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: , , , ,
11 April 2018 The Ultimate Sonoma Winery Experience – Three Sticks Wines

The Ultimate Sonoma Winery Experience – Three Sticks Wines

April 11, 2018 By

Dear friends recommended we visit Three Sticks Wines on our latest Sonoma visit and it was one of the best tasting experiences we’ve ever had.

About Three Sticks Wines

Three Sticks Living Room

Three Sticks Living Room

Three Sticks Wines is a boutique, family-owned winery whose philosophy is to produce wines of world class quality from exceptional vineyards in Sonoma County, including our estate properties Durell, Walala and Gap’s Crown Vineyards.

“Three Sticks” refers to the three Roman numerals that follow Founder Bill Price’s written name. He was known as “Billy Three Sticks” growing up surfing in Hawaii, where the young Price attended high school. Price, an attorney by trade, expanded his passion for wine when his former private equity firm bought Beringer in 1995. Other wine industry investments have been made in Chateau St Jean, Kistler Vineyards, Gary Farrell Winery, Lutum and Head High. Price also owns Durell Vineyard from which Three Sticks sources some of its grapes.

About The Adobe

The historic Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe is one of Sonoma’s few remaining buildings from California’s Mexican period and the longest occupied residence in town. The history of the property is as follows:

1842 – Constructed by Captain Salvador Vallejo, infamous brother of beloved General Mariano Vallejo.

1947 – Gregory and Harriet Jones purchased the property, which they called “La Casita”, and launched into a major restoration.

1997 – Mrs. Jones’ estate sold The Adobe to her dear friends Robert & Leslie Demler who meticulously cared for the building for the next 15 years.

2012 – Bill and Eva Price purchased The Adobe from the Demlers for Three Sticks in November 2012, 170 years after its original construction.

Three Sticks Parlor

Welcome Tasting

Bill and Eva Price bought Three Sticks Wines’s property to create a company headquarters with multiple functions. Famed San Francisco designer, Ken Fulk, was hired to design the three buildings (see the winery featured in Architectural Digest here) – the original adobe which houses the tasting lounge and kitchen; a newly-built cottage used as an office; and a new wine storehouse where a second tasting area is housed and where we enjoyed our tasting.

About the Gardens

Artwork in Garden

Artwork in Garden

We fell in love with the garden design created by Landscape Architect, Penney Magrane. The challenge was to reimagine the original Helen Van Pelt garden design to compliment Ken Fulk’s building design. The fire pit, sitting areas and outdoor dining area are reflections of the authentic restoration of the property. Several inviting spaces were created in the garden to allow several groups to share common spaces but in a private way. We went home with several design ideas for our own home.

 About the Wines

Veteran Director of Winemaking, Bob Cabral (former winemaker and general manager for Williams Selyem Winery) and Winemaker Ryan Prichard, make exceptional wines and it’s difficult to say which was my favorite, however, the Chardonnay sourced from Durell Vineyards is very special. Here are the wines we sampled:

2016 Casteñada White Blend ($45) – this is the third Rhone varietal in the trio of limited Casteñada label.  We were greeted with this wine upon arriving at the property and loved it so much we purchased a case to have at home for the summer. This wine is only available, in very small quantities, at the Adobe. This wine is a blend of 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 17% Marsanne and 13% Viognier – grapes I adore. Lovely floral and citrus notes on the nose are followed by great fruit flavors with amazing minerality (concrete egg fermented) and a crisp finish.

2016 Durell Vineyard Origin Chardonnay ($50) – The unoaked Origin Chardonnay from Durell Vineyard is fermented in concrete and offers light tropical fruit flavors. Rich-yet-light wine showing beautiful fruit without any masking from oak.

2015 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay ($55) – 100% Dijon clones which are perfectly suited to match the cool, foggy climate. This wine is bright with great minerality and a rich palate. This wine is aged 15 months in 100% French oak (40% new).

2016 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($65) – This vintage is a blend of William James Vineyard, Alana Vineyard and Earl Stephens Vineyard creating the perfect Russian River blend. Lovely fruity nose with typical cherry cola flavors and oaky notes on the medium finish.

2016 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, “The James” ($65) – Made with fruit from the famed Sanford & Benedict and La Rinconada Vineyards in Santa Barbara county, The James (named after Bill Price III’s son) is so different from Three Sticks’ Sonoma Pinot Noir and fun to drink side by side. Big red berry aromas and spiced ripe red berries on the palate on this wine in its last vintage.

The wines are sold through an allocation list so sign up if you’d like a chance at tasting these wonderful wines.

Tastings are available by appointment and range about 60 minutes for tastings and 90-120 minutes for a private luncheon. A current release tasting is $40 and $80 for the addition of library wines to the current release tasting. There are two food and wine experiences, the $85 Food & Wine Pairing – five wines paired with food from The Girl and the Fig and the $200 Private Luncheon – three-course meal with wine pairings, prepared by El Dorado Kitchen.

Three Sticks features some of the best wines in Sonoma and a visit to its historic tasting room right off the town square is a must when in wine country.

Three Sticks Wines – www.threestickswines.com 143 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Roussanne, United States, Viognier, Winery Visits Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
20 December 2017 Mumm Napa Brut Reserve NV

Mumm Napa Brut Reserve NV

December 20, 2017 By

Mumm Napa Brut ReserveMumm Napa Brut Reserve NV.

The holidays are right around the corner and that means popping corks on bottles of bubbly. With so many options on the market, it’s difficult to decide on what bottles to stock up on.

Mumm Napa Brut Reserve NV is a great option in terms of price point and taste. Established in the late 70s, Mumm Napa follows the winemaking techniques of its French heritage to create its Napa sparkling wines.

I paired this bubbly with coquilles St Jacques and it was a great pairing. The rich sauce and the dry slightly yeasty bubbly worked so well, but this food-friendly wine would be great with a variety of dishes.

Looks: Medium yellow in the glass with tiny, moussy bubbles.

Smell: Toasted bread and nutty aromas with apple notes.

Taste: Ripe apple/pear flavors with some vanilla notes.

Finish: Medium-long complex finish.

Pairings: Fried chicken, grilled fish, seafood.

Style: Sparkling Wine

Grape Type(s): 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay

Region: Napa Valley, California, USA

Price: $20

 

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
29 November 2017 November Wine Highlights

November Wine Highlights

November 29, 2017 By

At the end of every month, I select 3-5 wines that were standouts throughout the month and share tasting notes with you. Here are some of the November wines I enjoyed.

2015 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage

Crozes HermitageThis young wine was inky purple/red in the glass with dark berry aromas and hints of pepper and wet soil. It was medium to full-bodied with more dark fruit on the palate along with great acidity and firm tannins that will soften with some age in the bottle. We had this with a variety of grilled meats and it was a solid pairing.

It’s young but full of promise!

$31

100% Syrah

Rhone Valley, France

2014 Jonata Todos Red Blend

JonataAnother beauty from the team at Jonata proving once again that Matt Dees is one of the most talented winemakers in the central coast. This is a blend of the 11 varieties grown at the property. Mental note to add to my limited allocation next year.

Lovely aromas of cherry and raspberry with tobacco, leather and spiced notes. Ripe red fruit on the palate with cherry, raspberry, vanilla and chocolate notes. Great structure, velvety mouth-feel, smooth tannins. Medium finish with great minerality.

$50

Red Bordeaux Blend (Syrah/Shiraz, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Cabernet Franc).

Santa Ynez Valley, California

2016 Ravines Ayre White Wine

Ravines AyreSeems Ravines can do no wrong and Ayre is no exception. It’s an enjoyable semi-dry wine made from Valvin Muscat. This varietal is a French-American hybrid grape developed by Cornell University.

In the glass, the color is very pale yellow. On the nose, it’s very floral with a bit of sweetness. In the mouth, it’s sweet but with great acidy that help balance the wine. Nice peach, pear and sweet citrus flavors. There’s a good amount of carbonation in the half bottle format Ayre.

$10

Valvin Muscat

Finger Lakes, New York

2015 Norman Hardie Unfiltered Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula

Norman Hardie Pinot NoirI hosted a dinner party where I needed to pour some top Canadian wines and since the Norman Hardie Pinots come so highly-rated, I decided to order a few bottles of the 2015, a great year in the Niagara Peninsula.

In the glass, the wine is medium purple/red and just slightly opaque. There are big red fruit aromas and flavors with earthy notes that were right up my alley. The wine has nice acidity, round tanning and a medium, velvety finish. Very Burgundian in style.

This is a well-made, refined Pinot that’s easy drinking now but would be at another level with some age.

$35

Pinot Noir

Niagara Peninsula, Canada

 

Happy tasting,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Canada, France, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Syrah / Shiraz, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
13 September 2017 Paco & Lola Wine Tasting

Paco & Lola Wine Tasting

September 13, 2017 By

David Geary

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a wine pairing dinner featuring the wines of Paco & Lola from Galicia Spain. The dinner took place at a local restaurant and wine bar, Tree Tavern, and a representative from the winery, David Geary, was on-hand to offer interesting information about the wines, the winery and Galicia Spain, where the winery is located.

About Paco & Lola

Paco & Lola is a relatively young winery founded in 2005 that’s committed to making wine in a modern, fresh way and for exuding a sophisticated-yet-fun image for wine drinkers with its polka dot branding.

Paco & Lola was born from a business initiative of a group of independent winegrowers from O Salnés who wanted to take their production to a professional level. These winegrowers formed “Sociedad Cooperativa Vitivinícola Arousana” which is now the largest cooperative in the DO Rías Baixas with over 400 members.

Paco & Lola is a producer of Albariño, considered THE white grape variety grown in Galicia. It’s an early ripening grape variety with small, tightly-packed clusters of sweet, deep golden berries that are renowned for their outstanding sugar-producing ability and remarkable high acidity.

Some tasting notes from the wines we tasted at the dinner:

Paco & Lola 2016 Albariño – 100% Albariño ($29.99)

In the Glass

Light straw yellow with a touch of green.

Nose

Lovely fragrant aromas of juicy pear, green apple with a bit of tropical fruit and some floral notes.

Palate

Tropical fruit continues on the palate with some Meyer lemon notes. Medium-full bodied wine with nice amount of acidity on the long-ish finish.

Food Pairings

Fish, seafood, white meats

Nº12 by Paco & Lola – 100% Albariño ($19.99)

12 were the days that the must fermented in the tank number 12.

In the Glass

Light straw yellow with a touch of green.

Nose

Meyer lemon and floral aromas with a hint of tropical fruit.

Palate

Big mango/lychee fruit flavors with good acidity.

Paco Red 2014 – 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha ($18.99)

While Paco & Lola focuses on Albariño, it produces this red out of the DO Navarra, where Tempranillo- Garnacha grapes from old vines are harvested in vineyards of the Valdizarbe subzone. It was recommended this wine be served a bit on the cooler side, at around 56 degrees and I completely agree.

In the Glass

Dark cherry red with some purple hints.

Nose

Big red berry aromas with some floral notes.

Palate

Juicy dark berries and cherry flavors.

Food Pairings

Solid Tuesday night wine ideal for pizza, red sauced pasta, grilled burgers.

 

Paco & Lola 2010 Vintage – 100 % Albariño ($54.00)

Special high-end wine made in a limited edition of the best harvest of 2010. There were 400 bottles produced, I wouldn’t expect to find this in stores.

In the Glass

Intense straw yellow.

Nose

Candied tropical fruit with notes of nutmeg/cumin spices.

Palate

In love with this wine from the first sip – mouth-coating texture with big ripe fruit flavors and yeasty/toasted bread notes. Great acidity on a long finish.

Food Pairings

Lightly spicy foods (Thai, Indian), seafood, fish, roasted chicken or grilled pork.

Paco & Lola is expanding its reach in the USA and I highly recommend you check its wines out.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Albarino, Food & Wine Events, Grenache, Spain, Tempranillo, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
17 August 2017 2015 Heart & Hands Sparkling Riesling

2015 Heart & Hands Sparkling Riesling

August 17, 2017 By

I’ve been a member of Heart & Hands’ Claddagh Club, its wine club, for several years and enjoy that, once in a while, I’m contacted about something totally unexpected by this stellar Finger Lakes winery. This time, it was about its sparkling Riesling with bottle cap enclosure – how could I pass that up? The one thing I regret is only buying a half case.

Looks: Palest of yellow in the glass with tiny bubbles.

Smell: Apple and pear aromas with hints of citrus.

Taste: Green apple and tropical fruit flavors with a dry, bright, crisp finish.

Texture and Finish: Nice minerality and acidity with a medium finish.

This bubbly is great as an aperitif but it’s also very food friendly.

Winemaker’s note(s): Crafted in the traditional method: primary fermentation in stainless steel, then bottle fermented and aged en tirage on the lees.

Pairings: Fried chicken, grilled fish, seafood.

Style: Sparkling Wine

Grape Type(s): Riesling

Region: Finger Lakes, NY, USA

Price: $26.99

Filed Under: Riesling, Sparkling Wine, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
5 July 2017 Tasting Notes – Scarpetta Frico Frizzante

Tasting Notes – Scarpetta Frico Frizzante

July 5, 2017 By

I was in Providence, RI for the holiday weekend and was served this fun bubbly at Slow Rhode. I admit I’m always a bit suspicious of wine served in vessels other than bottles, but this was nice. No metallic after taste, good bubbles, light, and refreshing. Think Prosecco but a little lighter on the amount of bubbles.

Looks: Palest of yellow in the glass with tiny bubbles.

Smell: Apple aromas with faint floral notes.

Taste: Apple flavors with a dry, crisp finish.

Texture and Finish: Crazy nice minerality and acidity with a medium finish.

I had this bubbly from Italy as an aperitif but enjoyed it so much that I paired a second can with roasted sunchokes and pan seared squid. I just ordered four, six-packs to take to the beach with us!

Pairings: Fried chicken, grilled fish, seafood.

Style: Sparkling Wine

Grape Type(s): Trebbiano, Glera, Chardonnay

Region: Mendocino, Monterrey, and El Dorado Counties, California, USA

Price: $3.99 for a 187 ml (6-ounce) can

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Italy, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
17 May 2017 2012 Weingut Stadt Krems Riesling Reserve Grillenparz Kremstal

2012 Weingut Stadt Krems Riesling Reserve Grillenparz Kremstal

May 17, 2017 By

Friend shared this bottle with me over oysters and fish. Love this style wine and never a bad bottle by this producer.

Looks: Greenish yellow in the glass.

Smell: Citrus/Meyer lemon and juicy peach on the nose.

Taste: Delicious lemon/lime flavors with some wet stones notes.

Texture and Finish: Rich yet light. Crazy nice minerality and acidity with a long finish.

Pairings: Oysters/shellfish, grilled fish, seafood risotto.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Riesling

Region: Kremstal, Austria

Price: $30

Filed Under: Austria, Riesling, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
26 April 2017 2015 Dirty & Rowdy Familiar Blanc

2015 Dirty & Rowdy Familiar Blanc

April 26, 2017 By

Check out the cloudiness of this baby in my photo – crazy stuff! Kitchen sink blend of aromas and flavors.  

Looks: Deep ruby in the glass.

Smell: Citrus, floral and dried apricot on the nose. What isn’t on the nose would be a better question!

Taste: Lemon lime flavors with hints of under-ride pear.

Texture and Finish: Crazy nice minerality and acidity with a medium finish.

I love these wines. This is the third vintage I buy and I continue to get sucked into the hype. Drink cool, not cold or you’ll lose all the crazy flavors.

Pairings: Fried chicken, grilled fish, seafood risotto.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 28% Chenin Blanc, 22% Pinot Blanc, 18% Chardonnay, 12% Melon, 10% Roussanne, 10% Viognier.

Region: Mendocino, Monterrey, and El Dorado Counties, California, USA

Price: $30

Fun Fact: Bottle is sealed with a NomaCorc Select Bio closure. It is a plant based, carbon neutral, breathable, recyclable, cork alternative.

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Roussanne, United States, Viognier, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
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