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« January 2009 | Main | March 2009 »

February 28, 2009

Review: Red, White, and Drunk All Over by Natalie MacLean

Had it not been for a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, I might have passed on reading it. To be honest, I was guilty of judging this book by its cover, as it suggested an approach to wine that seemed far afield from the one I follow. Boy, am I glad to have accepted this book to read and review, for I was completely wrong about the approach Natalie MacLean takes with her subject. Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass is an enlightening, entertaining, and inspiring read, comprised...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:40 PM |

February 27, 2009

Eola Hills 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

The Eola Hills pinot noir was a clear, light to medium red in the glass, and delivered scents of dusty menthol and eucalyptus that seemed to mute the red berry fruit that was trying to reveal itself. On the palate, this wine delivered very bright acidity with a slight sourness to the strawberry and cherry fruit. The Eola Hills 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.6%) did much better with time, as it opened up and paired well with our dinner, which consisted of French onion soup and open-face ham and cheese sandwiches. Even still, I wasn't impressed with this wine,...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:46 AM |

Wine by Joe 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

Wine by Joe is a terrific Oregon pinot noir for $15. This 2007 pinot was a clear, light ruby red in the glass, offering an enticing combination of red berry fruit, earth and hints of eucalyptus to the nose. Cherry fruit flavors predominated this wine, which provided good acidity leading to a nice, long finish. We opened the Wine by Joe 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.5%) with friends during a dinner that featured Kari's rendition of French onion soup. Her inspiration for this dish comes from a simple recipe from Epicurious, which she adapts by using Gruyère cheese and...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:13 AM |

February 25, 2009

Why Matt Kramer and other critics need to be more transparent

In a recent column, Matt Kramer of The Oregonian and Wine Spectator, suggested that consumers "snap up 2006 pinot noir soon; '07s probably will be thin". In his feature, Matt highlights a single Oregon pinot noir from the 2006 vintage, suggesting this be the yardstick for measuring the quality of the 2007 vintage: Brooks Pinot Noir "Janus" Willamette Valley 2006: With the preceding remarks in mind, let me be blunt: You want to snap up the remaining 2006 pinot noirs from Oregon while they're still around. The reason is simple, if painful: Oregon's 2007 pinot noirs are emerging as rather...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:21 PM | | Comments (5)

February 24, 2009

A to Z 2007 Oregon Pinot Gris

What a delicious Oregon pinot gris at such a reasonable price point. The A to Z 2007 Oregon Pinot Gris (13%) was a clear, light straw color in the glass, delivering notes of pineapple, melon and honeysuckle. Flavors of these same fruits with a hint of honey predominated, followed by bright, crisp acidity. At $14 a bottle, this is a wonderful table wine that would pair well with most any dish. We matched it with a meal of chicken thighs, Yukon gold potatoes, and artichoke hearts that had all been dressed beforehand with olive oil, fresh thyme, and lemon...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:14 PM |

Panther Creek 2007 Pinot Noir Winemaker's Cuvee

This 2007 Oregon pinot noir was a very elegant, evolving wine. In the glass, the Panther Creek 2007 Pinot Noir Winemakers Cuvee Willamette Valley (13.2%) was a clear, medium ruby red color with muted notes of strawberry and red cherry fruit followed by hints of earth and flint. On the palate, there were modest red berry fruit flavors, mostly strawberry and cherry, with bright acidity and a nice finish. We paired the Panther Creek pinot with a grilled filet of Arctic char which Kari placed on a bed of lentils that had been cooked with garlic and onions. On...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:47 PM |

February 22, 2009

Round Two - 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

After making my way through a mixed case and a half of 2007 Oregon pinot noir, I couldn't help myself by grabbing another round of newly released wines from this standout vintage. With their elegant style, low alcohol, and balanced acidity, the 2007 Oregon pinots are an outstanding accompaniment to any meal. And with what appears to be an over abundance of Oregon pinot from this vintage in the $15 to $25 price range, these wines are becoming a staple at our table each night. Without further ado, here is the "Round 2" lineup we will be tasting through...

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Posted by Thad W. at 03:18 PM |

February 21, 2009

Mannina Cellars 2006 Sangiovese Walla Walla Valley

This Washington sangiovese was a clear, dark purple in the glass, delivering notes of cherry and other red berry fruit with an ever-so-slight hint of oak. On the palate, the Mannina Cellars 2006 Sangiovese Walla Walla Valley (13.6%) offered cherry fruit forward flavors with well integrated acidity and tannins leading to a nice, velvety finish. This was a very nice, food friendly wine. The Mannina sangiovese is comprised of 89% sangiovese combined with 8% merlot, 2% cab, and 1% syrah. We paired it with a traditional Pasta Bolognese that Kari crafted, combining beef, veal, pork, and pancetta, ground together...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:41 PM | | Comments (2)

February 18, 2009

Recommendations: 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

About six weeks ago, I embarked on a quest to try as many 2007 Oregon pinot noirs as were available at local groceries and wine shops. With a mixed case in my cellar and another half case added along the way, I proceeded to open each of these 18 wines over the course of 18 dinners and then posted tasting notes afterward. Looking back on these 18 bottles of Oregon pinot noir, I have got to say that 2007 is shaping up to be one of my favorite vintages. Overall, this case and a half collection, ranging in price...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:44 PM | | Comments (8)

February 17, 2009

Argyle 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

In the glass, the Argyle 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley was a clear, ruby red, almost the color of cherry Kool-Aid, which offers a useful description for the bright, ripe fruit flavors experienced with this wine. This Oregon pinot noir skewed toward scents and flavors of candied cherries, all of which was followed by some heat on the finish due to the 14% alcohol. At $28, I found the '07 Argyle to be a wine that I would pass on repurchasing, as its ripeness and higher alcohol were not my style. Related Links Brian on Wine's Review The Grape...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:04 PM |

Cloudline 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir was a clear, medium red in the glass offering notes of strawberry and cherry fruit along with scents of eucalyptus. On the palate, the Cloudline 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.5%) provided modest, yet at times sour, red berry fruit flavors and balanced acidity leading to a long, smooth finish. I would definitely try this wine again, for at $20, it offers a decent price-quality ratio. Related Links Wine Commentator's Review '06 vs. '07 Dirty South Wine Review Ray Johnson's Wine Blog Review...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:51 PM | | Comments (2)

A to Z 2007 Pinot Noir Oregon

From the largest producer in the state, the A to Z 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir offers a decent price point at $18 for an entry-level Oregon wine. The A to Z pinot (13.5%) was a light to medium ruby red in the glass, with slightly sour strawberry notes and muted fruit flavors leading to modest acidity making it a bit flat on the finish. We paired it with Spaghetti Ala Matriciana, a delicious pasta dish Kari crafts on frequent occasions, which was that much better with this Oregon pinot noir. Even at its low price, the A to Z...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:43 PM |

February 16, 2009

Klee 2007 Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir, named after the artist Paul Klee, was a medium, cloudy red in the glass, offering notes of ripe strawberry and cherry fruit. along with a bit of dusty earthiness. The Klee 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) was a bit over-ripe for my taste, for the candied cherry fruit was just too sweet, due to not enough acidity present to balance this wine. However, when combined with a grilled beef tenderloin, zucchini gratin, and wild rice, the Klee pinot noir showed well. Relative to its 2007 peers, this is a fuller, riper pinot, one that...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:56 PM |

Elk Cove 2007 Pinot Noir

When first opening this Elk Cove pinot noir, it was a bit sour and stinky on the nose. While the off-putting smell blew off with time in the glass, there remained an ever present sourness to this Oregon wine, even with unexpected bursts of red cherry fruit. The Elk Cove 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) offered bright, if not, excessive acidity, which could be the reason for its slightly sour taste. We paired it with a Thai dish comprised of sauteed prawns and red peppers in a coconut milk sauce served on a bed of steamed basmati rice...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:36 PM |

February 10, 2009

Erath 2007 Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir was a light, clear red in the glass, offering modest, yet slightly sour, notes of fruit on the nose. When first opening the screw cap, there was an overbearing presence of sulfites that eventually diminished in the glass. After tasting a number of these young Oregon pinot noirs, it's clear that decanting the '07 vintage will only serve to improve these wines. The Erath 2007 Pinot Noir Oregon (13%) was no exception, as it tasted much better on the 2nd day after opening. Overall, I enjoyed the modesty and elegance this wine offered, especially considering...

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Posted by Thad W. at 10:06 PM |

February 09, 2009

In Memory of Mom

On Sunday, February 1, my dear Mom passed away after a two year struggle with cancer. She was 74 years old, a mother of seven children and grandmother to eleven grandkids. I was fortunate to be with her during her last days with us, which is the reason for my absence from blogging these past couple of weeks. During this time, I have been reflecting a lot on the influence my Mom had on my life in general, and my apprecitation for food and wine, in particular. As I shared in The Sanctity of the Family Dinner, my Mom...

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Posted by Thad W. at 10:18 PM | | Comments (4)


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