In early November, I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Todd Hamina tasting thru a variety of his 2007 and 2008 releases. As a result of my visit, I brought home a mixed case of his vineyard designate '07s along with a few '08s that I promised not to open for a few months. While the 2008s lie still in my cellar, I am starting to open some of the 2007s at my dinner table. The Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Noir Ana Vineyard Dundee Hills (12.5%) made quite a statement the other night during dinner. In fact, I...

Continue reading »

Posted by Thad W. at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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...

Continue reading »

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

This delicious Oregon pinot blanc was a light yellow straw color in the glass, offering scents of pineapple and melon with a light, crisp taste that showed mostly mineral flavors with modest tropical fruit. The Biggio Hamina had moderate acidity throughout ending in a clean finish. The Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Blanc Yamhill Valley Vineyard McMinnville (13.5%) was paired with chicken teriyaki (thigh meat only) on a bed of steamed rice accompanied by stir-fried red peppers and sugar snap peas garnished with toasted sesame seeds. I enjoyed this food friendly wine, especially the mineral characteristics combined with modest fruit,...

Continue reading »

Posted by Thad W. at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)