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.
Jul/100
Swallow Pinot Gris & NLP
Recently, I ran across the Swallow Pinot Gris. Being an Oregon native, I decided to check it out and buy a bottle.
First off, I enjoyed the Pinot Gris with its melon and subtle mineral flavors. It is a great summer wine, especially at $10/bottle. In short, buy it!
What really gets me is the marketing genius of this wine. Yes, a swallow is cute bird found throughout Oregon. The word swallow is also a verb associated with eating and drinking. For those familiar with NLP or neuro linguistic programming, you will recognize this brand name as an embedded command. The cute little bird is saying, “Drink me!”
Whether Swallow Cellars meant it or not, they nailed it with their brand!
Cheers!
-Kevin
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For more about the winery and the wine, read below:
http://swallowcellar.com/descriptions/2008%20Pinot%20Gris.pdf
Swallow Cellar’s family of wines grown and produced in Oregon includes Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Our efforts start in the vineyard with over thirty years of planting and tending vineyards in Oregon. As winegrowers, we respect the nature of the fruit that we work so hard to grow in our vineyards, and our winemaking goals mirror these beliefs. We strive to produce wines that showcase pure, delicate fruit flavors, moderate concentration, subtle intensity and good balance. Simple attention to detail, good, honest winemaking and respecting the humble beginnings of the grape are our guiding principles. “Distinctive wines at a price you can swallow” also means that we aim to put an affordable bottle of wine on your table for everyday enjoyment.
2008 Pinot Gris
Vibrant aromas of pears, apples and melons mingle with subtle spice notes tempting you to take the first taste. The flavors are plump, juicy and delicious, balanced with just the right amount of tangy grape acidity to keep the wine pleasantly refreshing. Pinot Gris is versatile on the table, pairing well with a wide array of foods from salads and seafood to poultry and pasta.
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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
Jul/100
2008 Crowley Pinot Noir
2008 Crowley, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 21.99/235.00 case
Before launching his eponymous venture, Tyson Crowley spent a dozen years working for some of the Willamette Valley’s most prestigious wineries. Crowley’s dedication and hard work have paid off, as is immediately apparent in his deeply layered and textured 2008 Pinot Noir. A gorgeous ruby robe in the glass leads to bright, spicy aromas of pie cherries, cranberries, geranium, clove and fresh vanilla bean. On the palate the wine shows beautifully the 2008 vintage’s breed and balance as saturated, high-toned fruit plays with complex suggestions of cinnamon-roasted coffee beans, button mushrooms, smoke and toffee. Shimmering acidity and just enough tannin form a lovely frame for the wine’s fresh fruit profile and distinctive earthy undertones. Crowley scores again with a brilliant, complex Pinot that over-delivers for its modest tariff. It’s a natural complement to lighter fare such as grilled and sautéed summer vegetables, Chinook salmon, roast chicken, duck and everyday fare like burgers, light casseroles and stews. Enjoy it now for its brilliant fruit expression, or age it three years in your cool cellar to allow its earthy, mushroom undertones to develop fully.
© Liner & Elsen
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LINER & ELSEN, WINE MERCHANTS
2222 NW Quimby St.
(off 22nd Ave.)
Portland, OR 97210
503-241-WINE (9463)
http://www.linerandelsen.com/
Another great wine recommendation from my friends, Bob and Renee, Line & Elsen.
Cheers!
-Kevin
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
Jun/100
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc – Viognier 2008
winemaker’s notes:
The 2008 Chenin Blanc-Viognier flaunts lush aromas of ruby grapefruit, pear, lychee and melon, with a delicate touch of spicy, white florals. Lively citrus and bright tropical fruit flavors are offered up alongside a supple texture. The slightly off-dry finish is clean and crisp, perfect with many dishes or on its own as an aperitif. Enjoy now or cellar for two years.
critical acclaim:
“A consistent winner from this Napa winery, this fragrant, stylish blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier is the type of dry white I wish more California wineries would focus on. Moreover, there are 45,000 cases of this excellent bargain. Think of a spring flower garden oozing with melon and citrus blossom notes. Fresh, light to medium-bodied, and dry, it is a food-friendly white to enjoy as an aperitif or with food over the next year. Kudos to Pine Ridge!”
88 Points
The Wine Advocate
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This $12 French-style blend is really tasty on a hot summer day. Though Pine Ridge is usually associated with cult-Cabernet, this off-dry white is really delicious!
Cheers!
-Kevin
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
Jun/100
Bubbly Recommedations from Liner & Elsen
Our friends Renee & Bob from Liner & Elsen wine shop in Portland, OR recommend the following wines:
“Great Bubbly Wine For Your Summer Events“
NV Maison Vergnes / Domaine de Martinolles, Le Berceau, Blanquette de Limoux … 11.99/128.00
We were thrilled by the elegance and class of this bubbly from Maison Vergnes. A lovely gold color in the flute, the Berceau shows persistent effervescence and a flinty bouquet of lemon peel and crushed apples. The palate is creamy and assertive, with lemon and apple fruit playing with an underpinning of smoky minerals. The wine grows and blossoms in the glass, becoming richer and creamier with aeration. The Berceau’s finish shows notes of apple peel and wheat toast. This is a lovely, satisfying bubbly that offers tons of character and quality for its most affordable tariff. Enjoy now as a festive apéritif, or as a wonderful wine for toasts and celebrations. Pair with roast chicken, broiled white-fleshed fish dishes or roasted root vegetables.
2009 Gioacchino Garofoli, Guelfo Verde Frizzante, Marches, Italy … 8.99/96.00
Here’s the spring wedding and summer sparkler value of the year! This lightly sparkling (frizzante) white from central Italy’s Marches region is our vote for the best value, most charming party sparkling wine on the market. Made from a blend of Verdicchio, Trebbiano, and Chardonnay, the Guelfo Verde opens with a pale straw-yellow color and aromas of honeydew melon, minerals and sugar snap peas. Dry, crisp and irresistibly quaffable, the natural sparkle lifts the wine’s pear and melon fruit and makes it super refreshing and zippy. One sip and one glance at the price tag will have you buying this wine by the case for quaffing over the coming warm weather months. Enjoy at your spring and summer celebrations as an aperitif, or paired with light fish dishes and mild semi-firm cheeses.
LINER & ELSEN, WINE MERCHANTS
2222 NW Quimby St. (off 22nd Ave.)
Portland, OR 97210
503-241-WINE (9463)
800-903-WINE (9463)
Fax 503-243-6706
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Renee & Bob are great people and have a fantastic shop. Go down and check it out! Also, they stock the Tre from Corx Wine Bags!
Cheers!
-Kevin
Jun/100
Waterbook 2007 Melange Noir
Tasting Note: Aromatic ripe berries and spice marry with light cedar notes. A well rounded palate of black cherry and cigar box leads to lingering toasted oak on the finish.
Varietal blend: 40% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Franc, 1% Various varieties
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Wine Spectator Daily Picks (89 points, $15)
Lithe and distinctive, a harmonious range of blackberry, raspberry, cherry and spice mingling effortlessly on the light and refined finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo. Drink now through 2012. 10,000 cases made. —Harvey Steiman
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Hi. I have been drinking the Waterbook Melange for roughly 10 years. It is a fabulous field blend that is flexible for everyday drinking.
This wine is dominated by star varietal of the Columbia Valley – Merlot.
Also, if you get to Walla Walla, check out Waterbrook’s tasting room – Walla Walla Wine Works.
31 East Main Street (Corner of 1st and Main St. in the heart of downtown)
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 522-1261
Hours: 11am – 6p (Mon.-Thurs.), 11am – 9pm (Fri.-Sat.)
Cheers!
-Kevin
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
May/100
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Lifted citrus and fresh herb aromas, underpinned by classic Seaview vineyard characteristics of mineral, nettle and wet stone. A refined, intense wine with generous fruit and an elegant texture.
“Bright and focused, offering a lively mouthful of pear, grapefruit and floral aromas and flavors on a juicy frame, finishing with finesse. Drink now.—H.S. ”
90 Points
Wine Spectator
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As I stated in the video, this Sauv Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is a great buy at $11.99. It has the mineral and tropical fruit common with this region, without being overly grassy.
Enjoy!
-Kevin
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
May/101
2008 Dundee Hills Cuvée Pinot Gris – Sokol Blosser Winery
One of the first wineries to plant vines in Oregon, the Sokol Blosser family has continually produced some of the finest wines that Oregon has to offer. From the winery that brought you such greats as Evolution No. 9 and Meditrina, we can now experience their 2008 Dundee Hills Cuvée Pinot Gris.
We had the opportunity try try this lovely wine when a dear friend of ours visited this weekend. As with other Sokol Blosser wines it showed remarkable complexity with suttle hints of earth and spice aromas, and giving you flavors of apricot, peach, and fig. The mouthfeel is both crisp and very rich, concentrated, and creamy, with a long, lush finish.
Another added bonus to this Pinot Gris is its long-term aging potential and should, if properly cellared, continue to evolve and develop beautifully over the next five to ten years. So if your looking for a fun wine to take on your next picnic, backyard BBQ or just relaxing on the deck enjoying a warm summer evening give this wine a try. You can either order this wine directly from the winery or you can seek out a retailer through their retailer portal at http://sokolblosser.com/aboutus/retailers.html
Cheers!
- Brandon
May/100
Ramos-Pinto Douro Adriano Estate Red Wine 2005 (Portugal)
-Wine Tasting Notes-
The color of this wine is an intense brilliant ruby red. Aromas of blackberry and black plum are followed by spice notes. The wine is a smooth on the palate with lively tannins and nuances of ripe fruit, plum and cherry. The finish is fresh, savory and long. This wine is a perfect accompaniment to red meat, game, BBQ, hamburgers, pizza, pasta and vegetables.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_wine
Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the Methuen Treaty in 1703. From this commerce a wide variety of wines started to be grown in Portugal. And, in 1758, the first wine-producing region of the world, the Região Demarcada do Douro was created under the orientation of Marquis of Pombal, in the Douro Valley. Portugal has two wine producing regions protected by UNESCO as World Heritage: the Douro Valley Wine Region (Douro Vinhateiro) and Pico Island Wine Region (Ilha do Pico Vinhateira). Portugal has a large variety of native breeds, producing a very wide variety of different wines with distinctive personality.
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Though originally know for Port, there are some great value wines coming out of Portugal right now. The Touriga Nacional varietal from Douro region is showing particular promise.
Also, it is hard to match the value of these great wines. The Ramos-Pinto Doura is a great buy at $12 per bottle.
Cheers!
-Kevin
Feb/100
Vinturi Wine Aerator – Review by Corx Wine Bags
Great gift for a wine lover! For more info, go to www.vinturi.com.
Cheers!
-Kevin