WIDWD: Caramba Carabella!
What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD)
A couple of weeks back, Kari prepared a wonderful dish of slow cooked chicken thighs in chipotle sauce, which were served with steaming tortillas along with fresh tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro. I decided to pair the meal with a Carabella 2005 Pinot Noir (14.2%), a bottle we had enjoyed very much while dining at Tilth restaurant. The Carabella is a full bodied pinot noir and matched very well with the spicy chicken.
The '05 Carabella is made of five pinot noir clones sourced from their 27 acre estate vineyard, which is located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA in the north Willamette Valley. Mike Hallock, founder and winemaker, crafted the first vintage in 1998. Their web site mentions that Mike is a geologist, which offers a certain advantage considering the role soil plays in making great wine.
Just as Kari and I were taken with the Carabella the first time we had it at Tilth, so were her parents when they joined us at our table for the chipotle chicken dinner. It was a wine we all enjoyed for its beautiful red color, deep cherry flavors, complementary acidity, a hint of spiciness and nice tannins. We could not get enough of this wine during our meal - too bad there wasn't another bottle in the cellar. I'll need to head back to Whole Foods soon to pick up another bottle ($39.00). Hope you're able to as well.
Comments
My wife and I add the opportunity to visit the Carabella Vineyard on Saturday of 2009 Labor Day weekend. We were drawn by the news that they would be hosting a tasting for the first time at the vineyard. Well, I like you was pleasantly surprise by one of the Carabella offerings about a year ago. I also had heard the story about the winemaker being a geologist, etc.
Well, let me just say that we not only found the vineyard amazingly close to our home (about 20 minutes) but had the chance to meet the whole family.
Mike Hallock was a fabulous host. He spent a great deal of his time giving our group a tour of the vineyard. It should also be no suprise that we walked away with a case of his FABULOUS 2006 Pinot Noir and a bottle of his OUTSTANDING 2006 Dijon 113 Pinot Noir.
During our chat, Mike tipped his hat on what he thought about the 2008 offerings...he put it in one word..."MAGIC". Based on my brief meeting with Mike, I believe that he does not use words like that with reckless abandon.
So here I sit anxiously awaiting what the 2008s have to offer. My sense is that Mike and his team at Carabella will not disappoint.
Posted by: Michael N. | September 7, 2009 11:20 AM