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« February 2009 | Main | April 2009 »

March 31, 2009

Round 2 Recos: Oregon 2007 Pinot Noir

Earlier this year, I started seeing an increasing number of newly released 2007 Oregon pinot noirs at local wine stores and grocers. After amassing a mixed case and a half of these wines, I decided to embark on a tasting experience that would entail opening a single bottle over the course of 18 separate dinners. This experience and the resulting recommendations of wines I would want to drink again became "Round 1". As more Oregon pinot noir from the 2007 vintage entered the retail channel, I found myself eager to sample more of these wines, thus creating a "Round...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:24 PM |

March 30, 2009

A Weekend in Walla Walla

I just got back to Seattle tonight after spending a few days in one of my favorite places in Washington wine country: Walla Walla. During this trip, I was able to visit a number of wineries in the valley, including Isenhower, Saviah, Zerba, Otis Kenyon, Dunham, Mannina, Kontos, and Adamant. Best of all was our dinner at Saffron last night, a wonderful restaurant that I will be covering in an upcoming post. This was our second visit to Saffron and it just blew us away again in terms of the food, wine, service, and setting. If you're planning a...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:40 PM | | Comments (6)

March 27, 2009

Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

After so much similar tasting Oregon pinot noir these last few weeks, the Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (12.5%) was a welcome and delicious departure in style and substance. As mentioned in yesterday's post, I was eager to finish off Round 2 of the 2007 Oregon pinots and move on to something else due to many of these wines starting to blend together due to their similarities. I had yet to realize what this last wine would afford in terms of its contrast with the other 17 bottles in this round. The Biggio Hamina was unique from...

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Posted by Thad W. at 06:42 PM | | Comments (1)

Tertulia Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Tertulia Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (13.9%) specifies Columbia Valley on the label, but the winemaker notes online state most of the fruit came from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards, both in the Walla Walla Valley. No matter, as just one taste is all one needs to realize its made of Walla Walla fruit. In the glass, this 85% cabernet sauvignon, 12% cab franc, and 3% merlot blend is a medium purple color with cherry, cedar, spice, and floral notes on the nose. The Tertulia is a well balanced and integrated cabernet, offering delicious, earthy black fruit...

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Posted by Thad W. at 02:29 PM |

March 25, 2009

One more OR pinot noir to go in Round 2

I've got one more bottle of 2007 Oregon pinot noir to open in order to complete "Round 2" and deliver a set of recommendations on these wines. Overall, this round of 18 bottles seemed less enticing than that offered in "Round 1", a collection of pinot noirs that were much more my style. As revealing as this exercise has been, I am not sure this is something I want to continue doing going forward. It becomes somewhat monotonous drinking the same variety from the same vintage from the same region night after night. Even still, I will not cover wine...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:04 PM |

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir WV

For a study in contrasts, we decided to open the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir (13%) alongside a 2006 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (14.5%) from the same producer. I purchased the '07 at retail for $24, while the '06 was provided as a free sample from the winery. Before getting into comparative tasting notes, it's worth calling out the terrific way in which Willamette Valley Vineyards connects their customers to the people and places behind their wines. I called this out in a previous post and want to highlight this distinguishing factor again. Simply put, there are few...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:12 PM |

Adelsheim 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

The Adelsheim 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (12.8%) is a clear, light ruby red in the glass, delivering notes of dusty strawberry and raspberry fruit leading to modest red berry fruit flavors with balanced acidity. This Oregon pinot noir took a while to open up and was even better on the second night we tasted it. We paired this wine on its first night with grilled pork chops, rice pilaf, and roasted cherry tomatoes. Anyone who likes a full flavored pinot noir will most likely find the Adelsheim '07 WV pinot too modest for their tastes. But I found...

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Posted by Thad W. at 06:46 PM |

March 22, 2009

A Disclosure Statement

I am not a professional writer or journalist, nor do I pretend to be one with this site. I am merely a wine enthusiast interested in sharing my personal experiences to help empower consumers to make more informed decisions regarding the wines they drink, the wineries they visit, the events they attend, and the places they dine. I have no affiliation with or financial interest in the wine trade, be it with a wine producer, distributor, retailer, publisher, or other related entity. I have in-laws and friends in the wine business, therefore any direct association with these folks is...

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Posted by Thad W. at 10:48 AM | | Comments (1)

Foris 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir comes from a producer in the Rogue Valley in southwest Oregon. As such, the Foris 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.4%) offers a distinct taste profile relative to fruit sourced from the Willamette Valley. In the glass, there was a slight cloudiness to the ruby red Foris which offered muted fruit on the nose and a bit of a twang to the flavors in the mouth. There was some cherry fruit, but in general it tasted like a poorly made, cheap wine. Overall, we found the Foris lacking in the signature flavors one has come to...

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Posted by Thad W. at 10:18 AM |

Big Fire 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

The Big Fire 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.55%) was a light ruby red in the glass, which eventually included some harmless tartrate crystals with the last pour. This Oregon pinot noir delivered hints of menthol with sour strawberry and cherry fruit to the nose. The fruit flavors in the Big Fire pinot noir were fleeting, leading to a sour, acidic finish. We paired the wine with a delicious chicken cacciatore spaghetti dish, with the Big Fire being a bit underwhelming next to this flavorful meal. At $24, I found it to be lacking relative to other 2007 Oregon pinot...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:56 AM | | Comments (2)

Silvan Ridge 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir was a clear ruby red in the glass with a dusty earthiness to the nose combined with hints of menthol and modest strawberry and cherry fruit. The fruit seemed to come alive in the finish, which was primarily comprised of cherry flavors, with a somewhat viscous and cloying aftertaste. We paired the Silvan Ridge 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.5%) with a single dish meal of chicken cacciatore in a bowl of spaghetti. This is one of my favorite dishes Kari crafts, but unfortunately the Silvan Ridge was a bit too muted and flat, while the...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:43 AM |

March 14, 2009

Sharecropper's 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir is all about cherry fruit. The Sharecropper's 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13.0%) is a medium ruby red in the glass with full cherry notes that repeat themselves in even stronger flavors on the palate. This wine was a bit viscous in the mouth offering bright acidity, but mostly it was all about cherry fruit. We paired the Sharecropper's with a hearty Tuscan white bean soup Kari crafted along with a mixed green salad that included blood red oranges. A fresh baked baguette completed the meal. We tried this wine again on a 2nd night with...

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Posted by Thad W. at 11:41 AM |

March 12, 2009

Purple Hands 2007 Oregon Red Wine

Having never tried a pinot noir and merlot blend before, I was intrigued by the Purple Hands 2007 Oregon Red Wine (13.5%), a creation from Ken Wright Cellars. Purple Hands is comprised of 85% merlot, 10% pinot noir, and 5% cabernet franc, whose varietal details you can only find on their site versus including this on the back label. The '07 Purple Hands offers a decent red wine blend, with the taste profile of a fruit forward, silky merlot. Here is what the back label had to say about its creation: "We named our label Purple Hands in tribute...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:39 PM |

March 11, 2009

J. Albin 2005 Laurel Vineyard Pinot Noir

Here's how I would characterize the J. Albin 2005 Laurel Vineyard Pinot Noir (13%): a fresh cedar box full of ripe red cherries with some spice tossed in for extra measure. From the scents wafting up from my glass to the flavors dancing across my tongue, this Oregon pinot was all about cedar, cherries, and spice. This is the second time I have had this wine, with one more bottle in the cellar. At $27, this is a relatively inexpensive wine from the 2005 vintage to have scored months ago at my local wine merchant. However, I don't remember...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:13 PM |

March 10, 2009

Time for Taste Washington in Seattle

In less than a month, over 200 wineries and more than 60 restaurants will descend on Seattle for the annual Taste Washington event. I had a terrific time last year, attending seminars, meeting winemakers and bloggers, and sampling dozens of newly released wines. On Saturday, April 4, a variety of wine seminars will be held, giving consumers an opportunity to connect to the people and places behind Washington wines. After attending several sessions last year, I realized how much I had been missing by only going to the tasting event. With such a strong line up this year, it...

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Posted by Thad W. at 09:20 PM |

March 09, 2009

Patricia Green Cellars 2007 Eason Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Patricia Green Eason Pinot Noir was a slightly cloudy, garnett red in the glass, offering a dustiness, almost talc like sensation to the nose. There was more earth to the scents from this wine than fruit, which continued delivering on the palate with sour strawberry flavors. The Patricia Green 2007 Eason Vineyard Pinot Noir Dundee Hills (13.5%) was a bit disjointed in that halfway through each taste, it throws this funky curve ball at you that quickly drops like a sinking pitch. It just didn't seem very well integrated or balanced. We paired this Oregon pinot noir with...

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Posted by Thad W. at 06:34 PM |

March 07, 2009

WillaKenzie 2007 Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir WV

This WillaKenzie pinot noir is a wine that I intend to drink more of in the months ahead. In the glass, it was a clear, ruby red, delivering terrific notes of red berry fruit with a subtle earthiness. Flavors of strawberry and cherry were balanced with good acidity creating a wonderful roundness to this wine. We paired the WillaKenzie 2007 Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.8%) with grilled pork chops, seasoned with salt and pepper after marinating over night with a garlic rub. Kari diced a few apples and cooked them down on the stove top, creating a...

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Posted by Thad W. at 03:11 PM | | Comments (1)

Red Door Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir WV

This Oregon pinot noir, which retails for $19, was a clear, light red in the glass with slightly sour strawberry fruit and hints of smoke and earth on the nose. Muted fruit flavors and a clean finish made the Red Door Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) an even wine, without any variation to offer. We paired the Red Door pinot noir with a delicious tikka masala on basmati rice and roasted red peppers on the side. This pinot noir offered decent acidity, making it a good, food friendly wine. Even still, I came away without a reason...

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Posted by Thad W. at 02:33 PM |

March 06, 2009

Cantinetta Comforts and Charms

In reading some of the consumer reviews for this new restaurant in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood, one might think that this area of the city had just been introduced to decent Italian food or that these folks hadn't eaten well in some time. "God's Table", "Best in the City", and "Rulezzz" are just a sampling of the headlines some have given in their reviews. After dining at Cantinetta last Friday night, I came away pleased with the overall experience, but would be hard pressed to assert that this restaurant offers the very best in Italian dining in Seattle. Furthermore, there...

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Posted by Thad W. at 01:47 PM | | Comments (2)

March 04, 2009

Brooks 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

The Brooks 2007 Pinot Noir is an interesting wine, for it is one of the lightest Oregon pinots from the '07 vintage I have tasted thus far. It also one with the lowest alcohol tasted to date. This is a wine that screams for food, for it could easily be dismissed as a thin or watery pinot if tasted on its own or even at the beginning of a meal. In the glass, the Brooks is a very light red, with ever so slight cloudiness to it. On the nose, I picked up muted fruit, while notes of raspberry...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:37 PM | | Comments (1)

O'Reilly's 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

This Oregon pinot noir was a light red ruby color in the glass, with notes of sour strawberry fruit and dusty menthol. With our teriyaki chicken thighs and onions on steamed rice, it delivered bright acidity, muted fruit, and a short finish. At $19, the O'Reilly's 2007 Pinot Noir Oregon (13%) is inexpensive, but the quality just wasn't there. I would pass on this one. Related Links Owen Roe Web Site...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:27 PM | | Comments (3)

Ponzi 2007 Pinot Noir Tavola

The Ponzi 2007 Pinot Noir Tavola Willamette Valley (13%) was a slightly cloudy medium red in the glass, with notes of strawberry fruit and dusty hints of menthol and eucalyptus on the nose. On the palate, this Oregon pinot noir offered a sour strawberry flavor, much like pureed strawberries that had been picked a bit under-ripe. At $25, I think there are better alternatives to consider. We paired the Ponzi Tavola with an Asian beef stir fry, which combined peanuts, chives, chilis, lime juice, and fresh cilantro on leaves of green lettuce and steamed rice. It was one of...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:04 PM |

March 03, 2009

Jezebel 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir

The Jezebel pinot noir was a bit stinky at first, which is something I am finding more commonplace with young, screw cap Oregon wines. Fortunately, this off-putting odor dissipates with time, but not without an unpleasant experience straight out of the bottle. This Oregon pinot noir was a clear, ruby red in the glass, which is becoming the signature color of this vintage. There wasn't a lot on the nose with the Jezebel 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir (13%), although some cherry fruit flavors, albeit muted, came out after a while. We paired the Jezebel with an Asian beef stir...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:41 PM |

Illahe 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

The Illahe pinot noir is light, somewhat cloudy, ruby red in the glass, with intriguing fruit and earth notes on the nose. This LIVE certified, sustainable Oregon wine offered flavors of strawberry fruit with balanced acidity leading to a long, tasty finish. The Illahe 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) is a good value at $22, a wine that I will definitely stock up on for future dinners. It was such a wonderful complement to our meal, that I completely forgot to write down what we ate that night. Such is the joy of a good wine at the...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:11 PM |

March 02, 2009

What makes Oregon pinot noir smell/taste that way?

Having tasted hundreds of Oregon pinot noir these last several years, I remain a bit perplexed by a smell and taste in these wines that seems unique to this region. The smell/taste I am referring to encompasses a fairly broad spectrum, from menthol to eucalyptus to wet cement. Often, this smell comes across with a dustiness to it, which rarely shows up on its own, for it's usually a dusty menthol or eucalyptus note I smell with corresponding flavors on the palate. I don't seem to be alone in identify this characteristic of some Oregon pinot noirs, however, no one...

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

March 01, 2009

Saviah Cellars 2005 Big Sky Cuvee

This Washington wine is a blend of Stillwater Creek fruit, comprising 57% merlot, 24% cabernet, 14% cab franc, 3% malbec, and 2% petit verdot. In the glass, the Saviah was a beautiful deep purple, delivering scents of black fruit, especially cherry. Silky tannins and a velvety finish confirmed this wine's varietal make up being mostly merlot. But the sweet, candied fruit and flavors of new oak were just not my style in this type of wine. We paired the Saviah Cellars 2005 Big Sky Cuvee Columbia Valley (14.1%) with grilled beef tenderloins, roasted broccoli that had been dressed in...

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Posted by Thad W. at 04:07 PM |


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