St. Innocent, Villages Cuvee, Pinot Noir, 2007
This is definitely a perennial favorite of mine. St. Innocent makes really great wines, and this one is usually a good deal (being good and cheap). Every once and a while, this is a wine I'll splurge and buy a case of. So how what this year's version?
The nose was dusty and smokey (maybe tobacco?). It was spicy too: maybe nutmeg, white pepper, perhaps a little clove. Spice predominated the nose, though there was a hint of vanilla, a little cherry, and rose! That last floral bit became stronger as the wine opened up. The taste was strawberry at first; and later became more red cherry. Again, there was that nice rose. The finish went into a very slightly citrus taste, and then directly into marionberry. Definitely marionberry. The finish was long. And at the very end, there was a slight earthiness. Maybe vegetable. Maybe mineral. But definitely earth.
This wasn't quite as Burgundian as that Dobbes we recently had. But it definitely on that side of the Oregon Pinot spectrum. The only down side is the price. It was about $17 back in 2004. This year's price: $25. However, it definitely competes well even at this price.
Cost:
Rating:
8.0
Nigl, 'Freiheit', Gruner Veltliner, 2007
A local magazine here in Portland ("Mix") recently ran an article on Gruner Veltliner. Since Denise and I drink a fair amount of wine (perhaps even slightly lushy by normal standards), it's always fun trying new wines -- especially new varietals.
"Gruner Veltliner"? Gezz, try saying that 10 times. Actually (as the article points out), the correct pronunciation is "groon-er FELT-leen-er". This is a very nice white from Austria -- no, not kangaroos and Shiraz, this is the land of Mozart and Vienna. If you're interested in learning more, I would encourage you to click the article link above. Anyway, this is a wine made for a summer time picnic. It's light. It's crisp. It's acidic. It's good chilled, and very refreshing.
The nose was pine, lime, basil, and tangerine (and in that order). The taste is definitely acidic, to the point of being almost effervescent. The first taste is definitely lime! But there's also a complexity there too. Something slightly veggie, and perhaps slightly sour. Maybe artichoke? The finish was clearly grapefruit, followed by butter lettuce.
This is a medium body white. And it was lovely. Unfortunately, we're now in the doldrums of the Pacific Northwest winter. It's old, wet and miserable weather-wise. I really need to try this again in the summer.
I sought out this particular bottle -- not just because it was the Mix pick, but because of the name. It's missing an "e" (and pronounced "NEE-gul"), but is basically the name of someone dear to me. So I went on a quest to get a bottle. In case you're interested, I found this bottle at Liner and Elsen -- Zupan's and Fred's didn't have it. Denise offered to get it for me, and ended up getting a much more expensive version ($58) of this wine (which we'll review later on). Oops. I went back and picked this up too; this is the more modestly priced version ($19).
Cost:
Rating:
8.0
Arcane Cellars, Pinot Noir, 2007
We reviewed three wines from Arcane the other night, including two Pinot Gris's, and a Pinot Noir:
The first review investigated the first Pinot Gris that was sourced from Wheatland Vineyard, and the second reviewed the Pinot Gris Reserve. This one is the Pinot Noir review.
The nose was a light rose, carnation, white pepper, nutmeg and vanilla (but not sweet!). And over all that, and predominant: smoke! Denise described it irreverently (as she always does) as the smell of a honeymoon suite after a bad fight. Huh? She elaborated with: "you know, flowers and burnt". Okay!? (Luckily, not the honeymoon I remember).
The taste was strawberry and a little orange. Jason Silva (the vintner) instructed us to open this at least two hours prior to drinking. And this was around the 2 hour mark. A bit later -- like about 3 hours -- we got raspberry and a little vanilla. And then a bit later, Caleb was convinced it tasted like a McDonald's cherry pie. I was still getting smoke -- almost like a campfire. And Denise got caramel, or maybe burnt sugar. The finish was pretty quick. Mainly the finish was lingering cola. Sort of like a warm slurpy (in a good way).
The opinions were mixed -- similar to the situation we had with the Arcane Cab. Half the group liked it, half didn't so much. For Cheryl, she was getting flashes of sulfur -- "like the smell of a match". Though I didn't. She and Denise also found it overly acidic, saying it had that "wine bite". Towards the end of the night, Cheryl toned down her dislike a bit, saying that it was much less biting than it was earlier.
For Caleb and I, we both liked this wine. Certainly the wine started out fairly citrusy. But after a couple hours of decanting, most of that dissipated for us. We were left with a smoky, floral, cherry/raspberry goodness. Most importantly, the aroma was really fantastic. But the short finish turned off the women, apparently. Caleb and I joked that this was a "man's wine". So buy a bottle ... if you're a guy! Oh, and be sure to decant for a few hours first.
Cost:
Rating:
8.0 Arcane Cellars, Reserve, Pinot Gris, 2007
We reviewed three wines from Arcane the other night, including two Pinot Gris's, and a Pinot Noir:
The first review investigated the first Pinot Gris that was sourced from Wheatland Vineyard. This is the second review: the Pinot Gris Reserve.
This one had a really incredible aroma. Denise said that it smelled beautiful, and added "I just want to eat it". Caleb smelled band-aids and wet dog (!?). I asked him and he was excited. He said meant those descriptors in the best possible way; he was smitten as were we all. I got a little pear and peach, though it was very subtle on the nose. Denise also came up with pine -- yep, it smelled a bit like a forest too.
The texture was very delicate and light. The taste was pear and a little peach. There was also some green pea pod at the end. It was also very crisp -- everyone agreed it was like crisp lettuce.
This was definitely the favorite wine of the night. Cheryl said it was "consistent and balanced -- and then the flavors comes out". She added that while she'd tasted the earlier Pinot Gris before (in other wines), this one was unique and delicious. It was not as heavy and was more complicated and more elegant than the other one. This was the first bottle we emptied! Tasty.
Cost:
Rating:
9.0
Arcane Cellars, 'Willamette Valley', Pinot Gris, 2007
It's been a rough and tumble year for us. Our 4 year old started preschool and we all have been sick ever since. Then, our condo was flooded by the upstairs neighbor's broken hot water heater. Which isn't to complain so much as to explain the lack of reviews recently, and to apologize to various wineries and vintners we've been meaning to get to. But it's hard to review when your dinning room is a swamp and your palette is shot because of your stuffy nose!
And Arcane was highest on our list. So we invited our friends with good palettes over for dinner to try a number of Arcane's offerings. We've had Arcane's Syrah and Reisling prior; the Syrah got mixed reviews by our dinners, whereas the Reisling was universally loved. Up this time were two Pinot Gris's and a Pinot Noir.
This first review investigates the first Pinot Gris. This particular one was sourced from Wheatland Vineyard. The nose was very crisp with green bean or maybe pea pod, light lime, cilantro, fresh cut grass, and definitely granny smith. The taste was a subtle (not sour) lime and mainly pear and peach. The mouthfeel was firm allow with a slight effervesce. The finish was that light lime and peach along with dill.
The funny part was the descriptions. Caleb said it was the "suprise" wine: slightly tart at the beginning, then finishing slightly sweet. Yet for Cheryl, it was sweet all the way through. And for her, that was great; she really liked this "It's good! Sweet, and I like that." However, it's worth emphasizing that when we say "sweet" we're not saying it's like Reisling or something sugary. It's just slightly and subtly sweet -- in that it's not really sour. That is, I'm rambling in trying to say that it's sweet in a good way.
Two more Arcane wines will follow shortly ...
Cost:
Rating:
8.0
Ken Wright Cellars, 'Abbott Claim Vineyard', Pinot Noir, 2007
We've drank a fair amount of Ken Wright over the years. We have lots of reviews of various vineyards and vintages. Ken Wright has a "style", which follows pretty close that Oregon stereotype: big, creamy, "fruit bomb" Pinot. But there's a thing to know about Ken Wright: he sources grapes from specific (and mostly famous) vineyards from around Oregon.
So while all his bottles of Pinot may look the same, they can be very different. Be sure to read the bottom of the label unless you want a random choice. The grocery stores are all in agreement: Shea is the first to sell out each year. For me, I usually like the Guadalupe. This particular bottle we're reviewing was from Abbott Claim, which according to the back label: "is situated on the east side of the Yamhill-Carlton District".
The nose was: oak/vanilla, dust, clove, pepper, and violet! That violet was distinct and strong (in a good way). The taste was strawberry, pepper, and that violet. The mouthfeel was very creamy; probably one of the most creamy Pinots I've had in a long time. The finish was strong cherry (where did that strawberry go?), which then melted into a creamy vanilla.
Of course this wine is consistently good. However, the night I drank this, I guess I just wasn't into how creamy it was. Super cream. It was just a bit too much. Maybe it was that I had that very Burgundian Dobbes (see review) the night before. Or maybe it was just my mood. Which is to say: if you like Ken Wright, then this will not disappoint.
Cost:
Rating:
8.0
Dobbes Family Estate, Grande Assemblage Cuvee, Pinot Noir, 2007
How is it that, after hundreds and hundreds of bottles of Oregon Pinot that I've never tried Dobbes before? Now, there are a lot of small producers here in the state, so it would be no small feat to taste all of them (on second thought: is that even possible?). But Joe Dobbes is, well, a pillar of the Oregon wine establishment (if you can call it that). He's worked with Elk Cove, Eola Hills and Tualitan Estate (amongst others), and started "Wines by Joe", which are very nicely done and inexpensive wines. Anyway, enough about the guy, what was his wine like?
For starters, it was very Burgundian. If I would have drank this blind I definitely would have guessed it was French. It was light -- much lighter than a stereotypical Oregon "fruit bomb" -- elegant, and earthy.
The nose was rhubarb, dust, and that smell of an old dirt road, mildew, dry rot, cranberry (subtle), cola, clove, and maybe cinnamon. Yep: earthly with some spice -- my kind of Pinot. The taste was mainly currant and red cherry. That cherry flowed into the finish.
Apparently, I need to drink more Dobbes.
Cost:
Rating:
8.0
Wildaire Cellars, 'Timothy', Pinot Noir, 2007
Here's another impulse buy at Zupan's awhile back. Yeah, they pretty much know me there now. "Here's a Pinot I think you'll like" -- half honest, and half "don't you want to spend some money"?
The nose was rose and vanilla. And it almost smelled sweet, like a sugary strawberry. And the taste was strawberry too. But just while it was in your mouth. Then you swallow and it turned to a rich blackberry. Crazy. Then some wood (a little oak/vanilla). For a second or so, it tastes like it'll be creamy. But instead it finished super dry (bone). It was blackberry right to the end, and the finish reminded me of that southern Rhone dry finish.
The next day I tasted it again, this time the blackberry vanished. In its place was a rich, luscious dark cherry. It tasted great both days. This was a really nice for a low $20's Oregon Pinot.
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Rating:
7.5 Daedalus Cellars, Pinot Gris, 2006
Most often we drink red (as you can read), but for the last few nights we've been drinking white wine (it all started with a Pouilly Fume). I've had this particular bottle in the back of the fridge for a long time, and I decided to twist that metal cap off and see what was inside.
This was a definite sweet and sour wine. I thought sour, and Denise commented on how sweet it tasted. Huh? Sure enough, some sips it was slightly sour, and other sips it has a sweetness to it. Intriguing and interesting.
The nose was light citrus, crisp, herbal, pineapple, pine, and ... and (I got it!): basil! The taste was lime and hints of pineapple. The mouthfeel was almost oily -- and I mean this in a good way; it had some real body to it. Slightly viscous. At the very end, it had a bit of that sour apple finish. Not so much that it dried your mouth out, but definitely not sweet. It was only sweet in the mouth -- from time to time.
This would be a great summer wine (if it were summer -- it's still snowing here in Portland ... in March!). Denise liked it, and she rarely likes whites. She said the wine was "slippery". What!? She clarified that: "it doesn't make you cough". And: "it's got a great texture that Aaron does so well" (Aaron Hess is the vintner).
Cost:
Rating:
8.0
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Parallele 45, Cotes du Rhone, 2006
This is an old favorite. This wine always seems to be a good value. It's not great. But then, it's not expensive either. This is a good table wine, or a fine wine to bring to a dinner party (or even a party without the dinner). And this year's addition was no different. Wine Spectator gave this an 86; not bad. So what did we think?
The nose was leather, coffee, pomegranate, orange (strange, but true), and wood chips. The taste was plum, black cherry, and raisin. And the finish was mainly raisin and dry wood. The most noteable quality was how smooth this wine felt. It's only $12-$13, so it's super smooth compared to wines normally in this price range. No, not one you'll keep in your cellar for a decade waiting for that special occasion. Yet, it's an easy grab at the grocery store on the way to the party. No one will complain.
Cost:
Rating:
7.0 (no, 7 does not equate to "70" on our scale; think of "7.0" as in 70%, or a solid "C" grade).
(60% Grenache, 40% Syrah)
Negroamaro, Rosso, Salento, 2006
Small Vineyards was at my local Zupan's recently, sporting their wares with a free tasting. And here was this $14 of Italy in a bottle. Small Vineyards is a importer, and they describe this wine this way:
"Terrific body weight while retaining great balance, with ripe, steeped plum and coffee bean aromas. Perfect for those who want a big, powerful wine that is not your usual Cabernet."
Yep, plum -- plum in a big, big way. The nose was nutmeg plum, earth dirt, bark, wood, dusty dirty road, dry moss, and rotting wood. Not just a dry wood, and not moist like peat -- somewhere in the middle. The taste was pretty much PLUM! Maybe a bit of raisin too. The taste starts sweet with the plum, then goes completely dry. In fact, it's a super dry finish, with the taste of stems. But not over bitter.
Denise said something funny that I think captures this wine perfectly: "I didn't notice the wine". What she meant was that it wasn't so great nor so terrible that it was noticeable. She was eating dinner and looked done to find her glass empty. It was just part of the meal. That is to say, that this is really a perfect table wine to accompany a meal.
Cost:
Rating:
7.5
Grochau Cellars, 'Commuter Cuvee', Pinot Noir, 2007
When I saw this, I thought it was too good to be true. First, we really liked the "Toute de Suite" 2007. It's so hard to find decent Oregon Pinot for under $20. So the "Toute de Suite" was a steal at about $16. But then there this ... this ... freak of nature.
The nose was earthy. Some stems, but no, not bitter. It was also dusty like straw. A little vanilla and oak, and some white pepper (subtle). The taste was vanilla and red cherry. It also had a slight citrus taste, but not overly bitter or sour. The finish was pretty thin, but hey, we're talking about a $12 bottle of Pinot. The finish was cherry and then vanilla, and then a little citrus (slight and subtle).
Yes, this is fruity (not talking sweet here) and pretty light-bodied. But pretty damn good for a super cheap Pinot. Yes, I went back and bought up what I could find.
Cost:
($12.49)Rating:
7.0
Domaine de Nizas, Coteaux de Languedoc, 2004
So here I am at Fred Meyer (a Kroger's grocery store for those living outside of the Northwest), and here's this big sign:
I glance down at the bottle, then over to the price: $16.99!? There was another sign quoting Harvey Steiman (Wine Spectator):
"An intriguing aroma of pine and spice leads into fresh flavors of cherry, garrigue, and mineral. Distinctive, with a rich finish".
Goodness. Okay, grabbing that bottle.
Here's what we found. The nose was dusty, red cherry, maybe some strawberry, and honey. Denise took one whiff and exclaimed that it smelled like baked bread. And it did sort of smell like a honey bread. The body was light. The taste was predominantly red cherry, and a little oak/vanilla. Denise got some rose in the finish and it was floral to me too -- but the finish wasn't very long.
What was striking to me was how smooth this wine was. Super smooth. The taste was a tad sweet for my tastes. It had a lot of honey taste. Denise kept going on about how it was like an active kitchen being use by a cooking mama with a lot of cleavage; baking and baking. Denise obsessed about how this was a bread wine. Anyway ... the best way I can describe it is that it's like a good Syrah (flavors) meeting a good Beaujolais (sweeter and thinner).
Overall, we thought it was a good wine for the money. However, I wouldn't (and didn't) give it a 90. That seems a bit gushing and effusive to us. Still a very good deal.
Cost:
Rating:
7.5