The Winery: August Cellars
The Wine: 2003 Pinot Noir
The Price: $20 at their tasting room and online.
This was one of the wines I purchased during my recent trip through the Willamette Valley. August Cellars is a new winery to me. I've never noticed their wines in any of my local stores, and it was purely accidental that I stopped there on my trip. I only bought a couple of bottles of wine (look for a review of the 2004 Pinot Noir in the near future).
This wine has a lot of sediment in the bottle. Oddly, I had grape skins when I poured the first glass from the bottle. It doesn't seem to have adversely impacted the quality of the wine, but there's definitely more sediment than I'm used to seeing. The wine is a very, very deep red in color. It has a delicious cherry flavor, with hints of pepper. It is a very bright and well balanced Pinot Noir. I like this wine a lot. I will definitely be hitting my local wine shops to see if they carry it. In retrospect, I wish I would have purchased a few more bottles from August Cellars on the Willamette Valley trip, but they were the first stop of the day and I didn't want to blow the budget at my first stop. I will definitely be stopping in at their tasting room again on my next trip through the Willamette Valley.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sokol Blosser Evolution, 11th Edition
The Winery: Sokol Blosser
The Wine: Evolution, 11th Edition
The Price: On sale for $14.99 at QFC. Regular price is $19.99
This is just a fun wine. The wine is a blend of 9 grapes: Muller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner. The result is a nice, crisp, bright wine. The wine is a very pale yellow color. This is one of my very favorite summer-time wines. It is perfect for sitting on the porch swing on a hot August evening. The wine has flavors of pear and apple. It is a fine balance between dry and sweet. As much as I love Sokol Blosser (and my regular readers know that I'm a huge fan), I have a hard time spending $20.00 on this wine. When I can find it for $15, I stock up. But, with as good as this wine is, I have a hard time spending $20 on it. Granted, this is probably more of a problem with Washington State import taxes than is is with Sokol Blosser's pricing. They sell it on their website for $16, which, as I recall, is also what they charge at their tasting room.
The bottom line is that this is a very good wine. I like it a lot and enjoy it several times each year.
The Wine: Evolution, 11th Edition
The Price: On sale for $14.99 at QFC. Regular price is $19.99
This is just a fun wine. The wine is a blend of 9 grapes: Muller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner. The result is a nice, crisp, bright wine. The wine is a very pale yellow color. This is one of my very favorite summer-time wines. It is perfect for sitting on the porch swing on a hot August evening. The wine has flavors of pear and apple. It is a fine balance between dry and sweet. As much as I love Sokol Blosser (and my regular readers know that I'm a huge fan), I have a hard time spending $20.00 on this wine. When I can find it for $15, I stock up. But, with as good as this wine is, I have a hard time spending $20 on it. Granted, this is probably more of a problem with Washington State import taxes than is is with Sokol Blosser's pricing. They sell it on their website for $16, which, as I recall, is also what they charge at their tasting room.
The bottom line is that this is a very good wine. I like it a lot and enjoy it several times each year.
Monday, January 14, 2008
2006 Kris Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie
The Winery: Kris
The Wine: 2006 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie
The Price: $8.89 at my local Costco
Unfortunately, Kris winery does not seem to have a website. Kris is bottled by Franz Haas winery, but their website does not mention Kris.
This is a very light, crisp Pinot Grigio. The wine is pale yellow in color. It has a mild citrus flavor. This is a wholly plain and unremarkable wine. It should be in a bottle labeled "Plain White Table Wine from Italy". I don't hate it, but I wouldn't rush out to buy more.
The label on the bottle suffers from severe Attention Deficit Disorder. There are two eyes above the word Kris on the label. Then there is a green hand with a grape vine woven through the fingers. Next to the hand there is a red lipstick print. Next to the lips is a gold-leaf blob that I presume is supposed to be a grape. Or maybe it's supposed to be the sun. I guess the label is befitting of the wine. Neither commits. But at least the label has character. It's disjointed, but has character.
You know a wine is not impressive if I have more to say about the label than the wine.
The Wine: 2006 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie
The Price: $8.89 at my local Costco
Unfortunately, Kris winery does not seem to have a website. Kris is bottled by Franz Haas winery, but their website does not mention Kris.
This is a very light, crisp Pinot Grigio. The wine is pale yellow in color. It has a mild citrus flavor. This is a wholly plain and unremarkable wine. It should be in a bottle labeled "Plain White Table Wine from Italy". I don't hate it, but I wouldn't rush out to buy more.
The label on the bottle suffers from severe Attention Deficit Disorder. There are two eyes above the word Kris on the label. Then there is a green hand with a grape vine woven through the fingers. Next to the hand there is a red lipstick print. Next to the lips is a gold-leaf blob that I presume is supposed to be a grape. Or maybe it's supposed to be the sun. I guess the label is befitting of the wine. Neither commits. But at least the label has character. It's disjointed, but has character.
You know a wine is not impressive if I have more to say about the label than the wine.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Guest Review by J.C.: Columbia Crest 2005 Grand Estates Merlot
The Winery: Columbia Crest
The Wine: 2005 Grand Estates Merlot
The Price: Free. It was a gift. (Probably not more than $10-$15)
(I am a guest wine reviewer. So, don't hold Brian responsible!)
This wine is a very dark color -- almost black in the glass. Actually, it would be most accurately described as the color of flat Cherry Coke. When the glass is tilted to the side and only a portion of the wine is looked through, it's a lovely maroony color that would be a lovely lipstick hue (especially for those with an olive skin tone).
It smells fruity and slightly peppery. There's a slight hint of Cottonwood tree bark. It has nice gams with full round thighs. I can only describe the taste as harsh and dry with a slightly peppery afterbite. It warms the back of the throat and goes quite well with a smelly cheese and a dry salami. However, avoid it with chocolate as it makes the chocolate taste crumbly.
I'd give it a resounding "average" rating. I found it to be rather unremarkable, so I'll hereby stop remarking on it.
The Wine: 2005 Grand Estates Merlot
The Price: Free. It was a gift. (Probably not more than $10-$15)
(I am a guest wine reviewer. So, don't hold Brian responsible!)
This wine is a very dark color -- almost black in the glass. Actually, it would be most accurately described as the color of flat Cherry Coke. When the glass is tilted to the side and only a portion of the wine is looked through, it's a lovely maroony color that would be a lovely lipstick hue (especially for those with an olive skin tone).
It smells fruity and slightly peppery. There's a slight hint of Cottonwood tree bark. It has nice gams with full round thighs. I can only describe the taste as harsh and dry with a slightly peppery afterbite. It warms the back of the throat and goes quite well with a smelly cheese and a dry salami. However, avoid it with chocolate as it makes the chocolate taste crumbly.
I'd give it a resounding "average" rating. I found it to be rather unremarkable, so I'll hereby stop remarking on it.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Bosco Nestore 2003 Pan - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
The Winery: Bosco Nestore
The Wine: 2003 Pan - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
The Price: $13.99 at my local Costco
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this wine. Most of the label is in Italian, so I was shooting in the dark when I selected it. It is also not a winery that I am familiar with.
The label has a primitive painting of Pan in purple on an orange background. The label is part of what drew me to this wine to begin with. That it was from Italy made it all the more enticing, given that I am still trying to expand my tasting beyond my little corner of the world.
This wine is made from 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 85% Montepulciano grapes. The result is a very nice dry, red wine. The wine is a very dark ruby color. It has a pepper flavor on the front with flavors of cherry and strawberry. It has a very dry, nearly gritty, feeling on the tongue - not in a bad way. This is a good wine at a good price with the bonus of a cool label.
The Wine: 2003 Pan - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
The Price: $13.99 at my local Costco
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this wine. Most of the label is in Italian, so I was shooting in the dark when I selected it. It is also not a winery that I am familiar with.
The label has a primitive painting of Pan in purple on an orange background. The label is part of what drew me to this wine to begin with. That it was from Italy made it all the more enticing, given that I am still trying to expand my tasting beyond my little corner of the world.
This wine is made from 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 85% Montepulciano grapes. The result is a very nice dry, red wine. The wine is a very dark ruby color. It has a pepper flavor on the front with flavors of cherry and strawberry. It has a very dry, nearly gritty, feeling on the tongue - not in a bad way. This is a good wine at a good price with the bonus of a cool label.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
A Willamette Valley Winery Trip
Much to the probable dismay of my family and friends in Portland, I took a trip to the Willamette Valley to hit a few wineries during the holiday and did not visit with any of them during my time in Oregon. What follows is a recap of the trip.
The trip started with a visit to August Cellars. This is a new winery to me. I thought we were stopping at a winery I'd previously visited, but it turned out to be a (relatively) new one. As it turns out, the winery I was looking for was Rex Hill. Given the similarity of the entrances to the two wineries, it's an easy mistake to make.
August Cellars was an unexpected gem along the way. The person working the tasting room (unfortunately I didn't get her name) was great. She was very warm and friendly. She had an interesting life history (grew up in Missouri and lived in France for a few years). She had a good knowledge of wine, and was quite dismayed when I referred to the 2004 Pinot as "typical". Look for reviews of the 2003 and 2004 Pinots in the near future. August did not charge for their tasting flight.
The next stop was the Torii Mor winery. Overall, I found them to be overly pretentious and overpriced. I ended up buying two wines from them. The rest of their wines were, quite frankly, over priced and not very good. That said, their port is the best I've ever tasted, so I blew the dust off my wallet and sprung for a bottle. Due to the cost, I will save it for a very special occasion. I also bought a bottle of the dessert wine. Everything about Torii Mor was pretentious, especially the people working the tasting room. The wines were over priced, without exception. They seriously need to cut all of their prices in half. Tori Mor charged $10 for the tasting flight.
I tried to go to Erath, but they were seriously slammed and I didn't feel like waiting around to sample their wines. I knew that I could find their wines in Seattle, so we left without sampling anything.
The last stop was Sokol Blosser. I know, I know. I gush over these folks. But they are GREAT! Being a Cellar Club member, I got my tasting for free. I try to get to Sokol Blosser a couple times per year, and really appreciate this benefit. Sokol Blosser really does things right. Their tasting room is well laid out and the staff is always very attentive. While my tasting was a free benefit, the normal charge is $15 with a souvenir glass, or $10 with no glass.
I tried to hit a few other wineries, but they were all closed for the holidays.
Now for a bit of editorializing. While I don't mind paying for tasting, I remember when most wineries didn't charge for tastings. As a consumer, I am MUCH less likely to buy wine if the winery charges for tastings. I would propose that a good solution would be for wineries to credit the cost of the tasting towards the purchase of any wine you purchase. That way the consumer is buying the wine they like, and the winery is not giving away wine for free.
The trip started with a visit to August Cellars. This is a new winery to me. I thought we were stopping at a winery I'd previously visited, but it turned out to be a (relatively) new one. As it turns out, the winery I was looking for was Rex Hill. Given the similarity of the entrances to the two wineries, it's an easy mistake to make.
August Cellars was an unexpected gem along the way. The person working the tasting room (unfortunately I didn't get her name) was great. She was very warm and friendly. She had an interesting life history (grew up in Missouri and lived in France for a few years). She had a good knowledge of wine, and was quite dismayed when I referred to the 2004 Pinot as "typical". Look for reviews of the 2003 and 2004 Pinots in the near future. August did not charge for their tasting flight.
The next stop was the Torii Mor winery. Overall, I found them to be overly pretentious and overpriced. I ended up buying two wines from them. The rest of their wines were, quite frankly, over priced and not very good. That said, their port is the best I've ever tasted, so I blew the dust off my wallet and sprung for a bottle. Due to the cost, I will save it for a very special occasion. I also bought a bottle of the dessert wine. Everything about Torii Mor was pretentious, especially the people working the tasting room. The wines were over priced, without exception. They seriously need to cut all of their prices in half. Tori Mor charged $10 for the tasting flight.
I tried to go to Erath, but they were seriously slammed and I didn't feel like waiting around to sample their wines. I knew that I could find their wines in Seattle, so we left without sampling anything.
The last stop was Sokol Blosser. I know, I know. I gush over these folks. But they are GREAT! Being a Cellar Club member, I got my tasting for free. I try to get to Sokol Blosser a couple times per year, and really appreciate this benefit. Sokol Blosser really does things right. Their tasting room is well laid out and the staff is always very attentive. While my tasting was a free benefit, the normal charge is $15 with a souvenir glass, or $10 with no glass.
I tried to hit a few other wineries, but they were all closed for the holidays.
Now for a bit of editorializing. While I don't mind paying for tasting, I remember when most wineries didn't charge for tastings. As a consumer, I am MUCH less likely to buy wine if the winery charges for tastings. I would propose that a good solution would be for wineries to credit the cost of the tasting towards the purchase of any wine you purchase. That way the consumer is buying the wine they like, and the winery is not giving away wine for free.
Sokol Blosser 2006 Rosé of Pinot Noir
The Winery: Sokol Blosser
The Wine: 2006 Rosé of Pinot Noir
The Price: $12.00
This is a very bright, crisp Rosé. The wine has a very festive light-red color. This is a slightly dry Rosé with very well developed berry and apple flavors. This is one of the lower cost offerings from Sokol Blosser, and is a great buy at $12. I am quickly becoming a fan of Rosés.
The Wine: 2006 Rosé of Pinot Noir
The Price: $12.00
This is a very bright, crisp Rosé. The wine has a very festive light-red color. This is a slightly dry Rosé with very well developed berry and apple flavors. This is one of the lower cost offerings from Sokol Blosser, and is a great buy at $12. I am quickly becoming a fan of Rosés.
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