Newsletter Specials - Oregon Pinot Envy
STEAL OF THE MONTH!
07 EL PORTILLO CABERNET
GET SOME BBQ RELIGION!
$7.95 btl. / $72.00 cs.
25% OFF BY THE CASE!
The Theology of BBQ: Schisms, Isms and the McRibb Heresy
We have a friend who once got in big trouble with his grandma after writing an article explaining how, since the hunting & spit-roasting of various creatures predates religion, BBQ is ultimately more important in human history. What he missed is that BBQ IS a religion in some areas and has at least three major sects: the Orthodox Friars of Fruitwood Smoke Slow Cooking, the Sainted Sisters of the Sauce is Boss and the somewhat hard to find Vicars of the Vinaigrette Marinade (& Eastern offshoot of the famously violent Dry Rub Rebellion of 1893). The defining of BBQ can start an argument (or even a fistfight) because (just like traditional wine styles) THESE THINGS MATTER: it is a culture, patrimony and heritage of someone you are talking about and that does not come in a bottle from the supermarket. But, by being a Big Tent house of the Q, we here at PWM are willing to arbitrate if you bring enough samples for lunch and we have also searched the globe to find the perfect wine to fit your BBQ so you (and your Sweet Red Sauce loving Brother in Law) can find an ecumenical summer.
Which of course brings us (finally) to our BBQ red du jour: the 2007 El Portillo Cabernet FROM Beef Country, Argentina. The land that Vegetarians fear most. If it moved we grill it!!! This is big stuff! Not for the meek sort of thing! This is for adherents to the Credo Affumato of the holy Conclave of Smoke and Violets, Reformed: deeeep dark blackberry, ripe cherry fruit with notes of smoke, rose petals, earth and, yes, violets on the nose. This used to cost twice this price but our distributor lost his way & we were there for the reward. WANT TO BE ENLIGHTENED!! How does $6 a bottle by the case grab ya!
J. SCOTT PINOT NOIR
May 13, 2009 by PWM
2007 J. SCOTT PINOT NOIR, WILLAMETTE VALLEY...$17.95 2007 was a cool vintage in Oregon. Unlike 2003-2006, the4 wines are less extracted but prettier. This wine has beautiful aromatics of raspberry and strawberry. The acidity is good but not overbearing. The finish is long and supple.
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J.K. CARRIERE PINOT OFFERING
May 13, 2009 by PWM
Established in 1999, J. K. Carriere Wines is a Pinot Noir specialist founded by owner and winemaker Jim Prosser. The winery is currently located on a working hazelnut orchard in Yamhill County, but a new winery on Parrett Mountain, three miles east of the current location, is slated to open in the summer of 2009. New estate vineyards are also planned. The name J.K. Carriere is a combination of Jim’s grandfathers names, J.K. Prosser and Paul Carriere.
2006 J.K.CARRIERE PINOT NOIR, WILLAMETTE VALLEY...$34.95 BTL. The Cliff Notes: A ripe, flowing, unified red exhibiting cherry, peach cobbler, kirchwasser, grilled meat and licorice. Moving and massive with a nice edge, it’s faithful to the variety without holes or bumps. It’s not Syrah-esque. It’s not what could be termed “Merlot noir”. It’s Pinot noir…and the wee ones had better go home.
Cases Produced: 975
Vintage: 2006 was the second warmest growing year on record with a good size crop that all came in at once. The given was “ripe” and the challenge was finding balance without succumbing to the dilution of over-cropping or the raisin flavors, and high alcohols, of over-ripeness. We green-dropped a lot of clusters to concentrate flavors and made some of our earliest picking decisions to date to retain acid and elegance. The wines are big, reflective of 2006. They are supple and age-able and elegant, but above all, they are recognizable as classic Pinot noir, from our winery, from our vineyards. We walked the knife-edge and hit our marks.
The building of: Small-lot wild yeast fermentations, 100% barrel aged for 18 months, 22% new/8% one year/20% two year/50% neutral. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2007.
Ageability: This wine is big, but balanced in its fruit/acid/tannin relationships. We absolutely recommend that you consider decanting to get it some air within its first three years. We expect it to climb in complexity through a minimum of five years and likely double that before the curtains start to close.
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2006 J.K. CARRIERE 'ANDERSON FAMILY' PINOT NOIR...$54.95 The Cliff Notes: Dark cherry ester and smoke first deliver full throttle game and earth to your nose before exploding your palate in a highly structural torrent of red fruit, spice, and caramel. You and these bottles may be here for awhile.
The Story: As usual, my block from Anderson Family once again rises to the pinnacle of structure out of the cellar. The venerable college professor that I often envision when tasting this wine has come back from sabbatical with hulking shoulders and six-pack abs. What the hell happened to academia? Damn, now I understand, in no uncertain terms, why there are co-eds and no empty chairs at the front of the class.
Cases Produced: 124
The Building of: Small-lot wild yeast fermentations, 100% barrel aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (one new, one twice-filled, three neutral). Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2008.
Ageability: Absolutely decant to get it air within its first three years. Well cellared, anticipate additional complexity during its first 10 years with a potential 12- to 20-year drinking horizon.
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2006 J.K. CARRIERE 'GEMINI' PINOT NOIR...$54.95 The Cliff Notes: This Pinot noir delivers dark fruit, iron and cherry on the nose. The palate is fresh, built on a frame of ripe red cherry, linear acid and mouth-filling tannin. Well balanced, it finishes on a long and dark tail-out of graham.
The Story: My friend Dale Hatfield is a meticulous farmer and the all-American kind of guy you’d expect to see on the front of a box of corn flakes. His wife Marcella and their passel of kids work hard to make Gemini Vineyards not just a farm, but a home. We’ve been working with this vibrant block of fruit since 2002. Like the Hatfield kids, it’s a good citizen and it likes to play well with others. We didn’t want to overlook or change that nature, just coax it out into the open and see how it would stand for itself. It took the intervening years and a combined effort of Dale’s tinkering in the vineyard and my time in the cellar to best understand and hone the “punchy red” truth of this vineyard on a consistent basis. Do we think it’s all that? Yeah, we do, and we hope you do too.
Cases Produced: 64
The Building of: Small-lot wild yeast fermentations, 100% barrel aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (one once filled, one twice-filled, one neutral). Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2008.
Ageability: Probably decant to get it air within its first three years. Well cellared you should anticipate additional complexity during its first 10 years with a potential 12- to 20-year drinking horizon.
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2006 J. K. CARRIERE 'SHEA VINEYARD' PINOT NOIR...$54.95 The Cliff Notes: It’s a dark and brooding red. A huge balloon of red/black fruit, kind baby diaper and blueberry deliver the triumvirate of luscious, available and opulent to your seemingly just kissed lips. Question it? Check that structure on your lips.
The Story: Once again Shea Vineyard is the booming bass note out of the cellar. That’s after we made the earliest picking decision ever on that block. Why? Because in a year like 2006 a warm and low-elevation vineyard like Shea could really deliver over-ripe and boozy wines. Frankly, that’s not what we’re after. So, we risked it. We moved it in the direction of absolute elegance and, like a salmon returning to its stream, it still delivered big, albeit on one svelte and shapely body.
Cases Produced: 146
The Building of: Small-lot wild yeast fermentations, 100% barrel aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (one new, one once-filled, two twice-filled and two neutral). Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2008.
Ageability: Decant it to get it air within its first three years. Well cellared, anticipate additional complexity during its first 10 years with a potential 12- to 20-year drinking horizon.
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DOMINIO PINOT OFFERINGS
May 13, 2009 by PWM
2007 DOMINIO PINOT NOIR, THE BLACK & THE RED...$26.95 The "Brute and the Belle" (Momtazi Vineyards 50% and Bella Vida 50%) is a study in the Black and the Red characters of Pinot Noir. The Belles soft and sweet elegance is entwined with the brute's chiseled lines. Together they hold up the flowing crimson undulations put to the rhythm of a lone classic guitar. 49 cases total production.
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2007 DOMINIO PINOT NOIR, RAIN ON THE LEAVES...$26.95...Dominio IV "Rain on Leaves" Pinot noir 06 has rose hips, chamomile and light pretty flowers on the nose open to red currant, rose, and black bramble notes on the palate. Like a mid-summers rain shower. Really lovely. 60 cases total production.
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BROOKS PINOT NOIR OFFERING
May 13, 2009 by PWM
2007 BROOKS PINOT NOIR, WILLAMETTE VALLEY...$16.95 Aromas of red fruits, minerals, spice and hints of blue fruits rise from the glass, lingering into game, smoke, earth and notes of crushed herbs with remarkable minerality. It seamlessly flows into a focused and pure mid-palate that is racy, clean and mineral drenched. A core of bright acidity and fine tannins give the wine a lift into a striking finish. Unmistakably Oregon and unmistakably 2007...This wine is a beacon to those that love pure, beautiful and poised Pinot Noir.
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2007 BROOKS 'RUNAWAY RED' PINOT NOIR...$14.95 This isn't about Trotsky. It is about Jimi’s first harvest. An extra barrel. The middle of the night. It is about the morning air beginning and the metallic snap as the barrel skidded off the rack and rolled out into the darkness. It is about the horrible accelerating, the splash and a gut-wrenching disappointment. It is about finding the barrel nestled, intact, between the shoulders of the creek. This bottling is about pleasant surprises, deep laughter and good friends.
Aromas of ripe red cherries, raspberries, game, spice, blueberries, and spiced cherry pie. On further aeration more complex aromatics of beeswax, clean earth, tobacco, minerals and brown tea notes intertwine with the initial aromas. In the mouth the wine mirrors the aromatics with an initial attack of bright red fruit. The focus and ripe acidity leads to structure that provides richness, blue fruits and mineral undertones which unify the wine seamlessly together. Only 345 cases produced!
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2006 BROOKS 'JANUS' PINOT NOIR...$29.95 In Roman mythology, Janus is the God for new beginnings, as well as endings, the future, the past and doorways. Janus is the God of balance. The ultimate expression of Pinot Noir! Janus is our flagship... the richest, most vibrant and intense blend that we produce.
Classic aromas of dusty bing cherries, ripe raspberries, minerals, cassis, violets and juicy blackberries leap from the glass. Warmer more complex aromas of baking spices and curry emerge with further aeration. In the mouth the attack opens the wine on the palate with a burst of juicy red fruits and beautiful focus. The red fruit quality is soon enveloped by a wonderful mineral/wet stone presence that is wrapped around a firm, but ripe tannic core. On the finish the wine hits its stride and blossoms with richness and intensity, a hallmark of a classic Pinot Noir that is built to age gracefully. The 2005 Janus is a beautifully balanced wine of elegant proportions. It has everything and is everything an archetypal Oregon Pinot Noir from a great vintage should be. The wine should age well and develop for the next 10 to 15 years. Classic. Indeed.
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2006 BROOKS 'RASTABAN' PINOT NOIR...$44.50 The eye of the Dragon”. A star in the Northern Constellation, Draco is known as the head of the dragon, which is full of wisdom! This was the first year that Jimi Brooks discovered a handful of barrels that were simply too exciting to blend with the other Pinot Noirs. While we still maintain a philosophy of blending our wines, we aren’t opposed to showcasing a single vineyard on its own – if it proves to be exceptional.
Beautiful aromas of black currant, cassis, plum,blueberry, and spice immerge from the glass. The mouthfeel has lush blackberry, cherry and smoke. This wine has an excellent balance of acidity with elegant tannins. It finishes with an earthy combination of herbs, spices, and toast leaving a mouthwatering feeling that engulfs
the palate. The wines aged for 11 months in 35% New French oak. these barrels have an element of earth to them, with components of minerality, compost and earth which add balance and richness to the blend. this wine was unfined and filtered. Although still a little tight, this wine is very approachable, and made to lay down for at least the next 10-15 years. Only 129 cases were made.
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2007 BROADLEY PINOT NOIR OFFERINGS
May 13, 2009 by PWM
2007 Broadley Claudia's Choice Pinot Noir...$42.50 is a section of our oldest vineyard (the vines are over 20 years old) that seems to consistently display a distinctive character. The vines in the this section usually ripen a bit later and often sets smaller clusters. The Claudia's Choice wines are not fruit forward - we want to display the big, dark, and complex character that typifies our Claudia's Choice release.
Claudia's Choice Tasting Notes
Big leathery and spicy notes on the nose, wrapped around a blackberry/black cherry center. In the mouth the wine is full of plump and sweet dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors, heavily accented by tastes of powedered mocha, fine clean earth, anise, and black pepper as well. Great structure - neighter tannins nor acids are out of balance, though both abound. The finish is very long and brinds the cherry fruit more forward.
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2007 Broadley Pinot Noir Estate...$23.50 bottling shows the power of our site. Composed of a variety of blocks containing older and newer vines, it represents a cross-section of the flavors producted by our warmer version of the Willamette Valley's "cool" climate - and at a price that allows a larger number of consumers to experience the "Broadley difference."
Estate Tasting Notes
The aromas are focused and appealingly creamy notes of raspberry and cherry fruit. The same fruitiness is apparent on the tongue, with a bright, and fresh edge to the cherry and black raspberry flavor concentration. There is also a nice sweetness to the fruit, and hints of dried herbs, a touch of minerality, and notes of dried wood that add depth and complexity.
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2007 Broadley Reserve Pinot Noir...$32.50 represents a blend of barrels from some of the best vineyards in Willamette Valley. Shea Vineyards in Newberg, Stoller Vineyards in Dundee, Lemelson in Lafeyette, and of course Broadley Vineyards in Monroe. This wine is aged in one year old French oak barrels which gives us the opportunity to fully express the unique terroir of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Reserve Pinot Noir Tasting Notes
A layered mix of red fruit; cherry & rasberry on the nose with a hint of earth & spice. Inviting, round, and ripe fruit on the palate that leads into a silky finish.
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2007 Broadley Pinot Noir Sunny Mountain Vineyard...$28.95 is a beautiful 10-acre vineyard, owned by Steve and Sally Price, and has been a well kept secret until now. Located four miles south of Monroe on windy Rattlesnake Ridge, the site is warmer and drier than most of the Willamette Valley. Their first crop in 2007 ripened well ahead of the fall rains.
Sunny Mountain Tasting Notes
An aroma of leather with a touch of honey, black plum and fresh blackberries. Opulent flavors of black fruit with notes of lavender and honey.
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2007 Broadley Willamette Valley Pinot Noir...$16.95 is a blend from highly regarded vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
Willamette Valley Tasting Notes
Dark opaque, unfiltered, the scents, upon opening, are of black raspberry and spice. Flavors are juicy, with big black fruit. Blackberry and a bit of black cherry are refreshing, with a racy natural acidity. Ready to drink, approachable, but balanced, this wine will age for 2-5 years. This is a unique concentrated and satisfying value wine, exceptional for the price.
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2006 BLACK CAP PINOT NOIR
May 13, 2009 by PWM
2006 BLACK CAP PINOT NOIR
$39.95 BTL.
Eyrie Pinot noir Black Cap 06 received 93 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Pinot Noir Black Cap is a blend of all four estate vineyards. It is slightly darker in color, the fruit is shaded slightly more to the dark side of the spectrum, and the wine has greater concentration and density. Cherry and raspberry flavors emerge on the palate along with mineral and earth notes. There is enough structure for 1-2 years of further evolution and given the wine's balance, it may have a relatively long life line by the standards of the vintage."
Black Cap Pinot noir 06 unfolds over hours and days. Complex and captivating, it begins with pretty red fruit and earth nuances that, with air, open to a spicy display of lush cherry and raspberry. The aromas more than hint at what's to come in the satiny entry: yummy raspberries and cherries build, picking up currant and a sliver of huckleberry jam while maintaining balance from the vibrant acidity. Hints of sage, mint, and rose petal permeate the finish, and the tasty red fruit lingers. Very ageable, and highly recommended for the cellar.
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2007 BEAUX FRERES PINOT OFFERING
May 13, 2009 by PWM
2007 BEAUX FRERES OFFERINGS
2007 The Beaux Frères Vineyard Pinot Noir $65 This wine is dark ruby in color with a pure sweet nose of black cherries, a hint of strawberry and white flowers along with a waft of forest floor. Some of the characteristics remind us of the 2005 vintage- the vivid aromatics, plush, sleek texture and the seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol and wood. This is a Pinot Noir at its sexiest and most feminine. Still, it is a medium to full bodied wine of substance and surprising length. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1995 but far more concentrated fruit and to our mind dramatically better wine. We attribute this to the extensive work in the vineyard and the experience we have gained in the twelve years that have elapsed. This wine may be drunk in its youth, but has the concentration and balance to age gracefully for 10-15 years.
2007 The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir $75 This Pinot Noir from all Dijon clones is often much darker than the Beaux Frères Vineyard. The 2007 Upper Terrace is very similar to the dark ruby color of the 2007 Beaux Frères Vineyard. That is where the similarities end. Though it is the most aromatically backward of our three 2007 offerings, it hints of earth, spice, forest floor and underbrush intertwined with dark black cherries and raspberries. On the palate one can detect a fuller style of wine with more structure, muscle and density than the other two cuvées. At this time it is showing less of its outright seduction and charm, nevertheless, there is a lot going on in this wine which always reminds us of a grand cru from the northern end of Burgundy's Côtes du Nuits. The tannins are silky but the weight of the wine is clearly more dramatic. This wine will benefit from one to two years of bottle age before consuming and should evolve effortlessly for at least 15 years.
2007 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $42 Our 2007 Willamette Valley wine shows a delicate medium ruby color and very expressive aromas consisting of sweet cherries, a walk through the woods and a splash of white flowers. It consists of wine made from the following vineyards: Beaux Frères, Shea, Upper Terrace, Zena Crown, Amalie Robert and Carabella. The wine represents one of the silkiest and most feminine styles we have made to date. There is no lack of concentration but the equilibrium of all the elements seems to be the chief hallmark of this very successful vintage. This wine is already delicious to drink now and showing complexity which makes us think that it will be a wine to drink within the first 5-7 years of its life. The balance which is always so critical is there. The tannins are unobtrusive and extremely silky. This is a real crowd pleaser, a very lush and beautifully supple Pinot Noir for the fan of instant gratification.
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