Well, it has been a good long time. Since work is keeping me so busy, I’ll give you one of my latest finds with some notes from the vintner, and just leave it at that. Besides, I have to get back to work (and enjoying this Pinot Noir).
Di Bari Wines
Portland Oregon Wine Blog
2010 Heritage Cuvee Pinot Noir
Boho Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel
Ah, the humble boxed wine. Many turn their nose up at the very thought of disgracing their Riedel stemware with such filth. I find myself laughing at such pretension. Wine is meant to be enjoyed for many of its aspects, and simplicity can certainly be one of those aspects.
My local grocer has been beefing up their selection of boxed wines recently. This, along with a temporary stint in my savings, leads me down the path of less complex, but more affordable wines. Now, you may argue that there are plenty of bottles coming in at quite agressive prices. However, few would deny the cost effectiveness of a boxed wine for everyday drinking.
Now that I’ve got that rant out of my system, onward to the BoHo!
Bergström 2008 Pinot Noir
Well, the holidays are here, and there’s nothing like breaking the $20 ceiling on my weekly wine. I shared this wine with my 2 closest friends after a long trip back from the Oregon coast. Sufficed to say that it was fine all by itself, but I think it would pair wonderfully with a myriad of dishes.
A nice beef fillet would be a good choice; nothing heavily spiced, but seared rare. Most non-creamy chicken and fish dishes would also be an interesting endeavor, though be careful not to overpower the lighter meats. I would pair this with herb baked quail if I had the chance. Turns out we devoured the bottle long before I could start cooking.
I’ll leave the rest up to the professionals, and indeed, to you the reader. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this gem among Oregon pinots.
Mont Marcal Cava Brut Reserva
This sparkling white has recently found a place in my heart for cheaper sparking wines that don’t leave you mixing. All too often I resign myself to mimosas when in effect, all I wanted was a light, dry sparkling wine.
This Cava was made by the traditional method of secondary fermentation in bottle and blended using the following Catalan grape varieties: Xarello, Macabeo, and Parellada. 18 months spent on the lees imparts a fresh yeasty aroma to ripe apple flavors; creamy but with balance that transfers well to the palate.
The winery is in the heart of the Penedes, located on a hill overlooking the village of Mont-Marcal. The winery’s origins date back to 1975. Manuel Sancho purchased the then 18th century convent and converted it into the vineyards that exist today. He also converted the medieval passageways, creating today’s site for ageing the wines.
This is really a great buy, and while not my favorite Cava, certainly one to remember. Stay tuned for more info from Mont Marcal.
Selbach-Oster 2007 Riesling Spätlese
Steep slope. Medium-grained Devonian slate as topsoil with medium-deep subsoil of decomposed slate mixed with some loam. Doesn’t that just say it all?
Aside from that bit of terroir text, there is actually quite a bit of legitiment chatter out there about Selbach-Oster’s Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese. Myself I’ve found this wine to be pleasant all on it’s own, and yet hefty enough to stand up to some spicy Thai or Cantonese food. The nose has a great smokey, ripe fruit aura, leading to a mildly creamy balanced fruit and floral palate. Clean, mineral finish.
At around $35, I generally reserve this white for those special occasions. This hasn’t, however, stopped me from drinking this wine at least once a year for the past 7 or so years.
Also of some wine-geek note, starting in 2007 the German wine authorities have changed labeling laws to rename all of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wines to just “Mosel.”
Follow the read link for some more detailed info.
Nobilo Icon 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Nobilo was established in 1943 by Nikola Nobilo and remained family owned until the late 1990s. Now known as Nobilo Wine Group the company is New Zealand’s second largest wine company. Needless to say you have plenty of homework to do on them if you are interested in becoming a true New Zealand wine connoisseur.
The Nobilo icon might not be a bad way to start though; assuming you don’t have lots of extra homework time.
The last time I had the money to splurge on some fine dining, I started with our friend here. At $16, I was quite surprised at the quality of this wine, with its crispness and tannic bite. A friend who served me the wine recommended I look for hints of asparagus. While I generally try not to taste this particular veggie without it being on my plate, I was surprised to find it lurking in the back of this wine’s finish.
The light, lemon-yellow color is accompanied by a spicy, almost gooseberry nose. The palate is indeed tropical, as the vintner portends, along with subtle hints of anise and chive. The finish, as mentioned, is well worth the wait, and lingers on the tongue.
This is a great deal, and an amazing little wine. I’d highly recommend this for those of you looking for some good, mid-priced holiday wines.
Hit up the read link for some info from the Nobilos themselves.
Stangeland 2003 Pinot Noir
Often mispronounce “Strange-land”, even by yours truly, this “Estate Reserve” is rather hard to come by. Also, giving that it passes my $20 weekly limit, this would fall into the special occasion wine for me. (more…)
Watermill Winery 2006 Chances R
What would be a great buy at around $10 falls a little short when the price rises to a steep $15. This was my first impression when tasting the 2006 Chances R red blend. After giving this wine some time to open up, there were some noticeable jammy notes both on the nose and palate. The finish was clean, if unremarkable. It was a medium bodied wine, but there wasn’t really enough tannic acid to hold up the heavy fruits.
That being said, this is certainly an affordable wine, even at around $15. I’m happy to spend a few extra bucks to get a local wine, when I would have bought something from Italy (Masciarelli Montepulciano) or down south from Napa. A little birdie told me that the 2007 has grown up a bit, and I’m excited to try it. Overall this is a great wine for simple meals, or drinking on it’s own.
Hit up the read link for some more info.
Van Duzer 2007 Pinot Noir
There really isn’t a whole lot I can say about this wine that hasn’t already been said. A quick google will provide you with a myriad of links to various chatty wine sites and voracious merchants.
For me, this is a special occasion wine. At around $30, we have reached beyond what my weekly budget allows for a single bottle of wine (much to my chagrin). However, when I have a reason to splurge, this selection makes me feel like I spend my celebratory money well.
So, when that tenderloin meal occurs, or perhaps when I’m about to dive into a light clam and prosciutto pasta, this is one of my favorite wines to reach for. Even though it is one of the more popular Oregon offerings, it has graced my table long enough for me to build up a feeling of nostalgia.
So, hit up the read link, and let the vintner try and sell you some wine. I certainly would try to if I were him.
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