I was shopping for wine this past weekend, and my wine shop was doing their annual buy one bottle at regular price, get the second at 50% off.  Needless to say the high end bottles where cleaned out.  I am personally not a high end wine person because my pocket book does not allow it, nor would I probably head down that path if I could.  I enjoy the game of finding exceptional wine values.  Benton-Lane Pinot Noir 2008 is no exception.  2008's Pinot Noir growing season in the Willamette Valley was a historical year, that has turned out the highest quality Pinot Noir this region has ever seen.  I have always been a fan of this winery, and we even featured the 2008 Pinot Gris on our blog June of last year.  This wine left me speechless...granted it is only my opinion....but like the 2008 Pinot Gris Benton-Lane absolutely nailed it!  The wine is like silk...subtle in flavors, but the smoothness of the taste is absolutely incredible.  Even if you paid the typical retail price in our area of $23.oo, your drinking a wine that today could fetch twice that amount, and if you enjoy storing wine in your cellar you will have an amazing bottle in 5 years.  Pick up a bottle or two of this wine, you will be glad you did.

Winemaker's Notes:

This brilliantly ruby tinted wine has classic aromas of cherries, red currants and raspberries with more subtle hints of baking spice and vanilla layered in.  On the palate, it exhibits lithe fruitiness and lingering cherry and berry flavors.  The wine shows extraordinary balance and finesse with fine grained tannis that provide a nice framework to the silky mid-palate.

Acclaim:

November, 2010 90 points, Wine Spectator
“Light and spicy, with pretty cinnamon and nutmeg overtones to the red berry and floral flavors, lingering gently on the finish with finesse. Drink now through 2016.

November, 2010 Editor’s Holiday Wine Pick, Food & Wine
“Benton-Lane’s estate bottling has earth and spice notes, plus vibrant cherry fruit. It’s from Oregon’s 2008 vintage—one of the state’s best ever…”

October, 2010 90 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2008 Pinot Noir Estate, medium ruby in color, offers up an alluring nose of cedar, spice box, incense, cherry and raspberry that jumps from the glass. Made in a racy style and already displaying some complexity, this savory, spicy effort has good depth, length, and 1-2 years of aging potential. It will provide considerable pleasure from 2012 to 2020. Issue #191

July, ‘10: Gold Medal, San Francisco International Wine Competition

June, 2010: Gold Medal, Oregon Wine Awards

Cheers!

- Brandon

Near the end of Willamette Valley’s harvest 2009 as I stood in the tasting room at Montinore Estate watching the fruit develop, I predicted it would be a year to rival 2002. To date no one so far has chimed in to support that prediction. Seems a lot of publications are doubling back on their 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir reviews. Now I must add they made those predications on mostly barrel samples. Who is to say the barrels they tasted had even finished malolactic much less been ready to present to some wine writers but these things happen.  As usual, I will run my mouth off when I feel convicted about a series of events that I may testify to.  I endorse the word testify as a stronger representation to saying “talking about or reporting on”, to me it means an evangelical stance of biblical equivocations regarding how things happened in your personal and immediate observation.

The first Oregon wine I ever drank was a bottle of Ponzi in New York in ’86. I bought it at Dean and Delucas Market at the corner of Broadway and Prince in Soho if my memory serves me correctly. It was probably an ‘84 or ‘85 and still being impressed with Pommards from my flush days in Miami. I enjoyed it but just did not get it.  I recognized it as a wine that was good, but I really was not in tune with Pinot Noir to a degree to realize I had just tasted a game changer.

In 1990 I tasted a Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir ‘87 Willamette Valley that finally made me realize Oregon had exactly what “Jeremiah the Bullfrog” had described in Three Dogs’ Night song Joy to the World. “He had some really, really fine wine, so I helped him drink his wine.” In 1994 I met Chris Choate and what I did not know about Burgundy, Oregon and cult California Pinot Noir was revealed at the resurrection and oh too soon demise of the restaurant Abiquiu in San Francisco.

My tasting skills with Pinot Noir have progressed a little since then and so have the amount of offerings nationally from so many different regions and styles including the manipulation of cloned varieties. The experimentation with alternative methods of departing oak flavors, how many wineries own a concentrator (a fact that will surprise many), who uses bladder press method vs. other extraction methods and the adherence to ridged punch down schedules all these techniques and their effect on the outcome of the finished product have also developed my tasting skills. I know when I visit wineries most folks do not think I am paying attention and that’s OK.  It is usually because my attention is focused on something I noticed as I was looking around.

We were fortunate enough to have received a bottle of 2009 Tavola Pinot Noir from Ponzi Vineyards for review and as it turns out, I was right if this wine is any example of what other wineries were able to make. A broad expression of fruit aromas emanate from the glass immediately after pouring.  A wine I could drink everyday—yes it has mass appeal and no it will not be mistaken for a so-called wine of distinction (to my dismay) which these days if it comes from Oregon, means a less than 1k case production and more like 200-500. What is it I am actually saying, am playing right into the hands of the pundits that chastise you if you happen to write about a wine that has mass appeal?  Well let me fly in the face of convention or more appropriately non-convention.  I will gladly receive this wine on my dinner table, unless I am serving a dish with spice such as Curry or Cajun and despite so many Oregon wineries serving smoked pork with their Pinot Noir, I do not recommend it. Tavola will meet most culinary challenges and cleanse your palate with a finish that beckons one back for more. It also makes a very good stand-alone sipper.

Smoked pork done right whether it be dry rub or sop vinegar moistened will overpower all but the most powerful wines and Pinot Noir does not belong in that group.  So stop smoking meat (unless it is cold smoking of fish) and thinking it pairs well with Pinot Noir.  There are a few examples from the Central Coast and Russian River that can pull off that pairing.  In fact some Carneros wines can stand up to Carnitas at a San Francisco Mission District taco joint such as Robert Sinskey’s Carneros Pinot Noir.  That wine is an exception to the rule. I should say used to be because I have not tasted a recent vintage of that particular wine. And that style of Pinot Noir sort of negates what makes this awesome grape so special.

To make this article a well balanced piece I went to Trader Joe’s and bought a redcap ‘09 Pinot Noir from Montinore Estate and a Vintj’s Willamette Valley Pinot Noir made at Joe Dobbes facility in Dundee, Oregon. After drinking the Vintj’s I decided if it was to be a balanced piece, I should go to Dundee and get a bottle of Dobbes Family Estate 2009 Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir.  Many people do not know this but in addition to his annual production of Dobbes Family Estate, Wine by Joe and Jovino labels the total of wine produced at his facility is around 120k cases annually with only about 20% of wines made their bearing the Dobbes signature lines labels the rest is for his clients.  I’ve always said he was a very smart guy and lately I have gained even more respect for him and his operation.

Here are a few facts about Joe Dobbes that squarely plants him in the title of this article.  After apprenticing in Germany and Burgundy with some of the master winemakers in those regions Joe headed to the northwest with his newfound knowledge and put it to good use at several of Oregon’s premier wineries before opening his own place in 2002.  Joe’s contributions when he was with Elk Cove Vineyards, Eola-Hills Winery, Hinman/Sylvan Ridge, Paschal Winery and Willamette Valley Vineyards (the only publicly traded winery in Oregon) steadily improved the expectations and realizations for Oregon wine consumers everywhere.

Joe is like the director in an epic movie despite being behind the scenes he is still a star. Making wines that solidly helped build the reputation of Oregon wines wherever he was lending his talents all testify to his status as a pioneer.  While the pioneer status is relegated to these other folks for  different  reasons  regarding the marketing of Oregon Pinot Noir  and the reason I am about to triumph their efforts is due to their diligence in getting Oregon Pinot Noir into the faces of buyers on the east coast. While back on the ranch (at Oregon Vineyards) Joe was here improving the quality and expectation of quality everywhere he could. For that, alone he is a hero and pioneer of Oregon Wine history.

Stories have been circulating about the real founders of Pinot Noir in Oregon.  Forest Grove, Oregon is trying to rebrand their image as the birthplace of Oregon Pinot Noir.  I was not personally around here in Oregon in the mid sixties, but for years because of Eyrie Vineyards and its founder’s insistence he was the first to plant Pinot Noir in Oregon—that was the story most folks believed.  Investigating further, I found out Richard Sommer who started Hillcrest Vineyards bought Pinot Noir grapes from Ann McCallum. She grew pinot noir in her Roseburg vineyard, and she sold all of her grapes to Sommer in 1961, the same year he planted his vineyard in Roseburg, OR and any information you might read to the contrary is incorrect. I only touch on that subject because four of the five wines being reviewed in this article were made by folks who may not have been first to make Pinot Noir in Oregon but they all had a huge influence in getting  people to taste a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir for the first time.

The Ponzi family has always been considered one of the pioneers of the wine industry here.  In fact, the first brand of Oregon wine I ever noticed on the shelves was Ponzi.  I had a bottle in New York and then again, in Boston it was probably in the mid to late eighties when I was cooking in Boston.

Once buyers on the east coast tried Montinore they bought it and brought it in. It usually sold so well it produced an avenue for buyers to give other Oregon Pinot noirs a chance. Savvy sommeliers and wine buyers quickly started adding other Willamette Valley Pinot Noir labels to their shelves and wine lists hoping they would produce the same results.  None of that would be possible without the hard work Jeff Lamy had put in developing Montinore from its inception.

Rudy Marchesi who many call the new owner at Montinore (which he is) was the torchbearer for Oregon wines in the New York and Boston areas.  Most folks do not know he was one of the first east coast distributors for Montinore and without his efforts; many Oregon wines would not have ever been given a second look from restaurant and retail wine buyers.  Rudy owned Alba Vineyards in New Jersey back then and outside of New Jersey, it’s pretty hard to sell wine from there, so he decided to add Oregon wines because everyone else was selling California wines and the Oregon style wines did not compete with the style of wines he made in New Jersey.  Just to qualify for all those who are scratching their heads right now southern Jersey shares a border with the Quaker and Amish farmland of Pennsylvania.  I dare anyone to renounce the quality of produce that comes from this fertile river basin including the few vitis vinifera being produced from that area.

Some deep respect and a loud shout out goes to these four unsung heroes and heroines of the Willamette Valley wine scene! Without their strides in the marketplace, Ponzi and Montinore would not have been the go to trusted label for an alternative to labels from Burgundy. Oregon Pinot Noir filled a void.  It just seemed like out of nowhere here these wines were being offered at an affordable price to those who could not afford Burgundy prices but still wanted to grasp that level of quality. These wines may not have ever made it onto wine lists and store shelves in those days without the effort of the Pioneers previously mentioned. To put the 2009 wines from Oregon into perspective I have included the review of an entry level Burgundy from a respected producer from a well-heralded vintage.

2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Ponzi Tavola 13.8% | $25 | 90pts

Truly a classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir flavor profile for such a young wine to exude the level of sophistication this wine brings is astounding. This Ponzi entry-level designation and the name befits it well.  It will always be a welcome addition on my dinner table (Tavola).  As I have already exclaimed the boldness of aromas for this wine the juiciness can almost be picked up on the nose, I also detected aromas of ripe cherry, crushed white pepper with a hint of cardamom in the background and vanilla bean freshly scraped from its hull. The flavors on the palate carry the same full spectrum and the texture is alluring. Big open flavors that are consistent with the flavor profile hold well through the finish.

2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Montinore Estate 13.2% | $19 | 89pts

This entry-level cuvee of biodynamic fruit brings a lot to the table and has a distinctive Montinore flavor too.  It is easily identifiable as a relative to the reserve and single vineyard designates. When we first tasted the wine I realized while reviewing it, I was there when it was being made. I actually have some firsthand knowledge—I watched these grapes through the entire cycle—I also realized I never tasted the final blend.  Big aromas up front are somewhat muddled but intensify with just a little time in the glass. Red fruit dominates with a little dark fruit coming through and the vanilla is a bit more pronounced than the exotic spice from previous vintages just slightly. On the palate, this wine will be a crowd-pleaser.  It has all the bells and whistles that pinotphiles are looking for.  It is a culinary gem working with an abundance of different cuisines and it too is a good stand-alone sipper.  Smooth delivery and a pleasant finish not to mention the Organic and Biodynamic certifications that come with this wine by all definitions what we have here is a complete package healthy, tasty and versatile. This should be everybody’s Pinot Noir for their wine by the glass programs. They made a pretty good amount of this compared to other vintages but I predict this one will disappear rather quickly.

2009 Pinot Noir Dobbes Family Estate Grand Assemblage Willamette Valley 13.5% | $28 |  91pts

I was assured of my prediction that 2009 will be a year to remember for Willamette Valley wines almost immediately after opening this wine.  Grand Assemblage is certainly an accurate description for this cuvee.  I do not usually mention color because even though it may tell you a little about how wine might taste the color can be deceiving.

Although I usually eschew the color theory, this wines color firmly plants it in the sensory perceptions to be recorded department (that means when you see wines with this color, remember it). The deep garnet color was so clear it was shining. I think you get the picture so enough of that and on to the aromas. Now we are going to get all wack up in here like that because the flavor profile was like a mad scientist from the 1800’s was throwing his favorite things in a blender.

Red fruit and fresh chopped lobster mushrooms mingled with Ludens Children’s’ cough drops circa 1962 (they must have been sent back in time) and a hint of real licorice. Sounds weird but combined in a sniff from a swirled glass of wine they become very appealing. Another example of a wine that will compliment a wide variety of foods and yet sipping this as a cocktail would certainly whet my appetite.  It seems to be a continued theme among the wines from this young 2009 vintage of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  Big open bold wines that become better than the sum of their parts, yes a Grand Assemblage indeed. The flavors reflect the same cherry flavor in a combined experience of fresh and processed (concentrated) spice with the nuttiness of baked flour and butter piecrust. I put this wine to task pairing it with smoked artichoke and roasted Piquillo peppers in béchamel sauce lasagna sauced before serving with a roasted garlic and Smoked Tomato Confit. Smoking the artichoke hearts took away the metallic so many chefs fear when trying to pair them with wine. Unlike smoking pork for 18 hours over hickory this subtle smoke flavor melds with the garlic jam, cheeses and the artichokes spend only 30 minutes in the smoker and apple or pecan wood seems to work best. It also worked well with a homemade peanut butter ice cream with butterfinger chunks.

2009 Pinot Noir VinTJ’s Willamette Valley 13% | $9 | 85pts

This wine is produced and bottled by Joe Dobbes (a.k.a. Wine by Joe) at his custom crush facility in Dundee and despite the score (most likely due to high yield, not so concentrated fruit) it is in this review because of Joe’s ability to think outside of the box.  Just another reason to include his efforts and unchampioned career as one of the most influential people of the Oregon wine industry, it was just the little or, not so little things he did that shaped Oregon’s wine industry in ways most have ever contemplated. You get the Willamette Valley Pinot experience, but from the aromas through the mouthfeel and taste, this wine will light up to and including the finish. If you like a light Pinot this will be a great wine for you.  It also serves as a good starter wine for those who have just started drinking red wine.

2006 Pinot Noir Bouchard Pere & Fils Bourgogne Burgundy France 12.5% | $22 | 84

This wine was included in this article due to its relevance compared to the other four wines. 2006 is heralded as one of burgundies best vintages on record. Compared to the Oregon wines as they were all entry-level wines just like this Bourgogne. It was almost as light as the Trader Joe’s wine—also thin and watery with a distinct dirtiness in the flavors I found it a bit distracting from the sparse fruit that came through.  It also lacked finesse from start to finish.

All of these wines are designed to drink when they are young though some have aging potential. The Bouchard Pere & Fils Bourgogne probably would have fared better had I opened it last year or earlier.  If you want to lay down some 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot for aging, you should dig deeper into your pockets and buy the top of the line wines (think single vineyard bottlings) from these same producers. Well except for the Trader Joe’s wine. That wine reminds me of my answer to a question I was often asked as a chef, “How fresh is the fish for today’s special?” I always answered that one with a Yogism style statement, “Well folks, that fish will never be as fresh as it is today.” Enjoy!

As always, please leave your comments, suggestions or questions.

Eat well Drink well Live well!

~Marc Hinton

You can find this original article at:

http://enobytes.org/wine_blog/2011/01/31/oregon-pinot-producers-who-paved-the-way/

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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.

Our friends Amy and Joe over at The Bottle Shop in Wilmette, IL just put out this great pick for White Burgundy.  This wine is available at their shop, and they have an amazing wine selection to choose from. 

You don't have to be a millionaire to drink fine white Burgundy. You just have to do a little label decoding work and know a little something about the hungrier, more ambitious grower/producers like Jean-Philippe Fichet, who has pieced together his Meursault-based domaine parcel by parcel without a whole lot of fanfare, not because the wines aren't great -- they are unambiguously wonderful --, but probably because they aren't showy. In fact, they're kinda quiet and sneaky wonderful examples of white Burgundy and that's just the way we like it. 

And what we have here is Fichet's Bourgogne blanc, which is the sleeper in his lineup of mainly single-vineyard, lieu-ditand 1er Cru Meursault. It's tastes like Meursault because it basically is Meursault but instead of $50 a bottle (or more) it's only $25. It gets exactly the same careful vineyard work (severe winter pruning on low yielding old vines) and low and slow elevage(long and unhurried malo in neutral second and third use oak barrels) that the vineyard designate wines get. Not as fleshy as Lafon, but nothing like the imposing and severe marble slabs of terroir from the old boys (Ente, Jobard, etc.) either. He's carved out a style that's somewhere right in the middle: very revealing of Meursault's complex terroir but with a really light touch all the same. The wines have a crystalline transparency coupled with a tonic and propulsive (but very natural feeling) inner energy. 

The Burgundy wine cognoscenti seems to like the purity and openness of Fichet's wines too. Dig around and little bit and you'll find that Meadows ("among the very best and purest in Burgundy"), Robinson ("so unlike the buttery cliché that I and my counterparts were brought up to expect), Tanzer ("a Meursault-like outperformer"), and Schildknecht ("a great talent"), really, anyone of consequence who covers Burgundy, circles back to the unparalleled purity and openness of Fichet's wines. For all kinds of reasons, Fichet's prices have remained stable (thanks Great Recession! although I think that also has a lot to do with his wines not being "showy") and thanks to Rare Wine Company (Fichet's importer, who by the way also imports Huet in Vouvray, say no more), the wines are generally available in the US.

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Cheers!

- Brandon

From water -- to wine? Fiji Water buys California winery

December 6, 2010 | 1:57 pm
Fiji Water Co., the imported bottled water firm owned by Beverly Hills entrepreneurs Lynda and Stewart Resnick, has acquired one of San Luis Obispo County’s oldest and most popular boutique wineries, Justin Vineyards & Winery.

The deal, which closed Friday, comes after Fiji and its parent company, Roll International Corp., sparked controversy by saying last month they were going to shut down Fiji Water operations in the island nation because of a large tax increase.

Fiji had planned to raise the tax it levies on the company to 15 Fijian cents a liter from one-third of a Fijian cent, according to a statement by the company. In U.S. dollars, the new tax is about 8 cents a liter. Fiji Water said in a statement that it was laying off nearly 400 Fijian employees and canceling construction projects in the country.

But then last week, the privately held company apparently changed its mind. In a statement, Fiji Water said it would reopen its bottling plant on Dec. 1 and that “we have also agreed to comply with Fiji’s new water tax law.”

On Monday, company officials declined to discuss the matter further. Company officials also declined to talk about the financial details of the winery sale.

John Cochran, president of Fiji Water, said the company had been looking to expand into other products to sell alongside its popular bottled water line carried by high-end hotels, restaurants and clubs. Justin Vineyards was started in 1981 by Justin Baldwin, a former investment banker, and his wife, Deborah. (The couple have said they will stay on with the business.)

The sale marks the eighth acquisition of a California winery this year, according to a news report and the Wine Institute, a trade group based in San Francisco. Many of these deals have come as California’s wine industry has been squeezed by falling land values, increased volume from countries including Australia, and recession-wary consumers shifting to cheaper brands.

But apparently, unlike some of its peers, “Justin has been doing quite well,” Cochran said. “They’ve just had their best year ever.… We plan to take a lot of that good momentum and push it farther.”

--P.J. Huffstutter

Photo: Justin Vineyards & Winery's underground wine caves. Credit: Justin Vineyards & Winery

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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

I have had several of Charles Smith's wine before such as "Boom Boom" Syrah and "Eve" Chardonnay.  My wife brought home a bottle of 2007 "Chateau Smith" Cabernet Sauvignon this weekend and we opened it up last night.  A little about Charles Smith before I trudge forward.  Charles Smith was named 2009 Food & Wine Winemaker of the year and his latest project Charles Smith Wines: The Modernist Project is a straight forward approach to wine with the philosophy of "It's just booze - drink it!".  Charles is a self taught wine maker, but his upbringing and life experiences has put him in the elite of next generation winemakers. 

Well...on to the wine.  What a great purchase...thanks honey!  The wine was a dark ruby red, with the taste of cherries, raspberries and a pepper and cinnamon finish.  This wine should do well through 2015, but as intended enjoy it now amongst friends.

Cheers!

- Brandon

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I had a chance to enjoy this wine again over Thanksgiving dinner yesterday.  I was first introduced to this winery at a restaurant call Black Pearl on Pearl St. in Denver, CO, and really enjoyed it.  This time around I picked up a bottle of their 2007 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County), typically a bit above what I would like to spend for a bottle of vino I snatched it up because I was able to get it for $13.00 compared to it's typical $20.00 price tag.  Well worth the $20.00 price point, but a steal at $13.00, this wine delivers a beautiful ruby red color, and wonderful floral aroma.  The taste is earthy, with red fruit qualities hinting of cherry and raspberry.  This wine is a bit tight upon opening, so my recommendation is to decant the wine or open it and let it sit for a bit before enjoying.  All in all a nice addition to our Thanksgiving table.

Cheers!

- Brandon

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After doing some research I happened to see that the San Francisco Chronicle had awarded Wily Jack's 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon a Gold Medal for best Cab in the up to $14.00 category.  So with that information I headed out to my local wine shop and found a bottle for a little under $9.00, and for the price it definitely delivered.  Wily Jack is a fictional character created by musician/winemaker Jason Becker. The Wily Jack wine collection from Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines features three flavorful varietals, which are 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Chardonnay and 2007 Zinfandel.  I found this wine to be bold with blackberry and cherry flavors, mixing well with hints of vanilla and toasty oak leaving you wanting more.  All in all a great value every day Cab!

Winery Notes

Varietal Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: California
Aging: French and American oak; 25% new American oak
 
The main characteristic of Wily Jack Cabernet is its bold yet approachable style. The Red Hills region of Lake County offers aromas and flavors blackberry, while the Hames Valley in Monterey County contributes ripe plum and dark cherry. The concentrated fruit flavors are accented by sweet vanilla and toffee from the oak aging and hold up to the well-structured tannins.

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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

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

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