Sep/100
7 Daughters Winemaker’s Blend (White)
I tried the 7 Daughters Winemakers Blend last night. These folks put out two versions of their 7 grape blend, and I had the good fortune of trying their white wine style. First I was taken aback by the number of grapes used to make this wine, but in the end they pulled it off. I would definitely rank this as a good every day white, that would go well with all things summer. For around $12.00 a bottle it is definitely worth a try.
Cheers!
- Brandon
Winemaker Notes:
Color: Pale straw
Aroma:The intense aromatics for this wine feature notes of orange blossom, tangerine and melon with a subtle hint of apricot and lychee.
Taste:This crisp, balanced wine opens with the fresh flavors of lychee and mandarin oranges. The citrus influence continues with an intense tangerine flavor. The presence of Gewurztraminer complements the wine with a closing note of spice.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Pairings: Sushi, fruit salad, gulf fish (snapper and grouper), scallops, Asian Chicken salad, Cantonese, Thai and Latin cuisines.
Varietal Composition/Growing Region:
- 26% French Colombard
- 18% Chardonnay
- 18% Riesling
- 17% Symphony
- 11% Orange Muscat
- 5% Gewurztraminer
- 5% Sauvignon Blanc
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Sep/100
CARO Amancaya 2008
Dear friends,
If you are a fan of Bordeaux-style blends, this little gem from Argentina is impressive. This project is a joint venture between Catena and Rothchild, so it should be good!
Amancaya is a blend of Cab and Malbec. Grill a steak and sip away at $20/bottle.
Cheers!
-Kevin
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winemaker’s notes:
Deep purple-red color. Fruit driven wine, with appealing red and black cherry flavors, blackcurrant and plums with a hint of vanilla and cedar. On the palate it has a nice tannic texture, round and well-balanced.
Notes of vanilla and chocolate coming from the French oak.
critical acclaim:
“Bright red-ruby. Subtle, fresh and wonderfully aromatic nose offers complex scents of redcurrant, blueberry, strawberry, tobacco, mocha, graphite, leather and cedar. Penetrating and claret-like, with superb delineation to the redcurrant and tobacco flavors. Perfectly integrated acidity and an intriguing herbal nuance give this wine a light touch. Finishes with tactile, dusty tannins and lovely lift and persistence. Offers compelling complexity and class for the price. This is actually the second wine issued by this joint venture between Lafite-Rothschild and Nicolas Catena: the 2007 flagship bottling had not yet arrived in the market at press time. ”
91 Points
International Wine Cellar
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About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us atwww.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
2008 Bogle Pinot Noir
Hi. I have been drinking Bogle Wines for nearly 10 years. They have been in my staple of good, everyday wines.
Historically, the Bogle Pinot Noir was just okay. I decided to try the 2008 vintage earlier this summer and was pleasantly surprised. It is quite good, and at $11/bottle I recommend it as a “buy.”
Cheers!
-Kevin
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Here is some more info on the Bogle Pinot Noir:
http://www.sacwineregion.com/2010/05/26/1527/mike-dunnes-wine-of-the-week-2008.html
Mike Dunne’s Wine of the Week: 2008 California Pinot Noir
Bogle Vineyards 2008 California Pinot Noir ($11)
Pinot noir’s rise to popularity and prominence in California began about a decade ago, though not until the release of the movie “Sideways” in 2004 did it get the traction it retains today. Before then, pinot noir even from regions now esteemed for the grape was relatively easy to find and to afford.
Thus, Bogle Vineyards of Clarksburg, best known for solidly made and attractively priced everyday petite sirah, chardonnay and merlot out of the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta, quietly began to release small lots of pinot noir from Sonoma County.
Over the past several vintages, Bogle’s pinot-noir output grew to some 44,000 cases, all of it bearing the name of arguably the state’s most highly regarded appellation for the varietal, Russian River Valley. No other winery in the country is believed to have made more pinot noir with “Russian River Valley” on the label than Bogle.
With the current release of its 2008 pinot noir, however, Bogle has traded in the Russian River Valley appellation for the broader “California” of most of its wines. That’s the price of success, given that the Bogles wanted to continue to increase their pinot-noir production but were faced with limited sources and escalating prices in Russian River Valley. (In addition to dropping Russian River Valley from the label, the Bogles have dropped the suggested retail price, from $13 for the 2007 to $11 for the 2008.)
Nevertheless, most of the fruit that went into the 2008 pinot noir – 60 percent – is from Russian River Valley. The rest comes from Monterey (27 percent) and Santa Barbara (10 percent), areas also recognized for fine pinot noir. Just three percent of the wine is from Clarksburg, and it isn’t even pinot noir, but chardonnay, a rare touch added by Bogle winemaker Chris Smith to heighten the wine’s aromatics, a practice he started several vintages ago.
The result is a pinot noir of charming delicacy and subtle complexity, yet true to type, from its light and bright blue-tinged garnet to its gentle suggestions of chalk dust, spice and mint in smell and flavor, all playing respectful backup to the wine’s clean berry and cherry fruitiness. The wine is everything an everyday pinot noir should be – fresh and spry, with the varietal’s telltale suppleness. Its spine is solid, traces of its year in French and American oak more caress than slug. A pinot noir of this caliber at this price is a major accomplishment, but not at all a surprise from Bogle, which from the outset has focused on making wines that balance high quality with high value.
Indeed, Smith suggests that the 2008, even without the Russian River Valley appellation, is an improvement over earlier vintages. On its own, pinot noir from the Russian River Valley can be almost too intense, probably because of new and improved clones of the variety that have been planted in the region. By tempering that forcefulness with more moderate fruit he’s crafted a finely harmonious pinot noir.
By the numbers: 14.2 percent alcohol, 55,000 cases, $11.
Context: Smith says he’s enjoyed the pinot noir with mesquite-smoked wild turkey stuffed with lemons, braised pork shoulder and grilled salmon. The Bogles suggest it be poured with “aged cheeses and unique pates, saucy mushroom dishes, poultry and pork,” but don’t prepare and serve any of those dishes with a lot of fussiness and weight; this pinot noir will be best with lighter representatives of those genres.
Availability: Bogle wines are widely available in the Sacramento area, with Nugget Markets especially keen on the new pinot noir.
More information: Check the winery’s Web site, www.boglewinery.com, or visit its tasting room, 37883 Road 144, Clarksburg, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
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About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
We told you drinking wine will make you more intelligent…..
This is a short clip highlighting a seven year study conducted in Norway testing cognitive skills in women who drink wine versus those that do not. Now I know why my wife is so smart:) Are we encouraging you to drink yourself into oblivion in hopes of becoming the next Albert Einstein or Steven Hawking, not exactly. It is exciting though to see more health benefits tied to that bottle of wine we keep opening. So the next time dinner chit chat turns mentally stimulating is it really us, or is it the wine talking? Hmmmm…makes you wonder.
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
Ultimate New Jersey Wine Tour
Thank you so much Stephanie for your enjoyable read regarding a lesser know wine growing area. A definate highlight of this story is the listing of different wineries, restaurants, etc.. Enjoy!
Cheers!
- Brandon
By STEPHANIE AUTERI
When I first set off to discover New Jersey wine culture, I didn’t expect to find a whole lot. Within my immediate geographic area (I live in Clifton) are several wine bars and discount wine shops that sometimes offer free tastings, but there are no vineyards — no place where I can track a wine’s humble origins, the process of vine to grape to barrel to bottle.
In the past, my husband and I always drove to upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region to get our wine fix. I didn’t think we had any other choice. But once I started researching wine spots across New Jersey, I discovered that we really had been missing out. I shouldn’t have been surprised.
This is, after all, the Garden State.
Through the course of three frantic months, we spent every single weekend traveling across all of New Jersey. We drove to the tippy-top — where small family vineyards like that of the Ventimiglias operated — and all the way down to Cape May (which had four of its own wineries, all well worth visiting). In a blur of vineyard after vineyard, our palates slowly changed.
At Four JG’s Orchards & Vineyards in Colts Neck, we salivated over chocolate sauce made with chambourcin, a French-American hybrid grape that is popular in New Jersey. At California WineWorks in Ramsey, we destemmed grapes, crushed them and added yeast, enjoying the hands-on process of making our own cabernet.
At La Griglia in Kenilworth, a restaurant recognized by Wine Spectator magazine, I fell in love with an incredibly light sparkling dessert wine.
At Plagido’s Winery in Hammonton, I couldn’t help gushing over the sangria.
When we visited Sylvin Farms Winery in Germania — a one-man operation — we had to run through the fields in order to find owner Franklin Salek. It was well worth it, as he then treated us to a history of the New Jersey wine business while we sampled bottle after bottle.
At Turdo Vineyards in North Cape May, we reveled in the unseasonal warmth of late last September by sipping from generous glasses of pinot noir on its outdoor patio. And at Ventimiglia Vineyard in Wantage, we tasted zinfandel straight from the barrel before sitting down to an intimate barbecue with the entire family.
By the time we made it to Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, we had to invest in a wine journal. The bottles cluttering the floor of our one-bedroom condo were all favorites, and we didn’t want to risk forgetting any of them.
Over the course of it all, we learned what we loved (and we also learned that seven wineries in one day is too much). The wine spots listed here — a mix of wineries, restaurants, shops and wine bars — aren’t everything New Jersey has to offer. In fact, the state has at least 33 wineries alone registered with the Garden State Wine Growers Association, and you can follow the entire trail by picking up one of their free “passports” (newjerseywines.com). Rather, these spots are the ones I felt had the most to offer not only the taste buds, but the soul.
Does that sound cheesy? Thankfully, wine and cheese go well together.
* Four JG’s & Vineyards
127 Hillsdale Road,
Colts Neck
(908) 930-8066
4jgswinery.com
Owner: John and Janet Giunco
Acreage: 60-acre farm, with 35 acres of planted vines
Wines: 10
Best-sellers: chambourcin riserva, Cayuga white, Vignole, cabernet Franc
Tastings: Weekends, 1 to 5 p.m., October through December
Price: $5
* Alba Vineyard & Winery
269 Route 627, Village of Finesville, Milford
(908) 995-7800
albavineyard.com
Owner: Tom Sharko
Acreage: 93.5-acre farm, with 42 acres of planted vines
Wines: 19
Best-sellers: pinot noir, dry Riesling, chardonnay
Tastings: Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: $10 for a cheese and cracker plate, and a taste of anything you’d like
* Amazing Grapes
23 Wanaque Ave., Pompton Lakes
(973) 831-5700
amazing-grapes.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Bonus: There is a bar in the back featuring live music on weekends
Owners: Donna Garvey, Bill Lowe Jr. and Tony Greco
Bottles: 12 by the glass, and around 100 bottles
Best-sellers: pinot grigio (especially bottles under $15), malbec wines from Argentina, tempranillo from Spain
Tastings: Free, every Saturday afternoon
* Bacchus
Winemaking Club
1540 Route 37 west, Toms River
(732) 505-6930
bacchusnj.com
Attend winemaking sessions and other classes and events throughout the year
* Bellview Winery
150 Atlantic St., Landisville
(856) 697-7172
BellviewWinery.com
Owner: Jim and Nancy Quarella
Acreage: 32
Wines: 27
Best-sellers: fiesta/cranberry sangria, 2007 petit verdot
Tastings: Daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: Free
* California WineWorks
476 Route 17 North, Ramsey
(201) 785-9463
cawineworks.com
Participate in grape crushing and other aspects of the winemaking process. End up with your own barrel
* Cape May
Winery & Vineyard
711 Townbank Road, Cape May
(609) 884-1169
capemaywinery.com
Owner: Darren Hesington and Toby Craig
Acreage: 15
Wines: 19
Best-sellers: 2008 riesling, 2007 Cape May cabernet ranc, Isaac Smith cabernet sauvignon, Cape May merlot, Cape May chardonnay
Tastings: Daily, 12 to 5 p.m.
Price: $5 for your choice of 6 wines, plus a souvenir wine glass to take home
* Endless Vine
823 Franklin Lake Road,
Franklin Lakes
(201) 891-3669
endlessvine.com
Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Owner: Simonyan family Bottles: 15 wines by the glass and close to 5,000 bottles
Best-sellers: Patz & Hall pinot noir Sonoma Coast 2006, Gnarley Head old vine zinfandel 2006, Bruno Giacosa Barolo “Le Rocche del Falletto” 1999, cheval blanc 1996, Caymus cabernet sauvignon Napa Valley 2002
Tastings: Check for tastings and other events on the website
* The Grape Escape
12 Stults Road, Suite 101, Dayton
(609) 409-9463
thegrapeescape.net
Make your own wine, starting at $355 for of a barrel
* La Griglia
740 Boulevard, Kenilworth
(908) 241-0031
lagriglia.com
Hours: Lunch: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.to 3 p.m. Dinner: Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 9 p.m.
Owner: Chris and John Tocci
Bottles: 600
Best-sellers: Bisol, “Crede” Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene (Veneto), Cantalupo “Il Mimo” Rosato 2005 (Piemont), Ocone, Taburno Falanghina, 2005 (Campania), Fatascia, “Almanera” nero d’Avola, 2003 (Sicily), Marenco, Brachetto D’Acqui, 2005 (Piemont)
* Hopewell Valley
Vineyards
46 Yard Road, Pennington
(609) 737-4465
hopewellvalleyvineyards.com
Owner: Sergio Neri
Acreage: 75-acre farm, with 20 acres of planted vines
Wines: 16
Best-sellers: chambourcin, pinot grigio
Tastings: Daily, 12 to 5 p.m., except for Friday and Wednesday 12 to 8 p.m. because of happy hour
Price: $5
Events: Weekly. Find out about everything from harvest and wine festivals to music nights by signing up for its e-mail list
* Knife & Fork
3600 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City
(609) 344-1133
knifeandforkinn.com
Hours: Lunch: Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 9:30 p.m., Friday and-Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.
Owner: Frank Dougherty
Bottles: 1,000-plus
Best-sellers: Mason Cellars sauvignon blanc 2005, Orogeny pinot noir Green Valley RRV 2006, BR Cohn cabernet sauvignon north coast 2007
* Park & Orchard
240 Hackensack St.,
East Rutherford
(201) 939-9292
parkandorchard.com
Hours: Lunch: Monday through Friday, 12 to 4 p.m. Dinner: Monday through Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 4:45 to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 2 to 9 p.m.
Owner: Kenny and Buddy Gebhardt
Bottles: 2,000
Best-sellers: I Terrieri Corvina Passita 2006 Verona, Italy, Macon- Villages Les Pierres Dorees Domaine Barraud 2008, Purple Mountain chardonnay 2005, Stag’s Leap Hawk Crest cabernet sauvignon
Events: Scheduled wine tastings can be found on the website
* Plagido’s Winery
570 N. First Road,
Hammonton
(609) 567-4633
plagidoswinery.com
Owner: Ollie Tomasello
Acreage: 15
Wine: 27
Best-Sellers: chambourcin, Plagido’s Choice, merlot blend
Tastings: Daily, 12 to 5 p.m.
Price: Free
* Rosie’s Wine Bar
514 North Ave., Garwood
(908) 518-9463
rosieswinebar.com
Hours: Dinner: Monday through Wednesday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m. Bar: open past 1 a.m.
Owner: Josh Rosenberg
Bottles: 250
Best-sellers: Covey Run riesling, Crosby cabernet sauvignon, Sonoma-Cutrer chardonnay, Faust Events: The website lists live music events, tastings, parties, education and more
* Sylvin Farms Winery
24 N. Vienna Ave., Germania
(609) 965-1548
sylvinfarmswinery.com
Owner: Franklin Salek
Acreage: 40-acre farm, with 11 acres of vines
Wines: 15
Best-sellers: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sauvignon blanc, sparkling blanc de noir, chardonnay Tastings: Call ahead to schedule a tasting. This is a one-man operation, but it’s worth the effort to go.
Price: Free
* Tomasello Winery Inc.
225 N. White Horse Pike,
Hammonton
(800) 666-9463
tomasellowinery.com
Owners: Charlie and Jack Tomasello
Acreage: 70
Wines: 43
Best-Sellers: 2006 Tomasello American white zinfandel, Tomasello American Ranier rosé, Tomasello Atlantic County Nevers Oak chardonnay, Rainier white, Tomasello Epilogue Atlantic County riesling ice wine 2007, Tomasello American Almonique, Tomasello mulled spice wine, sparkling blueberry
Tastings: Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: Free
* Turdo Vineyards & Winery
3911 Bayshore Road, North Cape May
(609) 884-5591
turdovineyards.com
Owner: Sal Turdo
Acreage: 6-acre farm, with 4.5 acres of planted vines
Wines: 15
Best-sellers: The Italian reds: barbera, dolcetto, nebbiolo, sangiovese, and nero d’Avola
Tastings: Thursday through Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m.
Price: $5 for choice of 6 wines and a souvenir wine glass to take home
* Undici Taverna Rustica
11 West River Road, Rumson
(732) 842-3880
undicirestaurant.com
Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Wednesday-Sunday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Owners: Victor Rollo (general manager) and Giovanni Atzori (executive chef)
Bottles: 640
Best-sellers: Chiantis
Events: Follow twitter.com/undici11 on Twitter to keep up-to-date on all of its upcoming events
* Ventimiglia Vineyard
101 Layton Road, Wantage
(973) 875-4333
ventivines.com
Owner: Gene Ventimiglia, with his family
Acreage: 50 acres
Wines: 16
Best-sellers: Buon Giorno, Rocky Ridge red, chambourcin, carignane
Tastings: Saturdays and Sundays. now through Sept. 30, 1 to 6 p.m.; Oct. 1 through April 30, 12 to 5 p.m.
Price: $5 for a tasting and, if you’re lucky, you’ll also be offered a tour
* Wine List of Summit
417 Springfield Ave., Summit
(908) 277-6565
winelistsummit.com/wine/classes.php
class@winelistsummit.com
Become a wine connoisseur in three easy lessons
* The WineMakers Cellar
1050 Goffle Road, Hawthorne
(973) 238-1400
thewinemakerscellar.com
info@thewinemakerscellar.com
Make your own wine, starting at $425 for ⅛ barrel of wine
* Wine Ventures
7 Washington St., Tenafly
(201) 568-4341
wineventures.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.
Owner: Craig McManus
Bottles: 1,000-plus
Best-sellers: New Zealand sauvignon blancs, Rhone Châteauneuf-du-Papes
Tastings: Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m.
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
Espelt Saulo 2008 – Wine Review
I have have seen this wine numerous times at my local liquor store tied to my Costco so I thought I would give it a try.
Espelt Sauló is a deliteful blend of 50% garnacha and 50% cariñena that delivers well beyond its $10.00 price. You will first notice that this wine has a lovely deep ruby color. I found hints of raspberry, cherry, pepper and an earthy quality that blends nicely together. This is without a doubt a great every day wine that will not break the budget.
Above: Anna Espelt, Winemaker
Cheers!
- Brandon
Winery Notes
Although the Espelt family has been growing grapes for quite some time, it was not until 2000 that they began to produce wine. With over 500 acres of vineyards planted to a multitude of varieties, Espelt’s ultra modern winery is responsible for some of the greatest values in the region with a whimsical sensibility. Located Inside two National Parks in the ends of the Pyrenees, the land is characterized by strong northern winds, poor soils of slate and granite and very old vineyards planted as long ago as 1900.
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
Pinot Noir & Oregon
Pinot Noir is the celebrated grape of Oregon. The following page on the Oregon Pinot Noir festival talks about Pinot Noir and its connection to Oregon.
Enjoy!
-Kevin
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http://www.ipnc.org/about-pinot-noir.php
The Grape
The name Pinot noir is derived from the French words for “pine” and “black” in reference to the varietals’ tightly clustered dark purple cone-shaped bunches of grapes. Therefore, Pinot noir refers both to the grape varietal as well as the wine that it produces. The skin of the Pinot noir grape is relatively thin, making it a tricky, albeit rewarding, candidate for wine production.
There is much debate as to the origins of the variety, although one currently popular theory is that the Pinot noir grape is an offspring of Pinot meunier and Gewurztraminer. This union helps explain the characteristics behind the beloved Pinot noir. As author Stuart Pigot notes in Planet Wine, “Pinot meunier gave Pinot noir its bright, berry aromas and initial charm, while Gewurztraminer its silkiness, extravagance, nobility, and fickleness.”
Growing Region
Traditionally, Pinot noir was grown in the Burgundy region of France. For years it was simply perceived wisdom that a decent Pinot noir could not be grown outside Burgundy, yet modern times have strongly challenged this assertion. Winemakers, eager to explore Pinot’s possibilities in other regions of the world, eventually spurred successful growth in Oregon, New Zealand, and California. There is also some limited growth in cool regions of Australia, Chile, South Africa, and Canada.
Oregon, inspired by the similar climate characteristics of Burgundy, staked its reputation on Pinot noir with much success. Thanks to ocean fog, California has shown that it too has no shortage of spots cool enough to keep Pinot grapes on the vine as they develop fine fruity flavors and texture. Notable Pinot regions in California include Los Carneros, the Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Maria north of Santa Barbara, as well as in the mountains south of San Francisco. Australians have identified Victoria (notably the Yarra Valley, Geelong and the Mornington Peninsula) and Tasmania as being cool enough for Pinot, and Martinborough in the south of New Zealand’s North Island has also made strong Pinot Noirs. Most of South Africa is too warm for Pinot noir, but the cool coastal regions have some development potential.
The Production Process
The vine generally is very prone to mutation, as demonstrated with Pinot gris and Pinot blanc. Winegrowers must take climate and soil conditions into careful consideration when deciding which clone to plant. It ripens relatively early so is not suitable for very warm regions where there would be no time to develop intriguing flavor before high acid levels plummeted. On the other hand, many of the cooler regions in which it thrives suffer autumn rains that can rot the thin-skinned berries of this variety, resulting in pale, tainted wines. The vines themselves as equally fragile and prone to fanleaf, leaf roll and downy mildew. As Jancis Robinson puts it best in her book Jancis Robinsons Wine Course, “The Pinot Noir grower’s lot is not an easy one.”
Growing the grapes is only half the battle. Pinot noir is a very fickle grape, requiring the utmost attention and respect in every phase of the winemaking process. Winemakers are the first to testify to this, claiming that grapes that have been handled too much can end up making wines that lack flavor and harmony. As mentioned by Karen MacNeil in The Wine Bible, “Winemakers adopt a minimalist approach, and often a percentage of the grapes is not crushed. Instead, whole grapes are put directly into the fermenting tanks, which also helps maximize fruity flavors in the wine. To keep those fruit flavors dominant, many wine-makers are also extremely careful and sparing in their use of new oak for aging.”
Clearly, Pinot noir is a risky (and more expensive) proposition for the winegrower, the winemaker, and the wine drinker. But it is precisely this high-stakes gamble that makes pinot noir all the more alluring and rewarding.
Taste
The prime drinkability period of Pinot noir generally spans from two to eight years, the difference depending on differences between wine regions and varying vintage conditions. The overall taste of Pinot noir is very susceptible to variables in the production process, leading to a wide range of flavors, textures, and impressions that often confuse tasters. In the broadest of definitions, Pinot noir possesses a light to medium body with an aroma resembling black cherry, raspberry, or plum. Pinot drinkers are warned not to be dissuaded by the lighter color, as the flavors often times are much bolder and profound than the color leads on. As Jancis Robinson declares, the grape is “capable of producing divinely scented, gorgeously fruity expressions. The flavours found in young red burgundies include raspberries, strawberries, cherries and violets; with time these evolve into a bouquet often reminiscent of game, licorice and autumnal undergrowth.” These deliciously earthy aromas and the silky texture of Pinot create the sensual reputation for which Pinot noir is best known.
Pinot noir is almost always made as a single varietal, rarely blended. One of the grape’s great features is its ability to make on its own a complex and complete wine. When mixed with other varieties it often regresses to a point that it can barely be perceived. There are some exceptions to this guideline, particularly successful incorporations with Champagne and certain other sparkling wines.
In pairing the wine with food, the IPNC has been given rave reviews for its sumptuous combination of grilled salmon and Pinot noir. As Karen MacNeil points out in The Wine Bible, “The rich fattiness and light char of the grilled salmon could have no better partner than an earthy Oregon pinot noir, with its relatively high (for red wine) acidity. Also critical to the partnership is the fact that pinot noir is very low in tannin and thus doesn’t interfere with the beautiful flavors of the fish.”
Growing in Oregon
Pinot noir is what put Oregon on the map internationally, and is the most planted in the state by far. Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot gris follow. Oregon has no such thing as cheap, bulk wine. The climate is distinctly cloudy and cool, especially in the Willamette Valley where most of the wineries are clustered. This gentle climate, which highly resembles that of Burgundy, allows for wines of good acidity and balance, moderate alcohol, and an ideal degree of flavor.
Wineries in Oregon tend to be small family affairs. The main challenge for most of these wineries is to persuade their grapes to ripen fully on the vine before the autumn rains arrive, “bringing rot and spoiling the color and flavours of the delicate Pinot noir grape especially.” (Robinson) So variable are the vintages in Oregon that the harvest may occur at any time from early September through November. Yet when the factors of production align, the Pinots that come from this unique region are truly a divine experience.
Pinot Noir Compilation Resources
Johnson, Hugh. The World Atlas of Wine, Ed. 4. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994.
MacNeil, Karen. The Wine Bible. New York: Workman Publishing, 2001.
Pigott, Stuart. Planet Wine. London: Mitchell Beazley, 2004.
Robinson, Jancis. Jancis Robinson’s Wine Course. London: BBC Books, 1995.
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About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
Chalone Monterey Chardonnay 2008 – Wine Review
I had the chance to enjoy this Chardonnay over the weekend with one of the other owners of Corx Wine Bags. I had not had the chance to try this wine before, but upon pulling it out Kevin told me that we would not be disappointed. Kevin was spot on with this wine being properly balanced between the flavors of pear, apple and oak, as well as a butteriness that complements the bright crispness of this wonderful chardonnay.
Cheers!
- Brandon
Chalone Vineyard Monterey County Chardonnay 2008 Overview
Wine
In our 2008 Chardonnay, bright, fruit-focused flavors keep cadence with sweet essence of oak. Baked pear, Braeburn apple and sweet tangerine are accented by wafts of floral and nutmeg. Across the palate, the flavors are joined by juicy stone fruit and guava, developing creaminess through the middle. Well-balanced, the fruit remains bright and crisp, complemented by just enough oak to lend structure and complexity. This wine’s versatility makes it pleasant for sipping as well as a perfect complement to sautéed scallops or stuffed chicken breast.
Vineyard
Chalone Vineyard was one of the first wineries to recognize the amazing potential of Chardonnay from Monterey County. With moderate winters and a maritime-influenced climate, Monterey has one of the coolest, most consistent growing seasons in the state, ideal for this thin-skinned varietal. Our grapes come from the northern Salinas Valley, in the Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area, and other cool, well-drained sites auspiciously influenced by the wind and fog that carry the cool Pacific air down the valley. Here, budbreak is generally early and the growing season long, allowing the grapes to hang on the vine and develop slowly for ripe, flavorful Chardonnay with a nice core of acidity.
Winemaking
The unique climate and terroir of Monterey guides the profile of this Chardonnay. From vine to bottle, our winemaking decisions were chosen with this abiding ideal. For a hint of complexity, structure and gentle spice influence, we aged 60 percent of the wine in a combination of French, American and European oak for six months.
Vintage
Aug/100
Hogue Fume Blanc 2007 – Wine Review
The Hogue Cellars has come a long way from its humble beginnings when founded by Gary and Mark Hogue in 1982. Since that time Hogue has grown to become one of Washington’s largest wineries, and has gained both national and global acclaim. Always on the hunt for a great under $10.00 bottle of wine I grabbed a bottle of Hogue Fume Blanc 2007. I found this fume blanc to be surprisingly complex with just the right acidity, hints of grapefruit and melon combined with subtle notes of sage and fig. For around $9.00 a bottle it is a solid choice that can be found in many wine shops and liquor stores throughout the country.
About The Hogue Cellars
THE HOGUE CELLARS™, founded in 1982 by Mike and Gary Hogue, is located in Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley, the premiere grape growing region of the state. The climate and soils of the Columbia Valley produce grapes with intense fruit flavors and high natural acidity. The wines have a liveliness and ripe, zesty fruit flavors that make them ideal complements to a wide range of food. You can visit them at http://hoguecellars.com/index.php
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Aug/100
August is Washington Wine Month
August is Washington Wine Month
According to the Washington State Liquor Control Board, “each August, state liquor stores broaden and diversify the selection of Washington wines and feature displays surrounding the annual theme. This year’s theme “Washington Wines… Our Passion, Your Pleasure” celebrates the unique Washington climates producing some of the very best in grapes and wines known around the world. This is the 26th Washington Wine Month celebrated by state liquor stores.”
The list of featured Washington Wine Month wines available at Washington State Liquor Stores can be found here.