, red grapes, oil and vinegar. I really enjoyed...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:12 PM | | Comments (0)

Arcane Cellars 2008 Riesling Willamette Valley

In the glass, the Arcane Cellars 2008 Riesling Wheatland Estate WV (11.5%) was a clear, light yellow straw color, delivering signature petrol as well as floral and mineral aromas to the nose. I really liked the crisp acidity combined with the off-dry finish, all surrounded by delicious fruit and mineral flavors. We enjoyed this Oregon riesling with Tuscan white bean soup, which had a nice spicy kick to it. The Arcane Cellars '08 riesling was a delicious compliment to our meal. At $15, this is a wine worth buying several bottles to enjoy with any type of spicy food...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:52 PM | | Comments (0)

October 26, 2009

Domaine Drouhin 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

In the glass, the Domaine Drouhin 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.9%) was a clear, garnet red with high toned cherry fruit and dusty hints of menthol on the nose. This Oregon pinot noir offered a full mouth feel with black cherry and blackberry flavors balanced with nice acidity and a bit of a sweet finish. After being opened for 24 hours, the menthol scent faded while the acidity seemed to brighten. On the first night, we paired this Domaine Drouhin with a Greek stew and a red cabbage and carrot slaw. The next evening we paired it with...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:06 PM | | Comments (0)

October 25, 2009

Introducing "Connections" on BeyondtheBottle.com

BeyondtheBottle.com's genesis arose from the notion that wine was something more than just a beverage, that in each bottle opened a story should be shared about the people, places, and period supporting its creation. It is this story that serves to connect us to something larger and deeper, not only about ourselves but also the world we inhabit. To this day, it amazes me how this notion is lost on many producers, who craft a quality wine, yet come up short in terms of sharing a story behind their product. Far too often, there is little, if anything, offered...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:28 AM | | Comments (3)

October 24, 2009

Celebrating David Lake's Legacy

I never had the honor of meeting David Lake, but I had the pleasure of enjoying his wine for many years, with two memories clearly standing out with these experiences. One of the most enjoyable Washington wine experiences was at a Taste WA seminar entitled, "An Ode to David Lake". The flight featured eight wines, including an '83 Cellarmaster's Riesling, a '91 Otis Vineyard Cab, a '92 Red Willow Cab, and a '95 Red Willow Syrah, each matched to a more recent release. I will never forget that 1983 Cellarmaster's Riesling Columbia Valley (9.1%), a wine that offered a transformative...

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Posted by Thad W. at 03:28 PM | | Comments (0)

October 18, 2009

Trust Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

I wish more Washington producers made wine in the style of the Trust Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley (13.8%). In the glass, this 80% cab and 20% merlot blend was a deep dark red providing black fruit perfume followed by spice, pepper and then earth. In the mouth, the Trust offered bright black cherry fruit flavors with good acidity and a nice long, captivating finish. We paired this delicious wine with a meal straight out of last month's Saveur magazine, grilled lamb chops with mint salsa verde. Our rack of lamb was seasoned with Kosher salt, pepper and...

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Posted by Thad W. at 02:54 PM | | Comments (1)

October 17, 2009

Review: clarklewis Restaurant

If there is one way to sum up our experience at clarklewis, then it would have to be about wood. Outside the restaurant, you are greeted by a wonderfully fragrant smell of burning wood. Once inside the front door, you come to face-to-face with the source of this smell: split logs of different types of wood awaiting to fuel the hearth/rotisserie that will cook your meal. Besides wood, one is immediately taken by the industrial design of this former loading dock and the open-air nature of the place, all of which make for a very comfortable, spacious dining experience....

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Posted by Thad W. at 03:51 PM | | Comments (0)

Rediscovering Chardonnay

Over the last few months, I have been drinking a lot of chardonnay from France as well as a number of select wines from Oregon and Washington. As a result, I am starting to realize what a wonderful variety this is when cultivated and crafted in a style that effectively reveals the beauty inside this captivating grape. I subscribe to the notion that chardonnay's beauty is best expressed when fermented in stainless steel or used oak barrels. In fact, there is nothing that turns me off more than an over-oaked, syrupy, high-octane chardonnay. My preference in these wines ranges from...

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Posted by Thad W. at 12:52 PM | | Comments (0)

October 13, 2009

St. Innocent 2007 Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard Willamette Valley

In the glass, the St. Innocent 2007 Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard Willamette Valley (%) was a clear, light yellow color with hints of pear, minerals, and lemon on the nose. I really enjoyed this Oregon chardonnay, which offered terrific acidity and mineral characteristics along with an ever so slightly creamy texture in the finish. We enjoyed this wine over two consecutive dinners, one a homemade chicken pot pie and the other pasta aioli. At $23, the St. Innocent chardonnay offers a decent quality-to-price ratio, one that would prompt me to pick up another bottle or two. Related Links St....

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:10 PM | | Comments (0)

Evesham Wood 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

The Evesham Wood 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13%) is usually one of several early releases coming out of Oregon, with this bottle being my second taste of the '08 vintage. In the glass, the Evesham Wood was a clear, garnet red with big cherry fruit on the nose followed by earth and spice. This Oregon pinot noir offered nice red berry fruit flavors (mostly cherry) and a very smooth texture. It was bit flat for lack of acidity. We paired this wine with homemade thin crust pizza and an arugula salad. At $18, this is a very approachable...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:57 PM | | Comments (0)

October 11, 2009

Evening Land "Celebration" 2007 Gamay Noir Eola-Amity Hills

The Celebration 2007 Gamay Noir Eola-Amity Hills (12.8%) was a clear, light ruby red in the glass with muted red fruit on the nose (plum?) along with hints of licorice and fennel. In the mouth, this Oregon gamay noir offered decent fruit but threw a bit of a curve ball on the finish. It was hard to put my finger on it, but it took a funky, slightly herbaceous detour with every sip. We paired the Celebration gamay noir with grilled Korean sesame chicken thighs, baby bok choy, and steamed rice. The acidity in this wine matched well with...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:59 PM | | Comments (0)

Foundry Vineyards 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

The Foundry Vineyards 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley (13.9%) was a deep garnet red in the glass, delivering these floral notes of black fruit (e.g., cherry and blackberry) followed by earthy, wood scents. In the mouth, this Walla Walla cabernet was a well balanced wine, offering good fruit, terrific acidity, and a long delicious finish. We paired this wine with Italian sausage, onions, and tomato ragu served on soft polenta. A hearty dish that matched well with this food-friendly cab. This wine retails for $30, but lucky for me, I received a bottle as a gift from my father-in-law,...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:45 PM | | Comments (0)

Ken Wright Cellars 2007 Pinot Blanc Willamette Valley

In the glass, the Ken Wright Cellars 2007 Pinot Blanc Willamette Valley (12%) was a clear, light yellow color with ripe tropical fruit, minerals, and yeast notes being most predominant. In the mouth, this wine had a funky twang to it, which wasn't pleasing. I found the Ken Wright pinot blanc made in style that wasn't to my liking. There was little of the fresh, floral fruit one gets with pinot blanc. And this wine was far too viscous and cloying with a off-putting finish to boot. At $24, there are better and more inexpensive Oregon pinot blancs I...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:33 PM | | Comments (0)

October 03, 2009

Round 3 Recos: Oregon 2007 Pinot Noir

With these "Round 3" recommendations, another twenty-nine bottles of Oregon pinot noir from the 2007 vintage have been opened and evaluated at my dinner table. This brings the grand total of coverage to sixty-six '07 pinots that have been tried with a meal these last nine months. From the first eighteen bottles of Round 1, through another nineteen wines in Round 2, and then finally with those comprising Round 3, I have remained a big fan of the 2007 vintage. In covering these wines, no speed tastings were held nor were any product samples used. Each and every bottle...

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Posted by Thad W. at 02:44 PM | | Comments (0)

Antica Terra 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

As part of my "Round 3" line up of Oregon pinots, the Antica Terra 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) was not only the final bottle to be opened, but also the most expensive at $45. As such, there was considerable anticipation in giving this wine a try, for I had heard favorable things about its quality. In the glass, the Antica Terra 2007 Pinot Noir was a clear, medium garnet red delivering bright strawberry and raspberry fruit notes combined with a dusty earthiness. In the mouth, this Willamette Valley pinot noir offered red fruit flavors and acidity that...

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Posted by Thad W. at 02:10 PM | | Comments (0)

Love & Squalor 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

In the glass, the Love & Squalor 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.2%) is a clear, medium garnet red color, offering red berry fruit notes with menthol and earth. The menthol, which was initially as strong as eucalyptus, eventually blew off. In the mouth, this Oregon pinot noir offered good fruit with balanced acidity, making it a nice, food friendly wine. I have drunk this wine on two separate occasions, with the most recent experience revealing the notes and flavors described above. The first experience I had was ordering a bottle at clarklewis during a weekend trip to Portland....

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Posted by Thad W. at 01:39 PM | | Comments (0)

September 30, 2009

Well-deserved praise for WA and OR riesling

In today's NY Times wine column, Eric Asimov reviews twenty dry rieslings, with five of the top ten comprised of Washington wines along with one from Oregon. This is well-deserved praise for what I believe is one of our region's standout varieties. In fact, I couldn't agree more with Asimov's assessment of several of the wines on his list of recommendations: the 2005 Belle Pente, which I posted about last week, the 2008 Kung Fu Girl, which I have enjoyed on more than one occasion, and the 2007 Eroica, a bottle I had with dinner at Wild Ginger a couple...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:57 PM | | Comments (0)

September 28, 2009

Trust Cellars 2007 Syrah Walla Walla Valley

In the glass, the Trust Cellars 2007 Syrah Walla Walla Valley (14.4%) is a deep, dark purple with reddish tint on the edges. Blackberry and cherry fruit notes are combined with a rich earthiness to the nose. This Walla Walla Valley syrah is a well balanced wine offering black fruit flavors and food-friendly acidity. I was pleased that the fruit was not over-ripe nor was the oak overplayed. There was a bit of tannin coming off of the small amount of cabernet sauvignon (11%) blended into this wine. Even still, this gave the wine a good structure. I think...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:07 PM | | Comments (2)

September 27, 2009

Beacon Hill 2007 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley

I have to say, it's refreshing when a winery is honest about what they have produced in a bottle of wine. Such is the case with the folks at Beacon Hill, whose label and web site describe the Beacon Hill 2007 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley (13%) in a manner that is consistent with what I experienced: Lightish, nice color, black cherry/ blackberry, poco brick spice. Rose petals, short finish, nice, clean, elegant. This is our only wine made from purchased fruit, with a dash of our own berries to add a little stuffing. Simple and bright in the...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:02 PM | | Comments (0)

Phelps Creek 2007 "Le Petit" Pinot Noir Columbia Gorge

In the glass, the Phelps Creek 2007 "Le Petit" Pinot Noir Columbia Gorge (13.5%) was a ruby red with a slight brickish orange hue on the edge. This suggested the wine might have suffered from a bit of oxidation, possibly due to its screw-top closure becoming compromised. On the nose, there was some fruit but overall it smelled the way a lot of cheap pinot noir does that is grown in areas unsuitable to the task. This signature smell was predominant in the flavors on the palate, which included a metallic taste that led to a sour finish and...

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Posted by Thad W. at 06:28 PM | | Comments (0)

Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

The Belle Pente 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills (12.9%) is hands down one of my top five favorite Oregon pinot noirs from the 2007 vintage. I picked up a bottle of the Belle Ponte Dundee Hills back in July for $22, a bargain price considering how delicious this wine is now and how wonderful it will most likely be after more time in the bottle. In the glass, the Belle Pente was a clear ruby red delivering an earthy funk at first that blew off in due course to reveal strawberry fruit and floral perfume. In the mouth, this...

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Posted by Thad W. at 06:09 PM | | Comments (0)


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