WINO 101

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the last! It’s the last of the Thursday newsletters announcing the last of the Friday tastings for the last days for Carpe Vinum (at this location)! It’s been a long stretch of excellent wines and some excellent tastings over the last 5 years. As you know, I plan on doing something similar to this in the coming year, the final product yet to be determined, but for now it’s The Last Carpe Vinum Friday Tasting Summing Up the Year In Wine With the Best of 2007! I’ve hand-selected seven wines that were the runaway hits throughout the year, the best-sellers, the most-surprising, my personal favorites and/or just the best of the best. I can’t think of a better way to wrap up the end of the year, and somewhat sadly the end of the retail shop, than with all of these spectacular wines. Let’s recap the Best of 2007, a year in review!

Patritti NV Shargren: The red and bubbly wines are still a relatively unknown thing to our shores, here. Until this wine, and its contemporary The Black Chook, came around here all the sparkling Shiraz I saw was horribly expensive and they were so few, nobody really had a chance or the budget to try it. This one came on the scene just this year offering everyone a fresh look at this unusual style without breaking anyone’s budget. Over the past few months it’s been like an Easter egg hunt. I think I’ve hidden a few bottles, then they suddenly surface and sell out. It’s certainly not one to miss!

Kiona 2005 Lemberger: I had poured this wine a number of times in the past and it seems to keep getting better with each vintage. Lemberger is a relatively obscure grape in the Northwest wine scene, known better in Austria as Blaufrankisch and in Germany as Blauer Limberger. Obscure as it is, this is another one that is very hard to keep in stock. It’s relatively low in acid and has some dark plummy fruit with some hints of chocolate. Of course, clocking-in at under $11 is also no small reason this is so popular. But by no means the only reason.

Morgante 2005 Nero d’Avola: The time may not be nigh for the revolution of Nero d’Avola. The grape is grown almost exclusively in Sicily, although I think I heard of a vineyard or two in California, but for now it’s just a Sicilian phenomenon. This wine has been one of my most steady sellers throughout the year. Whoever tries it always comes back for more. I find it a decent comparison with Syrah and Grenache, but with a certain extra something that remains uniquely Nero d’Avola.

Saint Cosme 2006 Cotes du Rhone: It’s pronounced “Saint Comb” not “Coz Em” or “Coz Me”. This producer makes quite a few wines throughout the French Rhone, only a few that actually make it to our shores. I initially fell in love with their “Deux Albion” Cotes du Rhone. But then a popular wine magazine reviewer also liked it, so it sold out in a week. Then I went to the 2005 regular Cotes du Rhone. That got a good review, and also sold out. So here we are on the 2006. It’s still one of the best Cotes du Rhone I’ve had in years. Get it now before some other wine reviewer tells other people it’s good!

Peterson 2004 Zinfandel: I love the Zinfandel. Over the last 3 or more years, I’ve been disappointed with the general style all the Zin producers have been going for. I think it’s the unfortunate shift of the entire industry in attempts to please one of the aforementioned wine reviewers that is causing a homogenization of a lot of wines, removing the intricacies and subtleties that actually make these wines different. And also pushing the styles and strength of these wines to the point that is not entirely dissimilar to drinking the wine and then smashing the empty bottles over our heads. The Peterson Zinfandel seems to me a welcome return to Zinfandel as it should be: Big, bold, spicy without being overtly threatening.

Adelsheim 2005 Pinot Noir: Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of the Pinot Noir. I know what it should be, I know the different styles people are going for, and I know a good one when I find it. But it’s not anything I generally seek out for having with dinner and I’m a bit ambivalent about the worldwide pricing of the stuff. Sure, a well-made Pinot can be a thing of beauty, but I feel any grape, given the appropriate conditions and attention can also excel just as well. With that in mind, when a Pinot can stop me mid-conversation to say “Hey. That’s really, really good!” and then forget what I was talking about, you know it’s a good pinot. And it’s under $30!

Kaesler 2005 The Fave Grenache: It may be a bit early to call this one for the Best of 2007, as I just tried this one several weeks ago, but it was tasty, and I had to fit into one of these tastings. Considering this is the last tasting, at least for a while, it had to fit in here somehow. Besides, I’m always a sucker for Grenache. This one is stable and spicy, and it’s fruity without being too jammy like much of Australia produces. Had I discovered it months ago, it’d probably still have made it in here, anyway. It’s not cheap, but as a LAST pour I thought maybe we could splurge a bit.

So there we go. Seven spectacular wines for the last tasting of the year. And the last tasting for a while, until I get my next move more established. I just want to thank everyone for the support over the years! It’s been a fun ride, and I look forward to a new endeavor which will be somewhat or somehow related to this one. I brought in quite a bit of extra wine for this one since I can’t order any more after this point. So come down for one last taste!

So Friday, December 28th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Best of 2007!!!
Patritti NV Shargren Sparkling Shiraz/Grenache, Australia
Kiona 2005 Lemberger, Red Mountain, Washington
Morgante 2005 Nero d’Avola, Sicily, Italy
Saint Cosme 2006 Cotes du Rhone, France
Peterson 2004 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, California

Best of the Best of 2007!!!
Adelsheim 2005 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Kaesler 2005 The Fave Grenache, Barossa Valley, Australia

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is . . . um . . . your place . . . ?

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Soon-To-Be Slightly Less Than Weekly But For Now Still Weekly Carpe Vinum Newsletter and Tasting Report! I just wanted to thank everyone for all the support for our regrettable, yet totally un-regrettable decision to close the retail portion of the business. The direction I will be going looks better all the time. I think of the immortal words of the eloquent Obi Wan Kenobi, “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine”. I’m not necessarily being “struck down” and I certainly won’t necessarily become “powerful” . . . well, at least not more so than you could possibly imagine. Chances are. But I digress.

So what are we tasting this week? It’s a little thing I like to call The Procrastinator’s Gift Guide! If you shop for the Holidays like I do, hardly at all and at the last minute, this is the tasting for you! Of course, it makes sense that I give bottles of wine as gifts. I’m in a wine shop all day long. One step to my right and I’m “shopping”. And then a step back to my left and I’m “working” again.

So what kinds of wines do I tend to give as gifts? Well, considering that we in Portland are pretty well centrally located as it comes to the Northwest wine, I usually like to give something from our Northwest wineries, especially if it’s gifts to people from outside the region. Many people in other states have a hard time finding Oregon and Washington wines, whereas most wines we see from California and imports from outside the country seem to have more even distribution across The States. So here’s a selection of bottles that come from Oregon and Washington that could be considered “gifty” is some kind of way.

A to Z 2006 Pinot Noir: Many will agree that an Oregon Pinot Noir is one of the best wines to give as gifts. People from all over the world are trying to get their hands on this stuff. The current prices correlate to this, and now there are very few Pinots that fit the budget. A to Z is one of the best wines in its own price category. It’s what you get for when you want to get the very best . . . but when you can’t afford the very best!

The Pines 2006 Big Red: It’s Oregon’s own producer of Old Vine Zinfandel. This isn’t Zin, though. It’s a handful of other Big Red things . . . as you might be able to tell by the name. It’s a good way to show off the fact that Oregon isn’t all about the Pinot Noir. It’s also good for fans of pine trees and fans of things that are big and also happen to be red. Like . . . uh . . . a firetruck? Know any firemen?

Basel Cellars 2005 Claret: This is another big red wine from a winery in Walla Walla. If you’ve ever been to the Basel estate out there, you’d see that it’s the most extravagant winery facility in the whole town, if not the state. The long sprawling drive up to the facility makes you think you’re driving up to Bruce Wayne’s place. It’s also a resort and if you visit the tasting room you can see the guests lounging in the sun out by the pool separated from you by a big sign saying “You can’t go here”. There’s a picture of the place on the label, so if you give this as a gift you can say, “If I could afford it, I’d take you here. But here’s a picture instead. Drink this and pretend we’re there.”

Balboa 2006 The Cat’s Meow: It’s another big Washington red. And as a gift you’d be telling that special someone you think they’re really “The Cat’s Meow” . . . which is a phrase I’ve never really understood. I mean, has anyone ever met my cat? Saying someone is “the Cat’s Meow” sounds like saying someone is “relentlessly annoying and never shuts up”. Maybe they meant someone else’s cat. At any rate, if you use this as a gift, be careful.

Domaine Pierre Noir 2005 Cuvee Amont: This is for someone who asked you for Pinot Noir but you can spend less and pretend you heard them wrong. “Pinot Noir? I thought you said PIERRE Noir. Hm. Oh, well. Enjoy!” It’s another Washington red, always pleasing, if you can see my trend here . . .

Anam Cara 2005 Pinot Noir: Okay, now we’re getting into the serious Pinot territory. The name means “Soul Friend” in old Celtic, and as such always makes a very friendly gift. It’s been one of my favorite Pinot producers for the last couple years, and yet hasn’t been pushed into the “Good lord, they want how much for this?” territory.

Andrew Rich 2005 Coup d’Etat: This is a blend of Rhone varietals from the Columbia Valley. Which side of the river it comes from I am unsure of, but considering the winery is in Oregon, I’ll say Oregon for posterity. Why is it called “Coup d’Etat”? Perhaps because a Rhone-style blend in Oregon is a revolutionary idea? Don’t know. But it’s the perfect wine for that little anarchist on your list.

So that’s the lineup! I’ll have a limited amount available on most of them, so if any sound like the gift idea you’ve been putting off this long, get here early to grab yours. Otherwise, it’s still possible to order more and it will be delivered here on Monday. And yes, that answers that question: I will be here on Monday the 24th, Christmas Eve, from 11 AM until 5 PM or a bit later. I’m not normally here on Monday, but since I’m used to doing my shopping on the 24th, I’ll be here anyway, right?

So Friday, December 21st, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Procrastinator’s Gift Guide 2007!!!
A to Z 2006 Pinot Noir, Oregon
The Pines 2006 Big Red, Columbia Valley, Oregon
Basel Cellars 2005 Claret, Columbia Valley, Washington
Balboa 2006 The Cat’s Meow, Walla Walla Valley, Washington
Domaine Pierre Noir 2005 Cuvee Amont Vin Rouge, Columbia Valley, Washington

More Gifties!!!
Anam Cara 2005 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Andrew Rich 2005 Coup d’Etat, Columbia Valley, Oregon

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is The Best of 2007!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Quasi-Weekly Newsletter-of-Sorts and Announcement for the Friday Tasting here at Carpe Vinum! Last week, due to some online newsletter mailing service weirdness, the newsletter from last week didn’t get cleared until, well, today. But considering sending out two newsletters in one day might just prove to be too confusing (i.e.- just what the heck are we tasting tomorrow?). So for posterity’s sake, the newsletter from last week is posted on the shop’s blogsite at http://www.carpevinumpdx.com. But for the purpose of this week, the tasting tomorrow will be our Sparkletacular 2007! That’s right! It’s seven . . . no wait, eight sparklers served to you tomorrow, and an introduction to eight wines that would be befitting to any holiday celebration! So let’s meet our contenders, shall we?

So just how do they get all those bubbles into those bottles? A question for the ages, to be sure. There are quite a few methods for getting those wines to sparkle. The lo-fi method is to actually carbonate the things artificially, like some of the soft drinks, beers and canned wines out there. Yes, canned wine. To be sipped through a straw. Out of a paper bag on the bus. Okay, okay, that’s not quite fair. Cracking open a can of carbonated wine can be quite fun. Not necessarily tasty, but fun. The more traditional method is to add additional yeast and sweetness to the bottles and put a pretty sturdy cap on there and let fermentation in the bottle do the trick.

Actually, that seems to be the most popular method of doing it. It’s what’s referred to as “Methode Champenoise” or “Methode Traditionelle”. There is some dispute as to who did it first. Bubbles appearing in the wine is technically a flaw in the wine, meaning that the juice was bottled before the fermentation was complete, so winemakers in colder climates had been doing that by accident for centuries. But as far as who started intentionally bottling the wines with the intention of creating bubbles is a hotly contested dispute. Wineries in the Loire have records that they were doing it years before Champagne, but Champagne certainly seems to have perfected the process. Or at least they’ve perfected the marketing of the wines. For an example of this marketing, check out ANY website from producers in Champagne. They are all the most exquisite wine websites on the web. Also, all the animation and scripting on the sites might crash your browser if your bandwidth isn’t quite up to snuff. But that’s another story.

So when I put together a sparkling tasting, I like to do a tour of the world to check out the different styles of bubblies the world has to offer, considering almost every wine-growing region will have their own sparkler. Of course, starting at the top, both by reputation, history and price, we have Champagne. There are very few Champagnes that retail under $40 and quite a few that retail over $200. I guess they have to pay their over-productive webmasters. Also from France is the Cremant from different regions. Usually done in the same methods as Champagne, I find the results are just as pleasant, and the price is even more pleasant. As always, I have to put in my favorite of the bubblies, a Prosecco from Italy and the ever-popular Cava from Spain. Also, we have to look to our own winemakers here in Oregon for some local bubbly. We don’t have many, but they are nice.

Aw, heck. Why not? Just for fun let’s throw in one of Australia’s red sparkling Shiraz. These things had traditionally been terribly expensive but it seems more producers have been making these things and driving the price down. If you’ve not tried one of these things, you really must. Actually, I’d say every one of sparklers is a must. After all it is the Sparklefest!

So Friday, December 14th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Sparklefest 2007!!!
Lucien Albrecht NV Brut Blanc de Blancs, Cremant de Alsace, France
Clemence Guery NV Cremant de Loire, France
Fantinel NV Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
1 + 1 = 3 NV Brut Cava, Spain
Louis Bouillot NV Perle de Aurore, Cremant de Bourgogne Rose’, France

More Sparklies!!!
Argyle 1999 Brut, Knudsen Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Nicholas Feuillatte NV Brut Champagne, France

Okay . . . Just One More . . . Red one too!
The Black Chook NV Sparkling Shiraz, Barossa, Australia

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Procrastinator’s Gift Guide!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Newsletter and Tasting Notes for the Carpe Vinum December and Fourth-to-Final Tasting of the Year that is 2007! It’s the beginning of that time of year where magazines, news shows, weblogs, and people everywhere start referring to things as “The Year In Review” or “The Best of . . . ” or “The Stuff this Year that Made Our Spidey Senses Tingle”. This week, to kick off the “The Best of the Year in Review that Made our Spidey Senses Tingle” we’ve got SangioFest 2007! It’s all Sangiovese, all night long! Well, okay . . . it’s not really a yearly retrospective on Sangiovese. All but one of the wines in this tasting are new to the shop, and none have been featured in a tasting yet. But I just wanted to kick off December with some kind of “2007 Spectacular” so as to not be left behind on dropping the number “2007″ as many times as possible. So here it is! SangioFest 2007!

What is a Sangiovese? It’s a grape! It’s an Italian grape! Can we still consider it an Italian grape if it’s grown outside Italy? Well, no. Okay, so it’s grape of Italian heritage! How about that? At any rate it’s the grape that made Italian wine famous. It accounts for about 10% of all grapes grown in Italy. That sounds like a low percentage, but when you consider just how much grape crop they grow there, and all the variety, that 10% is still makes Sangiovese the most widely grown grape in Italy.

As far as scientists can tell, Sangiovese is most likely native to Tuscany, and not coincidentally is also from where we find most of the Sangiovese-based reds; Tuscany and its neighbors Umbria and Emilia Romagna. Within Tuscany we’ve got some of the most famous of Italian wines that are all based in Sangiovese. For one, just a simple name you may have heard before: Chianti? Of course the Chianti! Now, don’t fret! I happen to know there is a lot of Chianti out there, and I might risk the wrath of Chianti-lovers in saying that I think a good majority of Chianti is garbage. With that in mind, when you see me talking up Chianti as a region, I’m talking only about the good ones. In the neighbors of Chianti we find some of the other famous Sangiovese-based wines of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. (Not to be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which is made with the Montepulciano grape.) Also, and the most famous of Tuscany, is the Brunello di Montalcino and its less-expensive sibling the Rosso di Montalcino.

Now, this is not an Italian-only wine tasting. When tasting the single-varietal wines in a setting such as this, I always like comparing the Old World wines to the New World. As it is in the New World regarding wine, we have a rich history of immigrants from Italy bringing with them clippings of their beloved Sangiovese to plant in their new home. So many years ago, vines of Sangiovese made their way to California and to South America (mainly Argentina). It has only been in the more recent years that we’ve seen the grape make its way into our own neighbors in Washington. There the grape is making wines that differ greatly from its relatives in Europe.

For now that’s really the scope and range of the Sangiovese. It’s enough for a full Sangiovese primer of sorts without delving into Italy too much. With Italy still being the world’s wine superpower in gross exports, we could probably put together a tasting like this every day of the year filled with Sangiovese wines from Italy, and never repeat one. New World Sangios are fewer, and so easier to choose. So for this tasting, we’ve got three spectacular Sangiovese wines from Italy, two from California, and then three more from Washington.

Wait . . . isn’t that eight? That’s right! I made an exception to add another On-The-Side pour to bring in one of my favorites from Washington: K Vintner’s 2005 Guido. This stuff is very limited, and I only get 6 bottles this year. And of these 6, I’m opening one for us all to taste, leaving just 5 to sell. So it is definitely not to be missed and it is best to get here early if anyone wants a bottle of this Super Supremo Sangiovese Stuff.

So Friday, December 7th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

SangioFest 2007!!!
Ca’ Del Solo 2005 Sangiovese, San Benito County, California
Jaccuzzi Family Vineyards 2004 Sangiovese, Sonoma County, California
Corte alla Flora 2004 Giuggiolo, Tuscany IGT, Italy
Castellare 2004 Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy
Carpazo 2004 Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Sangiovese Sangiovese from Walla Walla!!!
Maninna 2005 Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, Washington
Five Star 2004 Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, Washington

Super Supremo Sangiovese!!!
K Vintners 2005 Guido, Morrison Lane, Walla Walla Valley, Washington

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours, $4 for the Super Supremo Pour.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Sparlkefest 2007!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

It’s that time of day again, during that time of week again! It’s time for the Weekly Publication of the Successful Navigation of Wine Degustation with the Carpe Vinum Newsletter and Tasting Announcement! This week we’re heading to a region steeped in many years rich in History: It’s Spain’s Old Castile! Of course, I’m no History buff, so if you want the History of the region, check Wikipedia. If you want a correct History of the region, read a book, perhaps. If you want information regarding the wines of the region, free and clear of all that boring, old Historic stuff, then by all means, read on!

The region that is considered the Old Castile is situated in the North-Central part of the country. To the west is our old friends Galicia, the region famous for the best white wines of Spain. To the North we’ve got the unique Basque regions, not-so-famous but also have some of the best white wines in Spain. To the East is the all-too-well-known region of Rioja and its next-door neighbor Navarra, the “Jan Brady” to Rioja. To the South we’ve got Madrid, the Spanish capital and gateway to what is generally regarded as “New” Castile, featuring the high-plateau regions of Vinos de Madrid and La Mancha. And to the SouthWest of Old Castile we’ve got Portugal, which is a totally different story, altogether.

So here we are in Old Castile, smack-dab in the middle of North-Central Spain. There are quite a few notable regions that make up the recognized wines of the area, and the natural progression of that should always start with the Ribera del Duero. This is the region that, a few years ago (”a few years” being about 20 years) Alejandro Fernandez proved that the wines from this region really could make a mark on the global wine map. Since then the region has exploded (figuratively) with wineries, and the prices of the best wines of the region have shot through the roof (also figuratively). Still, a constant flow of new producers rather guarantees quite a few wines within the affordable range.

At this point, the second-in-command for the red wines of the region is the region of Toro (and could be considered the “Jan Brady” to Ribera del Duero). The wines of Toro have historically been of questionable quality, but as I’m not much of a History buff, I’ve never seen it that way. There are a few I’ve had that could be considered “quite rustic” . . . by which I mean in a “good and drinkable, yet sturdy” way, not in a “did you get the number off that truck” kind of way. With that in mind, it seems Toro is currently going through greater lengths to improve their wines and shake that Historical reputation more-so than any other of the Spanish regions, And the results are impressive.

The third of the notable regions is Bierzo. It’s always been confusing to me that Bierzo is considered part of Old Castile, considering that on the map it looks like it’s more of a part of the Galicia. Perhaps it’s something on the ground level that I don’t see, like a giant canyon or a ten-foot-high fence or a giant strip-mall, or something. The wines don’t match the wines of Galicia, but yet they don’t really match the Castilian wines either. Most of the wines of Castile, including Toro and Ribera del Duero, are Tempranillo-based, while Bierzo has the Mencia grape. The Mencia is apparently used in red wines in Galicia, but as I’ve never seen a Galician red wine, I’ll jump to the conclusion that they don’t really exist. Which makes the wines of Bierzo even more unique.

And really, those are just three of the certified red-grape-growing regions in the Old Castile. There is also the white wine region of Rueda and the pink wine region of Cigales, neither of which I feel fits into the cold of winter. Outside of those areas the wines are classified as Castile y Leon or one of the numerous Vinos de la Tierra regions. (Technically “table wine”). These wines don’t lack in quality at all. Many can compete with the Ribera del Dueros or the Toros, but the regions just haven’t been upgraded by the wine laws yet.

So here’s a selection from around Old Castile, prominently featuring three wines from of one of my favorites regions in the world, the Ribera del Duero! And, of course that’s including the wine that kicked off the whole revolution, Alejandro Fernandez’s Pesquera! Also, I’d like to apologize to the Castilians for misspelling the name of the region for the last 5 years. It’s not “Castille” with the “double-L” like I had thought, and I just discovered that today with a better spellchecker than the one I had been using. And I’d been wrong all along. Thanks a lot for telling me, guys. I mean, really.

So Friday, November 30th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Old Castile!!!
Protos 2005 Tinto, Ribera del Duero
Bodegas Leda 2004 Mas de Leda, Castille y Leon
Vinas del Cenit 2004 Venta Mazzaron, Zamora
Liberalia 2005 Tinto Tres, Toro
Dominio de Tares 2005 Mencia Baltos, Bierzo

Right Next to the New Castile!!!
Emilio Moro 2004 Tinto, Ribera del Duero
Alejandro Fernandez 2004 Pesquera, Ribera del Duero

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Sangiovese!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, y’all! Of course, given how late I’ve gotten this thing out today, this day that is Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving Thursday, and given the fact that everyone has gone home for the day, I bet when most of you read this it will be Happy Post-Thanksgiving and Beginning of the “Holiday” Season Friday! So, given that, welcome to the Happy Post-Thanksgiving and Beginning of the “Holiday” Season Friday Tasting Announcement and Newsletter to Which it Corresponds! On the schedule for the tasting this Friday is the wines of the French Rhone! I figured, hey . . . after all that cooking and gorging on whatever food suited your celebratory table, a day with the wines of the French Rhone would make a fitting end to the hectic week. Or a fitting beginning to a hectic month-and-a-week ahead of us!

The French Rhone! It’s one of my favorites in the world, and a region I find I can always turn to, whether bored or jaded on certain wine varieties or regions. Or if the wine list at a restaurant just reads: Cab, Merlot, Cab/Merlot, Etc., Etc., Cotes du Rhone, you know it’s a pretty safe bet the Rhone wine will work with whatever you’re having. It’s versatile like that. There also seems to be spells where I forget about the region, caught up in the rest of the world of wine, (which is so easy to do, given that the world is . . . well, huge). But ocne I rediscover the wines, it’s like going home, with the realization of “Oh, yeah . . . Oh yeah!”

So anyone unfamiliar with the Rhone wines, the region is situated in the Southeasterncentral part of France, just above the warm Mediterranean region of Languedoc, and just South of the cooler Burgundy and Beaujolais. The grapes grown in the region vary from North to South with the North being dominated by Syrah and the South bespeckled by a plethora of different varieties including, but not necessarily excluded to: Grenache, Mourvedre, Cairanne, Cinsault, and so on. There are some 30-odd varietals included in some blends, so the list could go on. And does.

The regions within the region, the specific villages that have their own magnificent productions include the exquisite Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueras and Lirac among others in the South, and Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermiatage, and Staint-Joseph among others in the North. These areas have proven themselves to be making extraordinary wine for hundreds of years, and they have the price tag to show it. In fact, now that the price of the Euro has soared, and the price of the dollar has sank, and the price of fuel has also soared, so then, the price of these wines has so totally not sank. In a long time. Plus newfound interest in these regions have the “reputation surtax” on these wines also increasing. Given that, the best and most affordable way to taste your way around the region is to go with the Cotes du Rhones. The designation encompasses the whole region, but the price is a great deal less.

So here we have a wondrous selection of Cotes du Rhones, either from the 2004 or the 2005 vintages, both known for spectacular wines after a few sketchy vintages. (The vintage of 2002 was a washout from too much rain, and 2003 was a blowout from too much sun). Included in the premium pours are wines from the regions of Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape, both slowly rising to the out-of-my-price-range category, so this might be a “last hurrah” for some of these. But still . . .a “last hurrah” is still a “hurrah”. Not that anyone really says “hurrah” in this country. But that’s another conversation, altogether.

So Friday, November 23rd, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Rhone!!!
Domaine Saint Gayan 2005 Cotes du Rhone
Domaine du Trepadis 2004 Cotes du Rhone
Domaine les Grande Bois 2005 Cotes du Rhone
Domaine Grand Veneur 2005 Cotes du Rhone
Domaine de Cros de Romet 2005 Cotes de Rhone Villages Cairanne

Gigondas and Chateauneuf!!!
Domaine Brusset 2005 Gigondas “Grand Montmirail”
Clos Saint Jean 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape

And Just Another Little White Wine on the Side!
M. Chapoutier 2006 Belleruche Cotes du Rhone Blanc

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours. $2 for that extra white wine.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Spain’s Old Castille!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Fifth Annual Carpe Vinum “What Wines Do You Serve With Turkey?” Thanksgiving Primer! That’s right! We’ve been recommending these things for your Thanksgiving table for five long years. Well, I guess it’s once a year, not throughout the year. I mean, not to say that no-one ever cooks a turkey on any day outside Thanksgiving, but you know . . . statistically speaking, this is when my recommendations helps the most, right? Also keep in mind that these are wines that pair well with turkey, not wines FROM Turkey. There aren’t very many Turkish wines, and although they may pair well with a turkey, they’re terribly expensive and awfully sweet. Dessert wines, mostly. But I digress. Again.

So recommending wines to go with a certain type of food can be a daunting task. I’ve checked out a number of recommendation charts in books, magazines and online pairing charts and I can’t honestly say that I agree with those things 100% of the time. In fact, one of those such charts was very vague and generic. Cabs and Merlots with beef and lamb. General whites with fish. And pretty much every other food listed “Chianti, Dolcetto, Rioja, Pinot Noir and Beaujolais.” Very vague. And didn’t really account for regional variation. But what I recommend, as many others may say as well, is to drink what you like.

What do I like? Well . . . all kinds of things. In a job such as this I kinda need a diverse set of personal tastes. There are just too many different wines out there to drink any one kind. But when it comes to pairing to food, I seem to find that I’d drink Syrah or Grenache with just about anything. Except shrimp. Or sushi. But that’s another story. But for the Holiday spread, in my experience, there really are several wines that are classic combinations to the Thanksgiving spread. So here’s a small list of some of the favorites.

Pinot Noir! We’re swimming in a sea of the stuff, here in Oregon. And really, It’s one of the classic combinations for pairing with the Turkey. It’s light (or should be) with an earthy flavor, yet is perfectly suited for clearing the palate. Oregon Pinot Noir isn’t the only one out there. There are also the French Burgundies. Many would say Burgundy warrants the mention before Oregon, but hey, Oregon is closer to home. Oh, wait, it IS home. There are Pinots from all around the world. I’d say just about any of them would work well.

Gamay Noir! This is the grape of the French Beaujolais. Now, now. Don’t make that face. Beaujolais is a big place and has a lot more to offer than that unimpressive one you had a few years ago. In fact, I go through the same thing every year. Just like convincing everyone that not all Gewurztraminers, Rieslings and Muscats are sickly-sweet, not all Beaujolais is the light, bubble-gummy lifeless plonk they fly out this time in November. The Cru Beaujolais, certain villages like Moulin-a-Vent, Morgon, and Cotes de Brouilly are great examples of what Gamay can do. I’m really partial to the Gamays from Morgon, but also I think one of the top producing areas of the world for Gamay is Oregon. Unfortunately, though, Pinot Noir fetches a higher price, so people keep plowing up the Gamay Noir to plant more Pinot . . . a practice I consider terribly shortsighted and a shameful mistake. Consider this my call to Oregon vineyard owners out there — Plant more Gamay!

Something Red and Bubbly (this way comes)! Over the last few Thanksgiving tastings, I’ve discovered something that no-one else talks about for turkey/wine pairing. The first revelation came with a sparkling Lambrusco. Now, now. Don’t make that face. This isn’t the $4 swilling Lambrusco from years past, but it is a wine that is fun and one to not be taken too seriously. Since that revelation I’ve brought in several different sparkling shiraz and other such dark and bubbly wines. This time I’ve brought in a new sparkling Grenache/Shiraz that I found, but I’m also bringing back some of the other sparkling reds that did so well in the past.

Lemberger/Blaufrankisch! This is a grape with roots in Austria, but also seems to be doing quite well in our own Washington. I’ve been enjoying this one even more in the recent years as an easy-drinking quaffer with softer tannins but still a remarkable amount of fruit and substance. It’s another dark horse that often gets forgotten by the pairing guides.

Whatever you like! Of course, this is the most important rule. If you want a Zinfandel, no one should tell you differently regardless of what someone tells you to drink. Perhaps you only drink white. (I’d say most white wines would pair with most poultry.) And sometimes the main element is just having wine on the table, regardless of what it is. But with this as a guide, at least you have the reassurance of some sure-fire hits.

So Friday, November 16th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Turkey Wines!!!
Patritti NV Shargren (Grenache/Shiraz . . . get it? Shar-Gren), Australia
Amity 2005 Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Domaine Dubost 2005 Morgon (Gamay Noir), Beaujolais, France
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Kiona 2005 Lemberger, Red Mountain, Washington

That is, not wines FROM Turkey, but what to serve with . . . turkey!!!
Seufert Winery 2006 Pinot Noir, Momtazi Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Anam Cara 2004 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours. $2 for that extra white wine.

Also: Art show! It’s that time again! Arts Integrity, the fine operation that supplies Carpe Vinum with the art that graces our walls, has the year-end show that is a retrospective collaboration of the many artists on the Arts Integrity roster. For more information about Arts Integrity, the artists represented, examples of artwork being shown, or if you are an artist interested in being represented in locales like Carpe Vinum, check out http://www.everywhereart.net/ .

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is The French Rhone!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Thursday Edition of the Thursday’s Edition of the Carpe Vinum Newsletter of Extreme Importance and Announcement of the Tasting That Immediately Follows Such an Announcement . . . immediately being in a day, or so. And in that day’s time, we will be visiting a place I’ve not been for quite some time. (Both “visiting” and “been” used figuratively and poetically.) We’re going to South Africa! It’s been quite some time since I’ve had one of these tastings, and having been reminded recently of the quality that is being produced down there, I figured it’s high time we get to it. So let’s get to it!

So the South African wine industry is one of the oldest in the New World. Jan van Riebeeck, a settler to the area in the mid-1600s, was charged with the task of planting vineyards, as well as other crops. These crops were for the local market as a way to help stave off scurvy for the sailors of ships on the spice route and the Dutch East India Company. This Riebeeck fellow was a surgeon, not viticulturist. (Dammit, Jim! I’m a doctor, not a vintner!) The wine was reportedly awful.

After Riebeeck made his awful wine, a governor in the area, Simon van der Stel took over, most likely saying, “Uh, yeah. Thanks for everything Jan, but we’ll take it from here.” Other vineyards were planted, but these were Dutch settlers. And apparently the Dutch didn’t really know anything about growing vines or making wine. Thankfully there were boatloads (literally) of French Protestant Huguenots arriving to South Africa, fleeing persecution in Europe. But think about it. They’re French. The wine connection is obvious. So the South African winemaking skills took a great leap forward at that point.

Actually, wine as we know it from South Africa really is a relatively new thing. Of course, 350 years and quite a few technological advances later, things are much better now. That’s granted. The main difficulties since then being the relative confusion of political instability and unstable contact with Europe and the rest of the world, at least from a commercial perspective. The South African wine movement really started about 20 years ago, and anti-apartheid sanctions against the country ended just 15 years ago, or so. Now the wines of the country now have a place in international markets, and this has brought on a new renaissance in the South African winemaking in experimentations with barrel aging and European varietals.

Speaking of varietals, I find South African wine one of the most interesting places in the world simply because of the unique varietals that are found there. Well, not so much unique varietals themselves, but just which varietals seems to be the flagship grapes. White wines account for a vast majority of grapes grown, although it’s unclear how much of that is for the express purpose of winemaking. (South Africa is also the top world producer of concentrated grape juice and, I believe an important producer of brandy.) Of those white wines, there is one that resounds above all the rest. That is the Chenin Blanc, a grape found in the French Loire, especially known in Vouvray. Chenin Blanc is really grown worldwide, as it is a hardy variety, produces well, and is very versatile.

As for red grapes, the unique flagship grape of the region is a grape that is seldom, if ever, seen anywhere else. This is the Pinotage, a grape engineered from the Pinot Noir and the Cinsault. Pinotage, when done well, can produce a very easy-drinking and sturdy wine, and definitely is unique. All things considered, though, the Pinotage represents a pretty small percentage of the total production in South Africa. Other reds they are known quite well for include the quintessential Shiraz, which takes on a whole different character and attitude in the region, and the Cabernet Sauvignon, quickly becoming one of the world’s most notable producers of the grape.

So for tomorrow I’ve pieced together a cross-section of what they do best in South Africa. There is the Pinotage, a South African essential, as well as a Cabernet, and a Shiraz. There are three red blends, another slice of the wine market for which South Africa is known. Also, I found an oddity, and y’all know how I love the oddities. I found a Mourvedre made by Spice Route. This is a grape from the French south, important in Bandol in Provence and often used in blending of Rhone-style wines. I’m always intrigued when it’s seen as a single-varietal wine, and especially so from a region where you don’t expect it. Is it good? Well, we’ll just have to see, now, won’t we?

So Friday, November 9th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

South Africa!!!
Spice Route 2005 Mourvedre, Swartland
Capaia 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coastal Region
Darling Cellars 2003 Onyx Shiraz, Groenkloof
Bilton 2005 Matt Black (Merlot, Shiraz, Cab. Sauv., Petit Verdot), Stellenbosch
Glen Carlou 2003 Grand Classique (Cab. Sauv., Merlot, Cab. Franc,, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Paarl

More South Africa!!!
Meerlust 2001 Rubicon (Cab. Sauv., Merlot, Cab. Franc), Stellenbosch
Wildekranz 2003 Pinotage Barrel Selection, Walker Bay

And Just a Little White on the Side!!!
Ken Forrester 2005 Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours. $2 for that extra white wine.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Primer!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Remember, remember the First of November. For what? Well, this day is exactly 60 days from the end of the year! That’s 60 more wine shopping days until that New Year’s Eve party. Also, on this day in History, in 1512 Michelangelo debuted the Sistine Chapel to the public. On this day in 1604 Shakespeare debuted his tragedy “Othello” in London. On this day in 1952 the United States debuted a hydrogen megaton bomb named “Mike” in the south Pacific, totally obliterating an entire island. And on this day, today, 2007, we will be debuting the Carpe Vinum Newsletter for the Day That Is Today Announcing the Tasting Tomorrow Which Will Be Debuting Seven Spectacular Wines from Washington!

And, of course, that first line was an augmented version of the of the rhyme for Guy Fawkes Night, a relatively obscure British tradition held on November 5th and popularized by the movie “V for Vendetta”. That being four days away makes this day Guy Fawkes Eve Eve Eve. Of course, being that no-one in this country recognizes this event, it kinda goes without saying. But I’m saying it anyway. What does this have to do with wines of Washington? Well if you take . . . I mean . . . the connection being, Guy . . . um . . . okay, I got nothing. I just just needed an angle to get this thing started.

So talking about the wines, which I wasn’t, Washington is making some of my favorite wines in the world, and is one of the more exciting scenes to be watching. I mean, as one of my favorites, and featuring the Washington wine tastings fairly often, what can I say that I haven’t said before? Okay, I’ll do a bit of a refresher for any newcomers to the list. Washington is the state above Oregon . . . er . . . to the North of Oregon. Okay, we already knew that. Too remedial.

The most important part of Washington wines to know is the Columbia Valley which, of course, follows the Columbia River. In the broadest of terms the Columbia Valley is almost the entire area East of the Cascade mountains. Big area, yes. And a bit vague when it comes to explaining where a wine comes from within the area. The authorities that be are gradually cutting this grand area into smaller pieces, giving the wines from those areas more of a sense of identity, like the regions of Walla Walla, Red Mountain and Yakima, for example.

The grapes grown and the wines made in Washington are widely varied and include bits of almost everything you can think of, but most important are the Bordeaux Varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but also of great importance, and increasing quality is the Syrah. The Cabernets and Merlots from highly-esteemed locations are fetching super-high prices as is the fashion for these types of wines worldwide, but where I find the most interest is in the simple blended table wines which I can find every bit as good.

So there we have it. Washington wines in a nutshell! Well, not served in a nutshell. Unless it’s for a squirrel. A squirrel of legal drinking age, of course. Speaking of ages, on this day, the First of November (Remember, remember?), today musician Lyle Lovett is 50, Playboy Playmate, mediocre actress and scatological humorist Jenny McCarthy will be 35, and were Medieval French monarch Louis the Stammerer (Louis II) still alive, he’d be 1161 years old. And probably pretty distressed about it.

So Friday, November 2nd, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Washington Wines!!!
Basket Case 2005 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Basalt Cellars 2004 Rim Rock Red, Columbia Valley
Tamarack Cellars 2005 Firehouse Red, Columbia Valley
Canoe Ridge 2004 Red Blend, Columbia Valley
Gamache Vintners 2005 Boulder Red, Columbia Valley

More Washington Wines!!!
Seven Hills 2005 Malbec, Columbia Valley
Dalla Vina 2005 Syrah, Columbia Valley

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Wines of South Africa!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Mwa-hahahahaha! Welcome to the Quintessential Super-Spooooky Carpe Vinum Annual Within-Pretty-Close-Proximity-To-Halloween Spooooky Friday Tasting and Super-Spooooky Newsletter That Foretells of Its Coming! I do this tasting every year (uh, hence the “annual” part of the name), and it’s one of my ghoulishly favorite tastings of the year. It’s Spooooky! It’s Ooooky! And it’s . . . okay, it’s not “Ooooky.” That’s not even a word. Ever notice that? Whenever someone wants to call something spooky AND something else, they always choose either “Ooooky” or “Kooky”. I say by definition anything that is “Kooky” cannot also be “Spooky”. It’s just not how that works. And what with “Ooooky” not being a word, that’s just cheating. What else is there? Dookie? My cat Pookie? Some of you may know my cat Pookie. He’s not spooky at all. But he is a bit “Ooooky.”

So the Spooooky tasting this year is, of course, the Halloween tasting. But Halloween, being a whole 6 days away, isn’t really that close. And it’s always a tough call at that point. It still FEELS like the right time of year, but the window seems a bit too big to be wearing a costume to work on casual day. I mean, other than the costumes we regularly wear, right? So Halloween being in the middle of the week makes this weekend the whole “Halloween-observed” weekend. Because once it’s November those pumpkins are pie, if you take my meaning there.

At any rate, this is the one tasting of the year I get to find a place for those odd bottles that might not fit into the other tastings, or the bottles that I really like the name, or the bottles with the clever labels (since wine can wear a costume too), and certainly wines with a general Halloween-monster or Spooooky theme.

“Picking a wine by the label?” You may ask. “How sophomoric!” You may continue.

“Ah,” I might exclaim. “You are,” I may say, pausing, “pretty-much right on, there.” I may continue, conceding.

Sure we shouldn’t pick a wine exclusively by the label. But the technique isn’t completely without merit. If you’re choosing wines with clever labels and names, it’s generally going to be new-world wines. European wines, considering their wine laws steeped in hundreds of years of tradition, often don’t allow much room for creativity. Wineries in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and even South Africa have embraced these creative labeling endeavors. In these new areas of the world where the wine regions don’t have the centuries of reputation to ride on, smaller estates can create these things for a sense of identity. And it can prove to be marketing genius, as well. It can also be what wine was meant to be. Fun!

So here’s my choices for the Spooooky Wine Costume Party!

Zinzilla — Made by McNab ridge, it’s a monster of a Zin and features one of the best labels I’ve seen in a while. That’s right. Part Zin. Part Godzilla. I like monsters.
The Technicolor Bat — I still don’t know what the name means, but the label is pretty and the juice is excellent. And bats have a certain Halloween significance. Y’know . . . from that vampire connection.
The Hangin’ Snakes — What’s scarier than snakes on the ground? Hangin’ snakes! Especially when you’re looking for them on the ground. Aah! It’s right there in the tree by your head! How’d it get there? Probably dropped out of a plane.
Killibinbin — I don’t know what it means, and that uncertainty is . . . Spooooky! Sounds like another one of those kooooky Australian words. And again, it’s got a good label.
Killer Red — From Terra Blanca in Washington. I mean, if it’s a killer, that’s frighteningly Halloweenish, right? Remember the movie Psycho? Think of that in a bottle. Just don’t drink it in the shower.
Coup d’Etat — “Overthrow of the State” as it directly translates. This should be Spooooky to all elected officials. Of course even mentioning this wine on the website will probably get me on more watch-lists. That’s spooooky too!
The Howling Dog — With almost every spooooky monster movie, or every episode of Buffy, it all starts with a howling wolf and a full moon, even if the movie has nothing to do with werewolves. That’s because howling is spooooky! This Petite Sirah is certainly something to howl about. Want to know what else is Spooooky about this wine? The price. It’s around $50. So I’ll probably be opening just one. Get here early!

So Friday, October 26th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Spooooky Wines!!!
McNab Ridge 2005 Zinzilla (Zinfandel), Mendocino County, California
Dominio IV 2005 The Technicolor Bat (Syrah, Tempranillo), Oregon
Langmeil 2006 Hangin’ Snakes (Shiraz, Viognier), Barossa Valley, Australia
Killibinbin 2004 Red Blend (Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon), Langhorne Creek, Australia
Terra Blanca 2004 Killer Red (Syrah), Columbia Valley, Washington

Spooooky!!! Spooooky!!!! Spooooky!!!!
Andrew Rich 2005 Coup d’Etat (Counoise, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah), Oregon
Massena 2005 The Howling Dog (Petite Sirah), Barossa Valley, Australia

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Not-so-Spooooky! wines of Washington!

M