22 April 2026 2022 Quink Vineyard Pinot Noir

2022 Quink Vineyard Pinot Noir

April 22, 2026 By

Besides the amazing food, sexy space and polished service, what I love about Crown Shy in Manhattan is the creative wine list. On a recent visit, I had the opportunity to sample the 2022 Quink Vineyard Pinot Noir by Trail Marker Wine Co. and wanted to document the tasting notes in case I see this wine featured at other places. With only 68 cases made, it might be a little difficult to find!

This Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir would pair beautifully with mushroom dishes (thinking Porcini Risotto), seared salmon, duck or grilled chicken. Alternatively, having a glass of this wonderful Pinot Noir on a beautiful afternoon on the lanai would be fantastic also, sans food.

Producer: Trail Marker Wine Co.

Color in the glass: Light ruby

Aromas: Cherry, raspberry with some earthy notes

Taste: Bright fruit, more cherry, light bodied with a medium finish   

Price: $45

Grape(s): Pinot Noir

Region: Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
12 January 2022 Champagne Louis de Sacy NV Brut Originel

Champagne Louis de Sacy NV Brut Originel

January 12, 2022 By

I purchased this wonderful grower Champagne at my favorite wine shop, Amanti Vino, in Morristown, NJ. The owner always has special finds and small production bottling that one cannot find at other stores. If you’re a fan of quality, small producer wines, check out her website.

Creamy, refined, fresh and elegant wine with flavors of ripe pear and apple with a touch of citrus and great minerality.

Smell: floral and fruity (apple) with nutty and yeasty notes

Taste: juicy pear, sweet meyer lemon, ripe stone fruit and toasted bread

Texture and Finish: fine moussy bubbles, great minerality, long finish

Pairings: oysters, seafood, sushi, light cream sauced pasta, shellfish

Style: sparkling

Grape Type(s): 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier

Region: Champagne, France

Price: $35

I need to order more of this well-made grower Champagne, a great bottle for $35.

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

2018 No Curfew Pinot Noir

November 11, 2020 By

The 2018 No Curfew Pinot Noir is part of the Amici Cellars and Olema Wines family from Calistoga, California, known for expertly crafted wines of character, quality, and personality.

I’m trying to incorporate a few wines I’ve never sampled, priced under $15, every time I go to the wine store. This medium-bodied Pinot Noir was found on one of my shopping trips and I need to stock up on it and check out the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon No Curfew also produces. It  drinks young and fresh with cherry cordial flavors and a lovely velvety finish.

The 2018 No Curfew Pinot Noir is affordable, a very enjoyable easy drinking wine and I’m digging its motto of “Because Limitations Are A Drag”.

Looks: Dark garnet red in the glass

Smell: Bright cherry and dark berries aromas with notes of tobacco

Taste: Chocolate-covered cherry and ripe strawberry with a little spice on the palate

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, spice on the long finish

Pairings: Duck, turkey, mushroom-based dishes (mushroom risotto would be stellar), grilled salmon, a great cheesy burger

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Region: California, USA

Price: $14.99

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
26 February 2020 Ninth Island Non-Vintage Sparkling

Ninth Island Non-Vintage Sparkling

February 26, 2020 By

I had this lovely Tasmanian sparkling wine by the glass at a hot NYC restaurant and really didn’t know what to expect. I was taken aback by what a great wine this was for the price point.

About Ninth Island

Ninth Island is named after a small island located in the Bass Strait, just off the coast from the Pipers Brook Estate where the Ninth Island Wines are made.

Pipers Brook Estate and Ninth Island are regarded as modern day pioneers in the wine industry of Tasmania where they produce 100% estate grown and made wines, like this Ninth Island Non-Vintage Sparkling.

Great moussy sparkler with bright lemony and juicy apple aromas continuing on the palate with some strawberry and floral notes.

Looks: Medium straw yellow in the glass

Smell: Intense juicy pear, citrus and apple on the nose

Taste: Zesty citrus, like strawberry and floral notes on the palate

Texture and Finish: Light-bodied, creamy mousse with great acidity with a dry finish

Pairings: Seafood (specially oysters), fish (ceviche would be great). Great as an aperitif

Style: Sparkling White Wine

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier

Region: Tasmania, Australia

Price: $25

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Australia, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
8 January 2020 Tasting the Wines of Cline Cellars Sonoma Coast

Tasting the Wines of Cline Cellars Sonoma Coast

January 8, 2020 By

Cline Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery in Sonoma, California founded by Fred Cline, one of the original Rhone Rangers, in 1982 in Oakley, California. Cline’s original vintages from Mourvedre, Zinfandel and Carignane vines dating as far back as the 1880’s.

Nancy & Fred Cline. Photo credit: Cline Cellars Inc

In 1989, the Clines acquired a 350-acre horse farm in Carneros and moved the winery to Sonoma County. While the original vineyards were focused on Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, Fred and his wife Nancy have continued to plant vineyards in Sonoma County with Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay.

Cline Cellars is grounded in sustainability through its natural and sustainable Green String farming methods.

Cline Cellars’ Sonoma Coast wines are produced from vineyards in the region known as the Petaluma Gap and are exposed to morning fog from the nearby Pacific, with a combination of shallow clay and deep loam blocks that make this area much sought-after for Pinot Noir and other finicky varietals.

2018 Cline Cellars Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

This Sonoma Chardonnay packs big flavors of ripe juice tropical fruit, pear and apple with oaky/vanilla notes on a long, rich finish.

Looks: Pale golden in the glass

Smell: Vanilla, peach, ripe red apple, caramel

Taste: Juicy papaya, ripe pear, caramel and vanilla on the finish with oaky notes

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, medium acidity and long finish

Pairings: Roast chicken, lobster/monkfish, chicken wings, buttery risotto

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 98% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Gris

Price: $20

2018 Cline Cellars Pinot Gris Sonoma Coast

Refreshing, thirst-quenching and approachable California Pinot Gris that’s both food-friendly and a perfect sipper on a warm afternoon. Great price for a lovely wine.

Looks: Palest yellow with hints of green in the glass

Smell: Pink grapefruit, tart apple

Taste: Bright flavors of apple, pear and Meyer lemons

Texture and Finish: Light-bodied, bright acidity and light, crisp finish

Pairings: Grilled fish, lighter salad, as an aperitif

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Gris

Price: $15

2018 Cline Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir has silky texture and the cherry cordial/raspberry flavors I enjoy/expect from this region.

Looks: Medium ruby red in the glass

Smell: Ripe raspberry/strawberry, chocolate notes

Taste: Chocolate-covered cherries, raspberry

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, nice level of acidity, smooth tannins and long finish

Pairings: Duck, roast chicken, grilled salmon, game

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Gris

Price: $20

Cheers,

Veronique

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding them to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
9 January 2019 2015 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir

2015 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir

January 9, 2019 By

I know this 2015 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir was a baby, but I still opted to uncork it on New Year’s Eve to pair with some of the meats served at my fondue party. While it could have used some additional time in the bottle, the wine was lovely, much like the 2014 vintage was.

Cristom Vineyards (www.cristomvineyards.com) began 25 years ago as a collaboration between an engineer and a biochemist who each had a deep-rooted respect for the land, the natural winemaking process, and Pinot Noir.

Today, second-generation winegrower and owner Tom Gerrie leads winemaker Steve Doerner and the tenured viticulture team in tending the Estate vineyards, and producing elegant, dynamic wines, recognizable by Cristom’s hallmark style of whole-cluster fermentation by native yeasts.

The Mt. Jefferson Cuvée is Cristom’s flagship Pinot Noir, a blend of the Cristom estate Pinot Noir along with exceptional fruit sourced from neighboring vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

The 2015 vintage is similar to the 2014 vintage and will be remembered as a warm year that produced extremely high-quality fruit of great intensity.2015 will likely be considered among the better vintages in Willamette Valley winegrowing history.

Looks: Bright red in the glass

Smell: Big, ripe raspberry aromas with chocolate notes

Taste: Rich flavors of raspberries/cherries with some licorice notes

Texture and Finish: Rich silky texture. Medium-bodied, some tannins on the finish with great acidity

Pairings: Poultry, salmon, mushroom-based dishes

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Willamette Valley, OR, USA

Price: $29.99

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
18 July 2018 French Roots, American Dream – Gruet Winery

French Roots, American Dream – Gruet Winery

July 18, 2018 By

I’m a big fan of Gruet wines and find it fascinating that an acclaimed French Champagne maker would travel to the USA in the 1980s, specifically New Mexico, to start a sparkling wine business. What foresight and drive!

About Gruet Winery

Gilbert Gruet and his wife Danielle, dreaming of producing fine Champagnes, founded Gruet et Fils in Bethon, France and has been making Champagne since 1952.

The family traveled through the southwestern USA in 1983 and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had had success planting vineyards about 150 miles south of Albuquerque. In 1984, Gilbert decided to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes in an experimental vineyard in Engle, NM. Two of his four children, Laurent and Nathalie, relocated to New Mexico to begin the family’s American winemaking business.

Laurent is the Head Winemaker at Gruet Winery. Like his father before him, Laurent’s top priority as a winemaking is quality. Wine Spectator named his Gruet NV Blanc de Noirs a Top 100 wine of the world in 2011, an unusual accolade for a sparkling wine under $20.

Nathalie is Gruet Winery’s President. Nathalie moved to the USA only knowing a few English words and has helped propel Gruet into its current position as one of the top-rated American sparkling wines in its price category.

Gruet Brut Rosé NV

Gruet Brut RoseI enjoyed this wine recently at a tapas restaurant where it paired beautifully with so many dishes and flavors – very food friendly.

Looks: Medium salmon-colored in the glass

Smell: Big, ripe strawberry aromas with bright floral notes

Taste: Rich flavors of raspberries/strawberries/ with some juicy cherry notes

Texture and Finish: Fresh with small bubbles. Medium-bodied, dry on the finish with great acidity

Pairings: Grilled fish or seafood

Style: Rosé Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: New Mexico, USA

Price: $17

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, Rose, Blush Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
13 June 2018 Sokol Blosser Farm and Forage Experience

Sokol Blosser Farm and Forage Experience

June 13, 2018 By

On a recent trip to the Willamette Valley, I had the pleasure of visiting Sokol Blosser, one of Oregon’s oldest and largest wineries. To add to my first time visit, I reserved the Farm and Forage wine-paired luncheon and highly recommend the experience.

About Sokol Blosser

Founded in 1971 by Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser, the popular winery saw its first vines planted in the Dundee Hills when there was literally no established Oregon wine industry.

The Sokol Blosser family set out to grow and produce the finest Pinot Noir and soon became pioneers in modern-day Oregon wine country. Now, the second generation of Sokol Blosser, Winemaker Alex Sokol Blosser and sister Alison Sokol Blosser, CEO, is at the helm keeping the ‘good to the earth’ mantra of the winery which practices certified-organic farming on 86 planted acres. The family’s commitment towards sustainability, biodiversity and sustainable business practices are felt throughout the winery, including its LEED-certified underground barrel cellar.

The winery’s 128 acres provide fruit to produce 80,000 cases of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling under the Sokol Blosser brand name. White blend, red blend, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine are crafted under the brand name Evolution (see https://evolutionwine.com for complete details).

About the Farm & Forage Lunch

​

My Seat at Kitchen Table

With his Farm & Forage culinary experience, Sokol Blosser Executive Chef, Henry Kibit, creates six bites to be paired with six wines. This is a great way to fully appreciate the wines whose flavors are heightened with food. The fun part, our group of five diners/wine tasters sat at a counter in the kitchen to watch the magic happen. The experience is available for up to eight guests.

The kitchen staff follows the winery mantra, “good to the earth” and sources ingredients for the various winery menus from local purveyors and also forages on the property for mushrooms, nettles, salad greens and much more.  

Farm & Forage is currently offered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1:00pm. During the busy summer months, July through October, Sokol Blosser offers a second time slot on Saturdays, so the experience is available at 11am and 2pm.

The cost of the lunch including wine is $75 per person or $60 or 1,800 points for Cellar Club members. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Sokol Blosser. 

These are the lovely wines we tasted along with the food we enjoyed. Note that the menu changes based on the products available to Chef Kibit.

Evolution Brut Sparkling ($20)

Creamy texture, juicy green/Fiji apple flavors with a bit of lemon on the crisp finish. Just a perfect summer sparkler and I couldn’t keep from ordering a case for patio parties.

This was the welcome wine when I arrived for the lunch.

2017 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir

100% Pinot Noir, 100% from estate-grown, organic grapes. Wild strawberry on the nose. Strawberry continues on the palate with pink grapefruit on the finish. Vibrant acidity that’s screaming for food.

Paired with: Purple sprouting broccoli, oil cured olive, roe, Belper Knolle.

2016 Dundee Hills Pinot Blanc ($22)

On the palate are green apple and peach flavors with a bit of Meyer lemon on the finish. Great minerality – nice pairing with the halibut.

Paired with: Halibut, ramp, nettle, chervil.

2014 Thistle Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir ($38)

Good transition wine between white and bolder reds. Medium red with pale pink on the edge of the wine glass rim. Bright cherry on the nose with earthy, chocolate notes. Red fruit/berry flavors with earthy notes and firm tannins on the finish.

Paired with: Raab, turnip, egg.

2014 Big Tree Block Pinot Noir ($70)

100% Pinot Noir, 100% from estate-grown, organic grapes. Bright acidity on this wine – cherry on the nose and palate with citrusy finish.

Paired with: Lamb, Za’atar, spinach, cattail.

2015 Twelve Row Block Estate Pinot Noir ($60)

This is much bigger Pinot Noir than I’m accustomed to and really enjoyed it. It’s bold with chocolate-coated ripe cherry flavors and tobacco notes.

Paired with: NY Strip, yellowfoot, hazelnut, brown butter.

2014 Sparkling Rosé of Pinot Noir ($50)

100% pinot noir. What a treat this pale pink rosé bubbly was with our dessert. Fine mousse-like bubbles, light strawberry flavors and a crisp, dry finish. A nicely-made, method Champenoise sparkling wine.

Paired with: Chocolate (dark/milk), flowers.

If you’ve not been to Oregon wine country, Sokol Blosser is a must-visit and the Farm & Forage experience is not to pass up.

About the Location and Tasting Room Hours

Tasting Room hours: Daily from 10am-4pm.

5000 Sokol Blosser Lane, Dayton, Oregon. www.sokolblosser.com

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Food & Wine Events, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
9 May 2018 Van Duzer Vineyards

Van Duzer Vineyards

May 9, 2018 By

I recently had the opportunity to sample some of Van Duzer Vineyard’s wines at a festival and really enjoyed the Willamette Valley wines. The two affordable wines I tasted were the 2016 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Rosé and the 2016 Van Duzer Pinot Gris.

About Van Duzer

Carl and Marilynn Thoma, owners of Van Duzer Vineyards (www.vanduzer.com), were among the first visionaries to select the Van Duzer Corridor to establish their family estate in 1998. The 80+ acre estate is planted in the direct path of cool marine winds that help moderate the temperatures over the vineyard.

I don’t typically buy wine based on labels, but the Van Duzer labels are beautiful and were designed by acclaimed illustrator, John Martinez, whose work can be seen in the collections of the Library of Congress and Museum of Modern Art.

About the Winemaker and Wines

Van Duzer’s winemaker is Florent Merlier whose career in wine began in Burgundy. His background helped him understand how to capitalize on the flavors in the thicker-skinned grapes that thrive in the Van Duzer Corridor and around the Willamette Valley.

Van Duzer Vineyards is LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology)-certified as well as Salmon Safe and IOBC.

2016 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Rosé

I was really impressed by this rosé – true summer in a glass. Would be perfect as a summer sipper or paired with appetizers an outdoor party. For those into that sort of thing, this wine received an 86 points from Wine Enthusiast.

Looks: Medium salmon-colored in the glass

Smell: Big, ripe strawberry aromas with some floral notes just screaming for me to take a sip

Taste: Flavors of raspberries/strawberries/ with some juicy watermelon notes

Texture and Finish: Bone dry on the finish with great acidity

Pairings: Grilled fish or seafood

Style: Rosé Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Willamette Valley, OR, USA

Price: $20

2016 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Gris

Worth getting a case of this lovely Pinot Gris for summer get-togethers. This wine received an 87 points from Wine Enthusiast.

Looks: Medium salmon-colored in the glass

Smell: Tropical fruit bouquet – peach, mango, pineapple

Taste: Flavors of juicy apple/pear with some peach and Meyon lemon notes

Texture and Finish: Creamy mouthfeel that with great acidity and minerality on the finish

Pairings: Oysters, sautéed scallops, white-flesh fish

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Gris

Region: Willamette Valley, OR, USA

Price: $18

Happy drinking,

Veronique

 

 

Filed Under: Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Rose, Blush Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
25 April 2018 French Soul, Oregon Soil Experience – Domaine Drouhin

French Soul, Oregon Soil Experience – Domaine Drouhin

April 25, 2018 By

The kind folks at Domaine Drouhin hosted me for one of the best wine tasting experiences I’ve encountered during one of my recent trips west.

About Domaine Drouhin

The Drouhin family has had deep roots in winemaking having taken hold in Burgundy’s top vineyards over a century ago.

The Domaine Drouhin Oregon estate was founded in the late 1980s when fourth generation of Drouhins, namely Véronique Drouhin, came to Oregon’s Willamette Valley after receiving a masters diploma in enology. In 1987, Véronique was named the new Domaine Drouhin Oregon winemaker and the winery has been producing award-wining wines since.

About The French Soul, Oregon Soil: The Drouhin Experience Tour and Comparative Tasting

This was a very special tasting comparing the stellar Burgundy wines of Joseph Drouhin against the outstanding Domaine Drouhin Oregon wines.

Our group of five was guided by Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Madeleine Todd, through the four-story gravity flow winery. Madeleine focused on what makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Oregon and Burgundy similar, yet so clearly different. Following the tour, our group sat at a communal table and was led through a comparative tasting of five wines paired with a selection of fine cheeses. 

The 60-75 minute tasting is $40 per person and is offered at 10:00am every day except Wednesday. Reservations are required for this fascinating experience.

About the Wines

124 acres of Domaine Drouhin Oregon’s 225 acres are under vine and are certified sustainable by L.I.V.E. The family’s distinct approach to winemaking, and long experience with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, have earned an international reputation for consistent excellence. Here are the wines we sampled:

2015 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills ($35) – light, crisp, fresh wine with aromas of flowers and juicy melon. Lovely round mouthfeel with citrus and peach flavors ending with a little nuttiness. Amazing minerality for perfect food friendliness.

2015 Chablis Mont de Milieu Premier Cru ($42) – big, rich, mouth-coating delicious wine. Bright yellow in the glass with floral and citrus aromas. Beautifully structured, elegant wine.

2015 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Arthur, Dundee Hills ($35) – soft peach aromas followed more peach on the palate and ending with great acidity on a long finish.

2015 Joseph Drouhin Aloxe Corton ($58) – lovely bright red in the glass with big fruit on the nose and spiced notes. Rich, deep fruit flavors with a long finish.

2015 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Dundee Hills ($45) – love that we see this wine on the east coast. Big, ripe berry and fruit aromas that continue on the palate. Big round mouthfeel with a medium tannins and a little pepper on the finish. Like the style of Pinot, a lot.

2015 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Zepherine, Eola-Amity Hills ($60) – deep ruby in the glass, this Pinot was my favorite in the lineup. Fresh berry aromas with notes of chocolate and vanilla. Difficult to stop sniffing to take a taste, but, oh, so worth it. Big juicy, ripe berry/cherry flavors with mocha notes. Velvet mouthfeel and a long finish on this young wine that will only get better with a few years in the cellar.

2014 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène, Dundee Hills ($70) – lovely red fruit and pumpkin pie spice aromas. On the palate, there is dark, ripe cherry with some red berry flavors. Pretty wine with light tannins and a long finish.

Domaine Drouhin Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Madeleine Todd, offered such great content and details about the Drouhin family history, the winery and the wines. She made my experience very memorable and I appreciated her knowledge and passion for Oregon wines and Drouhin in general.

Domaine Drouhin – www.domainedrouhin.com  6750 NE Breyman Orchards Rd, Dayton, OR 97114.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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