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Wine of the Week: 2007 Spring Mountain "Elivette"

Date: Wed, Feb 27, 2013 Wine Tasting

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

I had a chance to sample this wine, just a few weeks ago, while at work. I know poor me, the first time I sampled a wine from this producer, it was just last year, during the Wine Bloggers Conference in Oregon, someone had generously uncorked several high-value labels from the Napa Valley. It was however the 2002 "Elivette" which really caught my eye, a wine that I thought was epic.

This is the kind of wine, you give as a gift to impress friends, or to celebrate special events in your own life, a wine to share with others. It's not a wine, at least for me that would be part of my "everyday drinker" category of wines. After all, I'm no Warren Buffet, with a disposable income, the size of the garden variety third world country. No disrespect, but if you can afford to drink this kind of juice on a regular basis, hey more power to you. I'd do the same if I could.

Now that said; this wine is predominantly a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. And in a word it's a master-piece. You really can't wine much better than this, and their 2007 effort is rock solid great. This wine is one spectacular ride to tasty-town; one where you'll be quite sad once the last drop has fell from the bottle.

Even though this bottle I had sampled [then spit] had been opened the day before, never decanted, [but I'd recommend decanting] jostled here and there, from one wine-shop to another, and it still over-delivered. Nothing but silk, lush but not ripe, structured but not rigid, this wine is like a painting, it takes time for it to evolve in the glass. It could still easily go another 10 years, if you wanted to lay a few down. This wine had unbelievable depth and elegance, like so few wines do. So yes, in this case this wine is well worth the price of admission.

 The wine sells for a Benjamin or more, just about any place you go. Honestly there's not much of the 2007 vintage, but I'd grab as many as your bank account will allow. I scored this wine 96 points, one of the highest scores I've ever given a wine.

 I've only been by the winery a couple times, I've been to a couple of their neighbors Vineyard 7 & 8 and Fantesca, so I think on my next trip to Spring Mountain, I'll have to make sure I drop by and say hello.

 On your next trip to the Napa Valley you should make a point to discover the wonderful Mountain appellations like Spring Mountain, and their neighboring Diamond Mountain and of course what would a mountain-top experience be like without making an appointment with a few producers on Howell Mountain. Give these AVA's a swirl the next time you find yourself in the area, it will be hard to go back to the wineries who dwell in the valley.

Again these are days, where you wish you didn't have to spit. Until next time folks, sip long and prosper cheers!

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Pinot Report: Top Ten Santa Lucia Highlands [Part 2]

Date: Sat, Feb 23, 2013 Wine Tasting

"Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day life more civilized." --- André Simon
So uh-yeah, you've been waiting for part two for sometime, I know, I know. But like your favorite new TV drama or sit-com, you have to wait, for what seems like an eternity for the next installment. So I hope the heightened anticipation, will be worth the price of admission. But if you happen to be new to this whole shebang, then you're in for a treat today. I have [7] seven new, fresh and yes I'll say it fabulous Pinot Noir's sure to rock your wine-world.

4. Sequana SLH 2010 PN: This wine sells for right around $32 retail, but some places have for just under $30. So be smart and shop around. This beauty comes from the fine folks at the Hess Collection, who've decided to dip their collective fingers into the Pinot-Pie as it were and boy I'm glad they have.

The nose grabs you right away, with a barn-yard, wet earth funk. But as time goes by, each swirl unveils new, more inviting aromas. Baking spices, dark just-ripe fruit grabs your mid-palate, while sweet tobacco wraps around your tongue, laced with firm acidity to hold back the near berry-bramble collision. I was lucky enough to have scored a few [untested] bottles of this wine last year while visiting Hess, and I'm so glad my hunch paid off. My score 91 points.

5. Lucienne Estate SLH Single Vineyard 2010 PN: This wine is only available to be purchased in a 6-pack, but the silver lining is that each bottle retails for right about $35 each. I was told that very little of these 6 packs remained. So after seeing this, you better skedaddle over to the Hahn Estate site to score your own six-pack. This wine was barrel aged for 14 months in a combination of 35% new French oak barrels, which means unlike some wines I tasted, you get far more expression from the vineyard and far less barrel impression.A silky, rich mouth-watering new world PN in its purest form. The finish just sails on and on. My score 91 points.

6. 2010 Testarossa "Fogstone Vineyard" Sta. Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir: This bottle is on the pricier side of the equation. At least it's in my book, selling in limit quantities for a hefty $56 each. Not an every-day-drinker for the average vino-sapien, but definitely a great bottle of wine to hold unto for a special occasion.This wine is a suave, thinking man's wine, which carries the ample fruit on a sea of well integrated tannins, with banners of fresh cola, earth, herbal notes and ripe strawberries. I scored this wine 93 points.
7. Los Gatos Cuvee 2010: I've been impressed with this producer over-all for a long time, but I've always thought their prices have swung toward the higher end of the scale. For me, as an nearly every-day wine drinker, those prices are an unsustainable blow to my wine budget. Part of the reason why I was glad to see they came out with a second value label.

A wine they have dubbed the Los Gatos Cuvee, produced from the Monterey AVA. Produced under a screw-cap indicating, it's made in a drink now and drink often style. It's still has some heft, easy drinking flavors and $23 SRP. I score this wine 88 Points.

8. Paraiso 2009 SLH Ranch Blend PN: Once more, this producer continues to amaze with the caliber of their wines, especially the Pinot Noir category. This is their entry level PN, it sells for less than $20 and I scored it 90 points. Baked cherry pie, white pepper, sweet tobacco, cola, nice length, well balanced. This wine is an easy every day drinker for the vino-sapiens who would like to dial up the quality, without emptying their bank accounts. Best Buy.

9. Bernardus 2010 SLH Rosella's Vineyard: A dark garnet color in the glass, a funky barnyard thingy on the nose, nice round yet enticing red fruited berries, cola, herbal, leaving you with a long, yet sumptuous finish. A wine produced from the famed “Pisoni Clone” and Dijon clone 777. This wine is listed as a single vineyard designate and carries a price commensurate with that designation, SRP $65. My score 93 points, sings par excellence.

10. Bernardus 2010 SLH Gary's Vineyard: Okay folks, this is the last wine in the top-ten list, but certainly not least, by any stretch of the imagination. A huge wine, full of swagger and braggadocio, but you would never know it; by the way it carries itself. It's like they say it's not bragging if you can back it up and this wine certainly brings it. This was one of the very first wines I tasted that day, but my-oh-my it was nearly best of show.

The nose grabs you right away, by the throat, and whispers in a Batman like voice, I'm Pinot Noir bitch, deal with it! Notes of vanilla, florals, toast, subtle spices, while dark plumand raspberry jam dominate the conversation. The palate is exceptionally full and complex, from the beginning to the last amazing drop. Having to spit really sucks sometimes, if you know what I mean. I scored this wine 95 points. It's a blockbuster, with a price to match SRP $65, ouch.

Perhaps you wondering about all the other wines, which I tasted and didn't make the top-ten list, feel free to shoot me an email and I will then send you a list of those who were left in the also-ran category. Until next folks, remember to sip long and prosper cheers!

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Pinot Report: Top Ten Santa Lucia Highlands [Part 1]

Date: Thu, Feb 7, 2013 Wine Tasting


"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

A sentiment I share and one which finds me in hearty agreement, but alas the world we live in today seems to be a bit more caught up in not only in the pursuit of gold, but also vain notoriety [aka, reality TV].

Now that said, the tale I'm about to tell is simply about "cheer", indeed something we can all 'clink' our glasses together and rejoice. About what you may ask, well finding some superbly well made Pinot Noir, that you should be running out to purchase this very moment [what are you waiting for?].

As some you may know, I've been teasing this out over the last few days; that I would be coming to you with my top-ten SLH Pinot Noir report. So here it's, I just yesterday attended the Santa Lucia Highlands tasting, in Costa Mesa. There was something like fourteen different producers, not that I was keeping score. So I thought I may have a tough time coming up with a top-ten list, luckily that was not the case at all.

When the average vino-sapien thinks of high-end Pinot Noir; the Santa Lucia Highlands is not the first thing that comes to mind right away. But I'm here to tell you that it should, because there are some extraordinary wines being produced in this area, just south and east of Monterey, Big Sur is directly to the east and the vineyard sites look down into the Salinas Valley. You'll find many of the SLH wineries have a tasting room presence in the city of Monterey.

As I had tweeted out earlier, some of you may find my top ten report to have a few surprises in the line-up; as I don't always go-in for only touting the usual suspects, nor do I want to only be apart of the hallelujah-PN-chorus. So with no further ado, here's the first part of my top picks from yesterday's tasting.

1. 2009 Pessagno Central Avenue Vineyard PN, Monterey: The color was very unique, in direct comparison to the many others seen that day. A light colored burnt crumbled brick/strawberry. The nose was captivating, amazing florals, spice, strawberry/cherry. The first slurp, nice weight, structure and vivid acid carrying the fruit. At first slurp cola, near burnt-toast crusted with a strawberry jam. This wine sells for a mere SRP of $17.99, I scored it 92 Points. A best buy.

2. 2009 Pessagno SLH Pinot Noir: Another stunner, recently written-up by WE, I could not believe what my mouth was experiencing. How could I've never heard of these folks before? Not sure, but I'm so glad I had a chance to get acquainted with their wines. We all know about yeasty-beasties and their role in the wine-making process. They use what has been described as a "Burgundian" yeast culture, known for producing bold flavors and aromas, right along side natural yeast fermentation. Again the same color as above, a "sur lees" style that brings an invitation to flavor town. WOW, my score 92 points, the SRP is $28, what?

3. 2009 Four Boys Vineyard PN: This is their flagship bottle and my-god it taste like it, the fellas at WE oozed all over it with 94 points, I really could disagree too much. This wine was the best of show, yesterday, a screaming fast-ball of flavor and finesse knocked cleanly out of the park. This folks is SLH at its best. A PN rumored to be planted to the famous "La Tache" clone, as well as Dijon clones. The barrel-regimen is described as 75% new French Oak, over 11 months.

In the glass a burnt orange/strawberry color, nice barnyard funk in the nose, earthy, candied strawberry/plum and pie crust, nice acid carries the basket of summer fruit, lots of depth and polish. The SRP $55, and my score is 93 points.

I was hoping I would finish the entire list today, but I unfortunately will have break this into a part-one and a part-two. That said look for part two tomorrow, as I have seven more fantastic SLH Pinot Noir wines you won't want to miss. Until next time, sip long and prosper cheers!

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Wine of the Week: 2007 Les Jamelles Viognier

Date: Tue, Feb 5, 2013 Wine Tasting

It has been said that; "The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction needs to be credible.” ~Mark Twain

Well I couldn't agree more with that statement. But one of the funny things I observe, if that if you go to any tasting event, you'll definitely find white wines tend to be the wine, which is left over at the end of the day. Check it out for yourself, the next time you throw a party for a bunch of cork-dorks [a technical term] I believe you'll see that the white-wines will often sadly be the last to go, compared to their red wine counterparts.

 I'm sure everyone is familiar with the phrase "Variety is the Spice of Life"which is one of my favorite quotes, and one I subscribe to myself.Isnot life much better when it is filled with a "variety" of the things we like? Of course it is. It is inevitable that somewinesin your life will become boring and your palate will crave new tastes, new experiences, so it's nice to have otherwines that you still enjoy to fall back on.

 Now there's is nothing wrong with giving the garden-variety Chardonnay a swirl now and then. But it's of course a wine which isvery plentiful, one you can find on just about any grocery store shelf. But when you've got to the point, that many seasoned vino-sapiens ultimately get to, the last thing you want is Chardonnay. Especially when the world is brimming over with a virtual cornucopia of other white wines, all sporting many different styles, flavors and aromas.

Wine with Depth: So you think the Miami heat has depth on the bench? Uh-no not compared to this champion with roots in the Northern Rhone Valley of France. It's with the idea of "depth" that I bring to your attention a white wine with somedepth, complexity, intermixed with bold flavors and floral characteristics, sure to please even the most discriminating palates, yes maybe even you lurkers out there.

I present to you Viognier [pronounced vee-oh-nyah]. A white wine which has it roots in France's Northern Rhone Valley. In fact, according to one so-called wine expertRemington Normanwho has identified two distinct strains of Viognier an "Old World" strain, most common in Condrieu, and a "New World" strain, which is found in the Languedoc and other areas.

Although made from the same grape, the two strains produce distinctly different wines and Viognier from Condrieu tends to be on the expensive side of the equation. So with that said, you will mostly find the NW strain here in the states, although if youstretched yourself and did some research you could find yourself some of the Old World style Viognier, a feat which to many is not unlike obtaining the holy-grail.

Personality Disorder: Uh-huh, so you thought only people were the only ones with personality disorders? Sadly it too can be said that even your favorite wine can have the same dysfunction. There are a couple styles of New World Viognier to be found and the style you chose depends on whether it has been aged in Oak or Stainless Steel.

If the wine has been aged in Oak, it will give a creamy nuances along with its floral expressions you can also look forward to an in heady bouquet of nectarine, lemon peel and lychee complemented by floral notes of lime blossom and honeysuckle.

Butif you prefer the more traditional stainless steel approach or made in neutral oak barrels, look for more clean flavors, higher acid, tending toward a more restrained styleand but at the same time more elegant, meaning the wine will be more pronounced on the nose and a feature a bit less weight on the palate.

 Aroma Therapy: Everyone needs a little “aroma-therapy” now and it’s also happens to be in true in Côte-Rôtie [known by many as the roasted slope] because it’s here that the very aromatic Viognier [up to 20% allowed] lends a hand at perfuming the blends of Syrah from this very well known French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region.

The beautiful red wines of the Côte-Rôtie typically exhibit an almost paradoxical combination of meat aromas [including bacon] and floral aromas or as I've heard it liked to as, “the flowers on my breakfast-in-bed tray.”

Pairing Champion:Viognier is a food pairing champion and can stand up nicely to rich creamy dishes and butter based sauces. It is especially good as an appetizer pairing wine, which pairs ever-so-nicely with lightly toasted French baguette, cut in small bite size slices covered with a base blend of goat cheese, topped withfig paste, orange rind, it's just fantastic. Viognier also pairs nicely with soft and semisoft cheeses: Fresh chèvre [goat cheese], gruyère, aged Gouda, and double and triple creams, give it a swirl, you won't be disappointed.

 Other dishes: Foods that I've found pair best with Viognier quite nicely include but are certainly not limited to, Chicken Cutlets based in an anise, tarragon butter sauce, Roasted Salmon covered in a creamy yogurtherb sauce and will also go nicely with any number seafood dishes, shellfish Scallops, lobster, crab, and shrimp.

 Shopping Tips: I've gathered a few other selections as well, some great choices that I've run across myself recently, that I'm sure will please a broad range of palates.

 K Vintners Viognier 2009 (Columbia Valley; $20). Edgy spices and minerals under honeyed white peach, orange blossom, and apricot. Itasted this one at the 2010 Walla, WallaWine Bloggers conference this past summer and it's just fantastic. 90 Points

 Miner Simpson Vineyard Viognier2009 [Napa Valley, CA $20] Nice minerality and citrusy yet lush, with white peach and apricot nectar. I've tasted and purchasedthis wine on many occasions and is for sure one of my go-to labels. Year after year, it's a well made wine. 90 Points

 Cold Heaven Viognier 2009 [Sta. Rita Hills, CA $24] Wet-river stone, a bit restrained, with stone-fruit blossoms, juicy citrus, and white peach notes. I've had this wine a few times and for folks who likethe "dry"approach this would be a great choice, look for the blue label. 89 Points

 Les Jamelles Viognier 2007 [Languedoc-Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc France $10] I uncorked this bottle just a couple of nights ago, it delivered nicely for the meager price. In the glass you have lovely pale gold color core and watery rim.Nose: A rich, very aromatic wine, with lots of characteristic fruity scents, and typical varietal aromas, such as apricots and fresh white peaches a small bit of white pepper. This wine represents a great value. 87 Points

Fess Parker Viognier 2008 [Santa Barbara, CA $20] Fess Parker Viognier's like many othersdisplays great fruit focus, offering peach, apricot and pear notes that are ripe and well-structured, with a supple texture. I've had this wine also on many occasions; folks this wine is a tasty New World style Viognier. 90 Points

 ServingTips: I recommend sipping and slurping these wines chilled, but not too cold, otherwise you'll lock in many of the wonderful perfume like aromas wanting to escape from the swirl of the glass. I'm thinking about 58 to 60 degrees would be perfect. In my opinion; serving this wine too warm will dull the experience considerably.

From the wonderful folks atWine Dine TVI present to you the Viognier as the word of the day. Until next time, sip long and prosper cheers!

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Rioja Uncorked: Roda Rioja Reserva 2006

Date: Sat, Jan 26, 2013 Wine Tasting


"Compromises are for relationships, not wine." --- Sir Robert Scott Caywood

 Join me as we take a trip over to the Iberian peninsula and grab some vino from Bodegas Roda. A gorgeous bodega located in northwestern extension of the Rioja region in Barrio de la Estación, at the town of Haro, in the sub-zone of Rioja Alta. Which sits on the the south bank of the Ebro River andis associated with some of the greatest wines of Rioja as well as some of its most venerated bodegas [wineries], many dating back a couple centuries.

 For those of you not familiar with theRioja region of Spain, it's a place guarded by mountains on all three sides, the region itself takes its ancestral name from a tributary of the Ebro, called the Rio Oja.For the history buffs in the audience, therehas been vineyard activityin this regionsince the times of Roman occupation [talk about your ancient vines].

 But it was during the French Phylloxera [vine destroying aphids] crisis that many grape growers and winemakers from France settled into northern Spain and brought with them many of the similar wine making practices we see in France today [like knowing a wine by its region and not its varietal].

 For those you traveling outside the comfy confines of lets say California, you will find that the Rioja region is a lot different than what you may be use to here in California'swine-country, because much of the regions small growers sell their grapes to merchants or co-operative cellars instead of vinting and bottling their own juice. But this is a trend that is changing for many producers.

Fact-finders have indicatedthat avast majority [75%] of the vino produced in this region is red wine, is produced primarily from the Tempranillo grape. While some of the better wines will be composed of a blend of small amounts of Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo. Speaking of blending, many wines labeled Rioja thatyou encounter on wine store shelves todaywill be a blend of one of the Rioja's sub-regions, the Alavesa, Alta and Baja and the capital is La Rioja.

 About Roda: Their objective was to create high expression wines in a modern stylewhile still being reflective of the Rioja region’s micro-climatic [terroir]spectrum of soil, orientation, elevation, climate, vintage year and traditional indigenous varietals.RodasetBordeaux as their benchmark of technique and quality.

 Hopingto evoke the fullest reflection of place in the wines, focused their efforts on old vine vineyards capable of best expressing the terroir of Rioja. They started Bodegas Roda in 1987, but they found that the 1992 vintage quality was far off the mark, so they soldoffthe first winesto thebulk market [like the former two-buck up-chuck].

Provingtheir commitment to quality and their goals of making high expression wines, itwasn't until1996, that Roda'sfirst release hit the market with 30,000 bottles of Roda I and Roda II.

 2006 Roda RiojaReserva: This wine is truly is expression of those stated lofty goals above and I want to salute them for a job well done in producing a wine with some substance, something sadly lacking in so much vino today. This wine is a blend of 94% Tempranillo, 4% Garnacha and 2% Graciano, and was aged for 16 months in 50% new French Oak and spent 20 months in bottle before release andhas a SRP of $45.

 What are the pairing possibilities? I'd say endless really, but shorten that list some, it pairs well with a variety of grilled meats [I had it with Spanish seasoned grilled Pork-Chops] and sauteed veggies, a perfect wine-dinner with friends or family as this wine comes to dressed to impress.

Sniff, Swirl and Slurp: At first glance, a nearly opaque ripe-plum colored core. Sticking my fat half-Irish nose into the glass to get my first whiff,bright and intense aromas of sweet, ripe, dark-plum and black currants are married with notes of licorice, mocha andfresh Cubans in a cedar box.

 Abeautiful marriage of new andold world styles meld the darkfruit flavors, a nice slap of well integrated spicy oakall over my palate, finishing in a big and silky expression of minerality and a earthy elegance. I gave this wine a score of 92 points and a hearty buy recommendation. If you'd like to graba few bottles of this winefor your own cellar, I know the folks who can make that happen for you and at the right price.

Other Voices: The Drink Hackerhad this to say, "A rare Rioja: Fruit-forward, lush, and easily drinkable without requiring a big hunk of meat to back it up. Blackberry and fleeting Port-like characters play with hints of tar and tobacco. Moderate body, but smooth, and with a pleasing, rounded finish. Really lovely. I'm guessing that is a endorsement? But it's does seem a little vague, but at least you can see the folks at Drink-Hacker did at least think it was lovely.

 Full Disclosure: This was sent as a press-sample [last year]for the review process.

The hopeful take-away from reviews like this;is to primarilyis to encourageyou toexpand your own vinous horizons and the Spanish wine scene is a great place to make that happen. There's so much wine fromunexplored regions of the world and Spain has so much to offer; to even the garden variety vino-sapien.

 And no I'm not just talking about "bulk" Rioja that you may see at places like Trader Joe's for example. Oh-no do yourself a favor, get yourself to a tasting or two, at your local wine store [and no grocery-stores don't count]. Speaking of tastings, I was just at a Italian portfolio [Vias]tasting in Beverly Hills, [wines from the Toro region] that made my face melt off [to borrow an expression] because the juice being slurpedwas flat-out winetastic [a technical term]. So until next sip long and prosper, cheers everyone!

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Oregon Uncorked: Top Ten Pinot Noir Picks

Date: Fri, Jan 25, 2013 Wine Tasting


“You don’t have to be clinically insane to make Pinot, but it’s a distinct advantage.” ~ Michael Hill Smith, co-owner Australia's Shaw & Smith winery

I recently read with a bit of amusement; seeing it took a so-called panel of "experts" to come up with just five picks from the vast Oregon Wine Scene. But with only four days [the time I spent there just last month] I was able to come up an overflowing list of top-rated must-haves labels.

By the way; these are all wines presently sitting in my own cellar, because as it's said, "there is nothing like putting your money where your mouth is" and this mouth has had lot of amazing Oregon Pinot swirling about in it recently. So now is the time, to spill the beans and name, names.

A few of the names you will see on the list below, are wines I've already reviewed, but compiling them all here in a nice tight list, just may be a bit more helpful for the thirst vino-sapien in search of a shopping list. If you have any trouble finding any of these wines yourself, I know someone who can make your shopping experience so much easier.

1. Youngberg Hill: 2008 Jordan Block Barrel Select

2. Matello: 2010 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

3. Matello: 2010 Souris Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

4. Ken Wright Cellars:2008 Savoya Yamhill-Carlton AVA
5. Bergstrom Wines: 2009 De Lancellotti Vineyard Pinot Noir. A stunning example of Oregon PN from the Chehalem AVA, immediately accessible and supremely enjoyable. I know it may seem an impossible task, but wait, it will improve immensely with just another year in the bottle. 93 Points.

6. Bergstrom Wines: 2011 Shea Vineyard: At first blush, this wine is chock full of sweet baking spices, red currant, dried cherry and savory herb thing, wrapped around well integrated tannins. Definitely one for the cellar, hold. 92 Points.

7. Bergstrom Wines: 2009 Oregon Pinot Noir: Another amazing offer from this great producer; dark ruby colored in the glass, aromas of dark cherry and blackberry entice the first slurp. A quick swirl on the palate reveals sweet spice and fresh cherry baked pie-crust, I can still taste it. 90 Points.

8. 2009 Dukes Family Vineyards: Pinot Noir "Charlotte" Eola - Amity Hills AVA: Here's another very nice example of Oregon Pinot Noir, with a lot going on. I just uncorked this bad-boy the other night, wowsers [technical term] an intense, ripe youthful aromas of dark cherry, red raspberry draw you in for the first slurp, sweet spices, red-berry flavors, wrapped around the smooth rich tannins. Balance is excellent, length good and final impressions delicate, plus complex equal smiles all around. 90 Points.

9. 2009 Wahle Vineyards and Cellars Pinot Noir: Another Holme Hills gem from the Eola Hills. What else do you need, an immediately approachable wine boasting layers of ripe fruit, outstanding volume, vibrant acidity, and a lengthy, velvety finish. At a SRP of $36 it's a best buy. Score 91 points.
10. The Eyrie Vineyards 2010 Dundee Hills Estate Pinot Noir: Mrs. Cuvee and I ran into this bottle over dinner at the very popular "Thistle" restaurant in McMinnville, OR. They had this fantastic, food-friendly Pinot that just screamed Oregon. A pioneering producer on the Oregon Wine Scene, before everyone else hopped on the band-wagon.

Color was hard to come-by, but a light cranberry color. Lovely nose, rich earthy aromas and bouncy red fruits, a nice pop of morello [a chef’s go-to] cherries on the palate, and spices, baked crust and wet forest floor playing in the back ground. Spread across a canvas of firm, yet silky tannins. Score 91 points. SRP on this wine is $36 another best-buy.

Bonus: 2009 Hawks View Pinot Noir: Hello Chehalem MountainsAVA. You can see that review here.

If this list wet your appetite and you'd like to know about a few more fantastic sources for Pinot Noir, then please as they say, stay tuned! As I'm going back to the SLH Tasting once more, in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to let you know all the gems I'm sure to find there. Until next sip long and prosper cheers!

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Wine Studio Uncorked: Tardieu-Laurent 08 Guy Louis Blanc

Date: Tue, Jan 22, 2013 Wine Tasting


“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward,” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

 We did a bit of crawling last night, as we got off to a rough start, and this was suppose to be the wine that would kick off the inaugural #WineStudio event last night, but because of its potential mass popularity, twitter decided to bump our event to next week, and in part because there was some other event going on yesterday, involving the President which seemed to take priority.

 But that, said as many of you may already know our very first Wine Studio 'live' will have to start next Monday, the 28th starting at 6PM [PST]. I hope to see as many of you there as possible, ready to get your Rhone on. As I've indicated this is going to be a five-week journey into this amazing region and you can expect us to stay right there in France, as we will be covering most of the major players and few unexpected regions.

First up in that regard, we are going to focus on the white wines of the Rhone. The kind of white wines that any vino-sapien would be happy to be sporting in their glass. It's time to say goodbye to wimpy white-wines and say HELLO to some of the amazing Rhone-Zone blends; like Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier #WineStudio Monday's 6PM PST via Protocol Wine Studio.

 Typically, I don't drink a lot of white wines myself, but when it comes to white wines like the one pictured above, I'm all about it. This wine has the amazing structure and complexity and some nice weight to it as well. It has a great vein of acidity running through the ample fruit. The abv is a surprisingly low, but welcomed 12.5%, considering the blend 60% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne and 10% Grenache, produced from vines 50 years and older.

 The color as you can see is quite striking, grabbing you by the nose is just hint honeyed wet stones aromas and white peach, which don't really jump from the glass, but still gets your attention. This wine offers up an inviting lychee nut, a bite of almond, white-currant liqueur, bit of chalk, and apricot marmalade spread on toast. This wine is really stunning, honeyed, and a bit flamboyant [but without the open shirt and gold medallion].

 This wine is very clean, and focused. It would pair nicely with many foods, but something like a delish white-sauce pasta dish would be a good match and I found one here that sounds fantastic. If you like get a bottle or two of this wine for yourself; you can do via Protocol Wine Studio they are selling it for $34 each. I scored this wine 91 points and highly recommend that you give it a swirl yourself very soon, until next time, sip long and prosper cheers!

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Oregon Uncorked: 2009 Manifest Destiny

Date: Thu, Jan 17, 2013 Wine Tasting


"The wine cup is the little silver well, where truth, if truth there be, doth dwell" ~ William Shakespeare

It's great to be in the right place at the right time. This is exactly how after scoring two bottles of the “Inaugural Release” of the Manifest Destiny label. It just so happened that Mrs. Cuvee and I were in the Carlton Winemakers Studio early last month, talking it over and thinking about which wines we might like to purchase, before leaving. As we were thinking, the gentlemen [Jeff Woodard] at the tasting bar recommended that we wait a bit as his winemaking sister Lindsay Woodard was on the way with her own wine, so we waited [we weren't in any hurry].

Once she arrived, we offered to help bring in what I think amounted to just about nine cases, but we were waved off. Now I'm pretty sure there is more at the winery, but if you're reading this now, don’t be hesitant another second about grabbing some for yourself. A bottle was quickly opened and Mrs. Cuvee and I chatted with Lindsay a moment, while the glasses were being poured. After a few swishes and me spitting, I was thinking wow this going to be good, but having not been bottled too long ago, it was a bit stiff. At this point I was not jumping up and down with excitement, but something told me, that I better grab a couple, and I'm so glad I listened to my gut.

Now having got the two bottles home and nicely tucked away in the cellar for just over a month now, the Mrs. and I uncorked a bottle the other night. We paired this alongside a small slab of herb crusted [wild-caught] Sockeye Salmon [grilled] and a tasty mushroom risotto, infused with tiny bits of bacon, oh-my.
Wowsers this is superb Oregon Pinot Noir. The depth, rich earth, the pleasing bright cranberry, dark cherry and dusty baking spices aromas widened both our eyes as we both went in for the first slurp. In the body of this wine is a terrific core of energetic fruit, complexity, well integrated tannins and a very pretty finish.

Bang, bang this wine is Oregon Pinot at its best, a wine produced with assistance from consulting winemaker Eric Hamacher and one any vino-sapien would be proud to have in the cellar. Well done, Lindsay, well done. What a great showing on your inaugural release, two thumbs all the way up and the awarding of 93 stellar points.

In my opinion this wine will put Manifest Destiny on the map of great Orgundian wines which need to be collected, cellared and properly consumed. The wine sells in the CWS for $45, but if you get six, there’s incentive for 15% worth of savings, plus no sales tax as a bonus. Until next time folk remember sip long and prosper cheers!

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The Rhone Zone: 2007 Domaine du Grapillon D'Or Gigondas ~ 1806

Date: Tue, Jan 15, 2013 Wine Tasting

“That which we obtain too easily, we esteem lightly. It is dearness which gives everything its value.” ~Thomas Paine
I know I've indicated thatthere was going to be some majorspanning the globe stuff, to bring you the constant variety of vino, that the world has to offer. So with that in mind and the fact that just next week the brand spankingnew #WineStudio is about to launch upon an unsuspecting world, here is just ataste of things to come.

Perhaps, you're thinkingandscratching your head over the fact that many of last yearsposts were centered on plenty of domestic juice, with the usual suspects. But as you know,all ofthat is about to change, so bamit's time for a visit to the RhoneZone via #WineStudio.

That said, "you're now traveling through another wine country destination, a destination not only of sight and sound but of the vine; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of export. That's the signpost up ahead — your next stop, theRhone Zone. —Rod Serling

Isn't that how Mr. Serling introduced the second season of the Twilight Zone, a timeless showwhich was way ahead of its time in many respects. A show that made many take pause and perhaps even some thought about thismortal-coil that we all tread upon. Okay yes, I took some artistic-license with the opening monologue [so sue me]but I did so for a very good reason.

That reason to transport you ever so briefly to another time and place. One you may have no doubt heard of before,but one youmay nothave had that much experience with on a regular basis. The boundaries of export, meaning as a serious wine shopping kinda guy, I don't see asmuchvino fromthe RhoneZone as I would like to see in the US wine market place, but when you have a chance explore, explore this vast and luscious wine landscape.

The Rhone Zone: This is one area of France which is fast becoming one of my all time favorite regions and not just for the red wines either. as the white wines from the RZ are every bit as fantastic as the reds. It's split up with south and north and each has its own climate and interesting topography. There's the sign post up ahead you are about to enter the Rhone-Zone.

TheNorth: It's hilly, is influenced by aturbulent, strongwind, called theMistral and according to their strict wine laws, there a good number of the northern appellations that can ONLY be planted with Syrah. Within the borders of the North you have the Cote Rotie, where up to 20% of the Syrah can be juiced with Viognier [syrah-perfume]. They also have a super-star [think Jerry Maguire] within its borders, named the Hermitage home to some of the world's finest vino, where bacon fat and pepper aromas are coaxed from steep hillsides.

It's also home to some big red monsters who lie in wait in the Coronas appellation, dark, rich, brooding wines who bite at the heels of their neighbor in Crozes-Hermitage which produces a lighter more subtle style of vino, where rich raspberry, earthiness and silky tannins dominate the more value oriented red wines from the north.
The South: Is by contrast to the north, considered the "flat-lands". It's much warmer and the vineyards riseout of land covered by some strange stones called"galets" which make a significant contribution to the"uniqueness" and great quality to Southern Rhone wines.

The Southern Rhone is home to the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape [new castle of the pope]. These wines typically are GSM blends, but can be blended with up to 13 different grapes,but Grenache is the king-pin grape here. This is the place you will find bottlesbrandishing alavish Coat of Arms just above the label, indicating that these wines are Estate grown. They also have a super-star in their midst, known as Chateau de Beaucastel.

The Murkey Middle Lands: This is the place where you have a blending of both regions, known to many as Cotes du Rhone encompassing the dual Rhone's largest production areas, producing a broad range and styles of wine. While the Villages designation on the bottlewill typically mean, the wines lean toward a higher quality standard.

Wine in the Spot Light: 2007 Domain du Grapillon d'Or Giogondas ~ 1806

Swirl, Slurp and Gulp: I brought home this beauty from the Rhone-Zone just a few weeks ago to let it nestle in my very cool, dark pantry [my cellar is maxed out]. Uncorked a few nights ago, I poured myself a nice two ounce pour, watching a plush dark ruby core fill my glass. I took the first sniffy, to find a wonderful bouquet of fresh-market strawberries, white pepper, lavender and cigar box draw you into this vibrant blend.After a good swish-about, I found this wonderful wine offering bright flavors of red raspberry, kirsch, andlicoricefilling out afleshy mouth feel, supple tannins and a long lingering richness round out the plush finish.

What's in It: The 2007 Domaine du Grapillon D'Or Gigondas is a wonderful southern Rhone blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah and weighs in with a New World leaning 14.5% ABV [just my impression].

Price and Purchase Location: So you wanna know how you can get your hands on this bad-boy or something like, well stay tuned as I and the team from Protocol Wine Studiocan help you fill that Rhone Zone craving you may be having at the moment and beyond.

What's the Score: Hmmm, in thinking about how wonderful this wine is for the price I gave it 93 points. It's solid well made wine showing a good deal of generosity and richness, smooth tannins and a firm structure. A super star of value at the $25 price point, this wine drinks like a $45 to $60 westside Paso Robles redblend.This is awine which is drinking so very nicely now, but I believecould improve with just a bit more time in the cellar if you can wait.

Other Voices: I found an abundant amount of other voices for this wine over at Cellar Tracker, whose average score had this wine weighing in at 91 points.Swill Powerhadthis to say,"rocking from the first pour. Very up-front blue fruit, with a savory note and a full, delicious mouthfeel. After 2+ hours, this feels as much like a stylish zinfandel as anything, with great dark fruit, a touch of cedar, and a nice umami/soy note as well. Overall, a really enjoyable drink, and a sweet QPR at under $20. Blows away most Rhone players at twice the price.[ Btw, RP gave this wine 92 points.]

My Recommendation: If you have been getting notices from your favorite wineries about the upcoming spring shipments from your favorite Syrah-Moved providers, I would ask that you give somepause to thethought of jumping into an order, until you had the opportunity togive theRhone-Zone aswirl, I would say you may want to decant an hour or two before enjoying for maximum enjoyment, but will still impress greatly at first pour. Until next time, sip long and prosper, cheers!

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What is Wine Studio?

Date: Mon, Jan 14, 2013 Wine Tasting



“All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own”. ~Johann von Goethe

For everyone who follows me on twitter, first thank you and second, I'm not sure why you do, but that said your Monday nights are about to get a boost! So as you may have heard, I and the brilliant pair [Dynamic Wine-Duo] from the Protocol Wine Studio Guy and Tina, will be joining forces this year, to present each vino-sapien with an unique twitter opportunity via#WineStudio to focus-in on wine regions, wine styles and hopefully take your palates to places they've only dreamed of going before.

Instead of the typical shot-gun approach, Protocol Wine Studio and I will stay on a region for five weeks at time. The first thing coming up to bat in the rotation is going to be the mighty Rhone region of France. There's so much to see and do within this fabulous region, even a five week, one hour examination every Monday evening, will barely scratch the surface.

Of course if all this wets your appetites for more, and you find yourself like the young Oliver Twist asking, "oh Please, sir, I want some more." There will be opportunities made available for you to do just that, so stay tuned.

But it's our hope that as we discuss each region, you will perhaps seek wines out from the region before the discussion gets going, as a way to help broaden your understanding of the types and styles wine offered in this fantastic region. There will also be an opportunity available to those interested in acquiring some classical styles of wine from these regions, a sampler-pack [for purchase], designed to give the everyday vino-sapien a better grasp of the region and the wines made there.

Logistically speaking; #WineStudio will be hosted each and every Monday, by either Tina, Guy or myself. Always starting at 6PM PST and ending approximately one hour later. The official launch is going to be January 21, 2012, I look forward to seeing you all there.

The three of us will be gathering at their Protocol Wine Studio here in San Diego for the fun and informative discussions. The role of moderator will change week to week, so that way there's an unique opportunity to get many different perspectives on the same topic. A calendar will be posted here on my blog [I will make a new page] so everyone can be prepared head of time, to know what to expect from each session.

Now of course with me involved their will be a degree of irreverent commentary now and again, but the main focus will really be about not only increasing our head knowledge, which is a great thing, but at the same time giving some needed depth to our palates. And I say "ours" because as they say it's about the journey, not the destination that counts. There will be no pontificating from our Purple Wine Tower, just lots of sharing and having fun, after-all this is just a beverage.

Perhaps you're already there, you've arrived, then this conversation may not be for you and that is okay, that's why there's #sommchat a great place for those who are already mightily in the know to talk among their selves. But if you find, that like Tina, Guy and I, that you'd strike out on the voyage of discovery and you weren't sure which way to set your sail, then I'd say #winestudio is going to be the place for you. This is the place to ask questions and get serious answers, without the dismissive attitude. We don't have all the answers of course, but let's take this journey together and see where it goes. Until next remember to sip long and prosper cheers!

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Wine of the Week: 2011 Domaine Trotereau Quincy

Date: Fri, Jan 11, 2013 Wine Tasting

"Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used; exclaim no more against it." ~ William Shakespeare

Well it has been quite some time since I've had a wine of the week, falling behind a bit, but this wine in today's spotlight really had my attention from the first whiff to the last drop. Even though I wasn't drinking that day, I just tasted. This wine really struck-me as the kind of wine I want to bring to your attention, something completely off the beaten path.

With that idea in mind comes this wine from an area in France, one of which I was completely unfamiliar with and I will confess I couldn't have pointed it out on the map either. But what I do know is that this very inexpensive bottle of wine from the small appellation of Quincy in the Loire Valley, a dry white wine will knock your socks off. You won't be able to put it down, its exciting fresh and most likely as new to the average vino-sapien as it was to me on Wednesday afternoon.

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I'm not much of Sauvignon Blanc fan by any stretch of the imagination. This is why you may find it quite ironic that, I’m jumping up and down with excitement about this fantastic expression of Sauvignon Blanc, oozing with a honeyed, full-bodied texture and a just a pinch of lemon-peel oil component.

Oh you could just keep on drinking the garden-variety domestic Sauvignon Blanc or you could step outside the box for once to experience something completely new. A wine selling most places for $16 to $17, a wine I've rated 93 points, it's a wine you need to try for yourself to see what all the fuss is about. I'm on a course of wine-diversity and want to drink better. I want each of you to join me on that path to discovery; I want you my readers to drink better as well.

I'm told that the appellation of Quincy was the 2nd appellation in France to be recognized in 1936, second only to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where many of the vines are over a century old, while some have been more recently planted in the mid-eighties.

One of the more compelling reasons for adoring this wine so much is because it really didn't have many of the usual suspects in the nose or on the palate. I was immediately surprised by the nose, aromas of white-flowers, honeysuckle, white peach, sweet-quince and whiff of bell pepper which quickly fades to the background.

Then jumping into the wine itself, wow, again the mouth-feel is flamboyant, intense aromatics, honey, wet-stone, [the whisper of lemon oil] is followed by a full-bodied, exuberant, dry white wine that must be tasted to be believed. I suspect this offering has some aging potential, but why risk it when this wine is drinking ever so nicely right now.

In fact I wondered silently if the wine I tasted was Sauv-Blanc at all. How could a wine raised in stainless steel and enamel tanks and had its fermentation kicked off with indigenous yeast have this much body and substance to it and yet not have the typical lean flavors which drive me away like a pack of ravenous hyenas . I just kept looking at the bottle, snapping the picture you see above and tasted it twice just to confirm my impressions and flummoxed with my own delight. But there it's, try it for yourself soon, I look forward to hearing thoughts and impressions. Until next time sip long and prosper cheers!

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Travel Tuesday: Paso Robles Uncorked

Date: Thu, Jan 10, 2013 Wine Tasting

“Traveling; first it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” ~ Ibn Battuta

 Many folks are starting to think about their early spring vacations and or weekend get-away plans. And who can blame you, especially if you plan to be in California next weekend. So if your plans happen to involve visiting wine country, may I suggest to a trip to one of my favorite wine destinations in California, Paso Robles.

 A great little town, just north of Santa Barbara County, easily located right off highway 101. If you plan to leave from San Diego, may I suggest an early AM Sunday launch time, if not then take the I-5 and cross over on the 46W, it may take a bit longer, but you'll thank me later.

 Mrs. Cuvee and I go to Paso Robles pretty frequently, not as much as we would like to, but we were fortunate enough to visit twice last year. We had such a good time, discovered some new favorites and became reacquainted with others. We found a few new places to eat and also found a great spot to grab some sack time after a long day on the wine trail.

I've recently been asked by a couple of my friends, torecommend the what Ilike tocall hot-spots for wine-ing and dining. But, if you're a fan of sweet and simple [as 90% of the country seems to be] wines, then this list will not be for you. So look away before it's too late.
So I've compiled a list of the places I like to go and want to share that list with you today.

Per Cazo: Just call ahead to let them know you'd like to visit. Their Petite Sirah is flat out amazing, a real high-light. A sit-down tasting is just the thing and the pairing with the cheese is excellent.

Tablas Creek [Rhone Zone] So many favorites it's hard to name just one.

Justin: The Savant and Justification [100% First-Run Cabernet Franc] are among my favorites each year.

Alta Colina: Their Syrah really takes flight, oh-my.

Bodegas Paso Robles [downtown tasting room] Some very good Spanish wines, I highly recommend giving a swirl, don't doubt this tip.

Lone Madrone: Their Tannat is among my favorite wines being offered, along with their outstanding 2006 Bolla, a 100% Nebbiolo. Tablas Creek and LM share the same winemaker.

Calcareous: Driving up [the long and winding road] to the tasting room, leaves little doubt about where winery got its name. Again the views from this winery are quite stunning and you'll love Syrah and Grenache.

Herman Story: Tasting room on the east side of tracks in town. You’ll will easily get into the nuts and bolts of why their Grenache is so fantastic and other Rhone-Zone favorites not to be missed.

Jada: Another Rhone-Zone stop that will not disappoint. Ask for the "Passing By" it's sensational juice.

DAOU: The view from the tasting room is quite stunning and the wines ranging from Zinfandel to Cabernet Sauvignon are all quite good. You may even meet Daniel, theirwinemaker who's often found in the tasting room entertaining guests. All of their wines are 100% free-run.

Sextant Wines: Is just to the south in SLO, but worth the drive, so worth it. If you visit their Edna Valley tasting-room, you simply must do the cheese and wine pairing, you won't regret it. There are so many great wine choices here; it’s hard to pick just one.

Turley: If you like Zinfandel, then a trip to Zinfandel Lane is the place to be. Many of the 2008's are tasting fantastic at the moment. You have to be a member to purchase wines outside the tasting room. So if you go, prepare to take as many with you as possible.
L'Aventure Winery Stephen does an amazing job, please don't miss an opportunity for a visit, you'll be tempted to take cases of his wine home. But your wallet may have a hard time accepting that idea.

Kenneth Volk Vineyards: Which shares a tasting room with Lone Madrone, a two for one bonus. Again another stop not to be missed.

Linne Calodo Cellars: A winery known for producing seven to ten blends per year; some are heavy in Zinfandel, while others rest in a more traditional Rhone blending style. Visits are by appointment only, but worth the effort.

Denner Vineyards [Make an appointment] the owner Ron Denner is a great, the wines produced there, are in many cases stellar! Rhone-Zone and some very nice Cabernet Sauvignon as well, like the Mother of all Exiles.

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines The tasting room is located in what resembles an old school house. I know this is huge brand, if you are already a fan, a visit will only further cement that sentiment. One of the few east-side wineries I recommend.

RN Estate: Please don't miss an opportunity to visit Roger and the beautiful RN Estate [the view is amazing], call-ahead or email for the sit-down tasting. You can expect to find alluring Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir and unique Paso blends, just waiting to tempt your taste-buds.

Pithy Little Wine Company It's a fun tasting experience and they have a GSM [Elephant in the Room] which is out of this world-good.
Now if you want to go to Opolo [okay] their Summit Zinfandel is very big, super aggressive [high abv] but blackberry jam tasty. If you happen to visit on a Saturday they often [not always] have a barbeque just out-side the wide tasting room entry way, with many tasty treats that in my opinion pair ever so nicely with the wines being offered to sample.

Dining Options:

The Paso Robles Inn: Is a great place to grab a steak for dinner or to have that evening night-cap. Bonus: If you bring a bottle of Paso Robles Wine with you to dinner they waive corkage and the best spot in town for a quick hardy breakfast.

Cow Girl Cafe: Great for Breakfast and very large portions.

Artisan: Wow fine-dining to be had here, a great place to eat, they have a little bit of everything, with a reasonable corkage fee.

Bistro Laurent and Wine Shop: Wow, if you bring a bottle of wine in, they will pair a dinner around that wine. Great French style and flavors at its best.

Il Cortile Ristorante: One of the very best Italian dining experiences, outside of Italy. Order a bottle of the Grechetto Bianco with your appetizers.

Thomas Hill Organics: Farm to table at its best. But please be advised [IMO] the portions are small and they don't offer bread. If you want my advice order some appetizers.

Villa Creek: Has bit of everything and food is freaking amazing.

Now if you're looking for some low-key dining options, there are also many to be easily found in and around the down-town [aka, the park] square, along with great local bars to help quench your thirst.

Where to stay:
For me I like to stay at the Paso Robles Inn and I always choose the spa rooms. Everything downtown is within easy walking distance from the Inn, the pricing is reasonable. Do be aware that the natural spring Spa-Waters do have an uncomfortable smell, but once you put in the bath-aroma they offer, it's pretty fantastic. And as a bonus free wi-fi is offered.

If you do choose to stay there, ask for the rooms with the balcony over the big conference room. These rooms offer more privacy, more square feet, comfy beds, etc. If you want to use the spa, it takes at least 30 min for the tub to fill-up. And don't bother with the instructions, they seem to be a bit out of date.


Now if you want a more upscale experience [there are many to choose from], Per Cazo has a lovely bed and breakfast, nice and quiet. The rooms are well appointed and logistically it's much closer for visiting wineries. They're located about 15-20 min outside of town.

I hope you find these recommendations helpful, please let me know how they turn out for you. Until next time, here's to travel and exploration, sip long and prosper cheers!

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What's the Score?

Date: Tue, Jan 8, 2013 Wine Tasting

Life is too short not to make the best and the most of everything that comes your way everyday. - Sasha Azevedo

So you want to know the score huh? Most folks want do want to know the score, especially when it comes to their favorite team, but we as vino-sapiens like to know the score on lots of things besides wine. We rate or score every thing from cars to coffee, so should it be any surprise to find scores attached to wine. But for some when it comes to scoring wine; some folks begin to get a little squeamish and will loudly voice their opinions about how 'unfair' it's. The say, "well one man's perfectly ripe green apple, is another man's tart and bitter experience'.

Of course there's one thing we can all agree with; when it comes to 'scoring' something like wine it's partially subjective and to many it's imprecise at best. While I may find some agreement with that statement and with a few of the "points" haters positions, I don't find any of their arguments compelling enough to not use the 100 point scale. But I have altered some of its meanings and changed a few of the definitions to make it a bit more fun.

After all we’re talking about a 'sensory' experiences and not everyone has the same experiences that we do. Even Mrs. Cuvee and I can differ on some wines to my surprise, because mostly we are aligned. But still there are those outliers which defy my understanding and hers. But that said, let us take chocolate for example everyone [nearly] loves and appreciates it, some have no interest in it at all, but those folks are what we call the exception. You can't make a set of rules for the exceptions, you simply must discount their interpretation.

So when you take the odd exceptions out of the scoring equation, you'll find that the points really start to make sense and that they become a good barometer. The scoring system in place [the 100 point scale], used by the major publications works for everyday folks who don't taste hundreds of wines each and every year. The best advice about the whole point’s scheme [yes, it's a scheme oh-my] is to find someone who closely matches their own preferences in wine, [yes, mentioned before] especially when in doubt about a certain producer or region of unfamiliarity.

For example; I was in Oregon last year for the Wine Bloggers Conference, I went to what I've dubbed as a "Blending Camp" at R. Stuart and Co. When it came time to make a team to for what would be the final blend of Pinot Noir, we chose teammates that we knew had a similar palate to our own. Having done that, we came to a quick and ready blend [by comparison], which I thought was superior to the other tables. The name of our teams wine was, “Reverence” a fantastic Oregon Pinot Noir.

Now, if you have ever wondered how I come up the scores for the wines that I review, well then you are in luck. Because today, I'm going to spill the beans, as it were. Perhaps you may have been wondering what a certain score means. If you've ever had either of those questions, but some how never made your way over to my "about the review process" page, I've decided to put it out here, front and center. That way, there's no question about what the points mean and what they will mean to you, if you happen to be silly enough to follow my recommendations.

The score: Yes, I use the 100 point scale, if this makes you unhappy or you disagree with that method, well that’s unfortunate. Sorry to say, there will be no smiley faces, stars, cartoon wine glasses, or A,B, C grades, nope just cold hard numbers [ouch]. The score of wine will break down this way; I give every wine a base point score of 50 points and then I add the following:
Color: Up to 5 points

Aroma: Up to 10 points

Flavor: Up to 10 points

Texture: Up to 10 points

Overall: Up to 10 points

Finally I also use QPR [the quality, price, ratio] score of up to 5 points.

What the scores mean:

95-100 Epic: Will you marry me? Let's run off to Vegas together!

90-94 Wine-tastic Juice: Wanna meet my folks?

85-89 Very Good: Hey, can I call you tomorrow?

80-84 Okay: Oops, looks like I lost your number.

75-79 Marginal: Um what was your name again? [will not be reviewed]

50-74 Dreadful: Um, why was this bottled? Not even recommended for Vinegar. [will not be reviewed] After all life is too short to review bad wine.

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Oregon Uncorked: Matello Wines

Date: Fri, Jan 4, 2013 Wine Tasting

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

While some wine-writers only sit in front of their computer screens giving their opinions about the wines sent to them from PR agencies, still others venture out to see the place where the wines are made, speak with the wine-makers, taste the wine out of barrel and trod upon the soil where the vines grow. Travel gives writers unimaginable perspective, one simply unattainable by simply reading a book, the back label or a mere web-page. Fortunately for me, I had the opportunity to do just that last year, travel, quite a bit and in more locales than I thought imaginable. I hope to do more of the same this year.

In fact I went to Oregon twice last year, to get a closer survey of the wine-scene, one which is ever changing, but in some ways it's staying the same. I'm hoping to head out to Oregon again this year, I've an invitation for the harvest on the table and I can barely contain my excitement over the prospect, so I look forward to making my way back to Oregon once more in the near future.

Now about the winery in today's spotlight Matello Wines. I was given the heads up by a good friend, his name is Frank Morgan, all around nice guy, and fellow wine-blogger of Drink What You Like fame. He said, "Bill, if you're going to Oregon [lucky-dog] then you need to check Matello Wines and speak with Marcus Goodfellow. So because I trust Frank, I make the appointment and I was so glad I did. Wow, I was very impressed by the overall quality of the wines presented that day and I'm sure you will find something that you just can't be without yourself.

Marcus, opened at least 7 different bottles of wine that afternoon and each one of them had an enjoyable quality, I really wanted to take one of each home, but Mrs. Cuvee was there to make sure I showed some restraint [buzz-kill]. And besides I had limited return space in my checked-luggage, even with the addition. We got to taste the Vio, Riesling, a White Pinot, a four different Pinot Noir's. The Riesling, made is a dry style was very good, pear, apple, wet-stone and well balanced.

But their 2010 Duex Vert Vineyard, Viognier really wowed me, I'm always a sucker for this varietal, but find it's rarely done right. But this wine had me at the nose and it really delivered on the first quaff, boasting of ample structure and natural acidity. This wine had some very sexy aromatics, fresh peaches and a pop of white flowers. The first slurp was, wow a pitched-tent of near summer-ripe nectarines, citrus and white peach flavors which combine for a suave blend of richness and energy, coupled with great length. I scored this wine 91 points, it's really out-standing example of cool climate Viognier.
I know my friend Frank is partial to the Durant Vineyards and I can see why, but my palate told me that the Whistling Ridge was the place I needed to be and took two of those bad boys home. The 2010 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir

This wine offers generous upfront fruit, right along its exceptional structure. Factors that will easily make this wine a keeper for my collection, but it’s sufficiently balanced in its youthful exuberance that it could be enjoyed immediately. The wine is fruit forward, but without being over-opulent. It hits your mid-palate and digs a well of elegant, and yet persistent flavors, baking spices, rich earth, red-fruits, cola.
The tannins are nicely integrated and the finish long and lasting. I scored this wine 93 points, this wine is a prime example of what Oregon Pinot can deliver in the right hands. Selling for just under $40 is an amazing deal. Not sure he has even released this wine yet, but stay tuned folks, because once he does, this wine will sell quickly, don’t miss out! Okay folks like I said, if you don't know about this producer, in my opinion you should, if you've not sampled his wines yet, I'd beat a path to his door quick, make an appointment if possible or just wait until he releases the wines I mentioned, you won't be disappointed. Until next time, slurp long and prosper cheers!

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