A Sunday of Julia, French Bistro food, Wine & Friends

Yesterday we went to see Julie & Julia, finally! I've wanting to see this for quite some time now. "My Life in France" is one of the best books I've ever read & I had heard that all the Julia Child scenes were based off that book. It was thoroughly entertaining & I believe I had a smile on my face for the duration of the film. Why don't I have a fabulous Paris flat where I throw fantastic dinner parties?? Oh well...

After the film Kelly & I joined Elizabeth, Steve, Richie, Meagan, Becca, Lee, Lance & Fiona at Cafe 1912 for a little French bistro fare & some ridiculous, ridiculous wines. Each person brought a bottle that they've been wanting to share.

We began with a crisp, nutty, glycerol Etude Pinot Gris 2006 Carneros courtesy of Lance & Fiona.



Next up was the Andrew Rich Roussanne 2006 Columbia Valley, WA from yours truly. I picked up this Rhone varietal yummy at Un Cork It in Chicago. While in Oregon I sampled a few Andrew Rich wines, including a juicy sauv blanc, but not the roussanne. This baby was loaded with passion fruit, & a luscious waxy texture.



Up next was Elizabeth's Caves des Papes Oratorio Gigondas 2000. Oh my goodness...Really. I heart the Rhone Valley. The wine was earthy & spicy with plum/blackberry compote & hints of lavender/rosemary. So delicious.



Elizabeth has my heart for many reasons but most of all because she loves Rhones even more than I do. Her next little gem was Perrin & Fils Reserve 2000 Cotes du Rhone. Again, sorry, no pic. The nose was super stinky! Horse paddock, barnyard...straight up poopy! This might turn some off but thats exactly what I love about a Rhoney with some age on it. The palate was silky & sensual with beautifully integrated tannins that had a nice chewy, chalky nature.

Get a load of the braised shortribs with red wine demi glace & mashed potatoes. Oh, man, so heavenly!



Lance & Fi's second wine was a very interesting little vino. Dominio Dostares 2006 Castillo y Leon. The grape variety, prieto picudo, was something I had never had before. It was so dark & brooding on the nose with a violet laced, spicy & wild fruit expression. De-lish. Kind of reminded me of a mix between cab franc & barbera.



Richie & Meagan's first wine was next. Carrefour Cabernet Franc 2004 Napa Valley. This super expressive baby gives me hope for Napa Valley. I'm kinda over Napa as a whole but this wine makes me reconsider. It had traditional notes of violet, pepper & red fruit with a round, supple body. Sorry, no pic.

My last wine was a little baby that I brought back from Washington State in April. Cavatappi "Maddalena" Nebbiolo 2003 Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley. It had the brickish color that I expected from a Piedmont nebbiolo which really really pleased me. The nose was deep with tar, rosewater & a blueberry note. The palate was full & round with a velvety, sensual texture. Ahh the beauty of Washington. Am I getting a little repetitive by saying that? I can't help myself! I truly believe that Washington is producing the best wines in America! Save for the pinot noir coming from Oregon.



Becca & Lee brought an outstandingly delicious Bordeaux style blend from the Galilee region of Israel, I can't quite remember the wine label. Becca? Help? It was sooo good. For those of you who haven't had a good Israeli wine (or any for that matter) history, climate & topography collide to create a perfect growing site for wine grapes. This wine had a dark purple/red color in the glass with a nose of currant, clove, tobacco & earth. The palate was rich & bold with a supple tannin, layers of black fruit & spice & a leathery quality that was lovely.

Last up was something I was looking so much forward to. Corliss Estates Syrah 2004 Columbia Valley. Corliss is a very new winery that has just sprung up in Washington in the past few years. They source their grapes until their own estate vineyards are ready. When Richie poured the wine it was a black/blue color in the glass. The nose was brimming with blueberry, dried meat, pork fat & star anise. This wine had deep flavors of blueberry, a creamy sumptuous mouthfeel & a finish that lasted & lasted....& lasted.



Thanks for a wonderful Sunday you guys!!

Day 3

Yes I know that it's almost September & I went to Oregon Pinot Camp a few months ago but I just realized that I didn't post about my third day of OPC. All the campers had their choice from about 25 different events to attend on the 3rd day. The problem was that we could only choose 1!! I just went with my first gut instinct....Oysters, Pork & pinot noir. Oh.....yeah. After an incredible, & incredibly exhausting, past few days & nights I got to sleep in a bit. At about 8:30 a.m. I arose in my hotel bed took a nice hot shower & grabbed a cup of coffee at the bakery next door. With a nice caffeine boost I hopped in my rental car & sped off towards Adelsheim Winery in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. I arrived a bit early so I drove around a bit & stumbled on one of my absolute favorite wineries!



I've been a huge fan of Lachini Vineyards ever since my very good friend Elizabeth brought them back from HER OPC trip a few years ago. These wines are elegant, expressive, untamed, silky, luscious & just really really damn delicious. I unfortunately didn't have enough time to stop at their tasting room, bummer. Being the punctual man that I am I arrived at Adelsheim just in time to explore the estate.



Adelsheim is set amidst beautiful rolling hills that are lush with vines & a large hazelnut orchard. I did not know this but Oregon is the largest producer of hazelnuts in the world. This little baby hazelnut was illuminated in such a beautiful light that I was compelled to snap a photo of it.



I hiked my way back down the hill to the winery to indulge in some a bevy of bivalves & some porcine delicacies. Along with a little vino of course! Portland restaurant EAT provided the oysters & a bit of oceanic farming education. I was intrigued to find out that there are only 2 different species of oysters. What gives each type its unique flavor & texture is where it is grown. It's "terroir" so to speak.



They had hot sauce & lemons to put on the oysters but C'MON! These are super fresh, incredibly delicious oysters. Why in the hell would I want to sully them with anything?? They are swimming in their own super flavorful liqueur so why screw with that? All I accompanied my oysters with was a glass of Elk Cove Brut 1999, a creamy but brightly acid driven sparkling wine that was a seriously welcome surprise.

Aside from the bubbly (I just love me some bubbles) the two standout wines for me were the Cooper Mountain Tocai Friulano 2008 & the 2007 Chehalem Winery Gruner Veltliner. I just absolutely love the unique wines that are a little different & super tasty. Oregon Tocai? What? Gruner? Seriously? I was in heaven, literally. The tocai was nutty & aromatic with a hint of ginger & the gruner had spicy white pepper & notes of white peach. D-Licious. After about 7 different types of oysters we adjourned to the sun drenched patio for a lunch of locally sourced pork. The pig farmers were also on hand to discuss why they started farming & what breeds they farm (the pigs are a hybrid of berkshire & another breed that I can't quite remember....too much wine.) During lunch reps from each participating winery (Bergstrom, Cooper Mountain, Chehalem & Adelsheim) poured back vintages, reserve bottles & large formats. It was one of the most exceptional days of my whole life. If that wasn't enough, after lunch Josh Bergstrom gave me a ride through David Adelsheim's vineyards in his Mini Cooper.



David specifically asked Josh not to drive into his hazelnuts but as you can see above he neglected to heed that request.

As you can see the weather was perfect. If you look closely you might be able to see the large crack in his windshield. Obviously he's rough on that poor little Mini.





At one point Josh slowed down, reached out the window & snatched a bunch of baby grapes off the vine. He said that these had grown so quickly that they were twice the the size they were just the day before.



I can't believe I got into that little car & went tearing through some of the best vineyards in the U.S. with Josh Bergstrom.

A Biodynamic Gem Without the High Price Tag

I just tasted through a lineup of wines from Cooper Mountain Vineyards
& Winery. This producer really stood out from the vast array of wines
I tasted out at Pinot Camp. Not only for their quality but for their
prescence. These wines have life & personality unlike many others of
their kind. On top of that they are farmed biodynamically & Barbara
Gross is really cool & fun to talk to. The 2007 20th anniversary
Reserve Pinot Noir $25.99 is made entirely from estate fruit grown in
the Chehalem Mountains. It's laden with mushroom, truffle, cola &
cherry liquer notes. The texture is silky smooth but with a gripping
interest & a luscious texture. This baby is uber-delicious & will
make any pinot lover swoon.

Jancis, my dear...

Check out this link to a post by Jancis Robinson. I just adore her. She is funny, witty, incredibly well spoken, intelligent & sharp as a tack. Her palate is second to none & her writing is some of the most entertaining & smart that I've ever seen. Ok, I'll stop gushing now.

For The Love of Mencía

Just tasted the Cuatro Pasos 2007 Bierzo, Spain $16.99. If you haven't
had the mencía grape before, imagine the love child of pinot noir,
grenache & cabernet franc. This yummy little bottle has an earthy,
spicy, dark plum & brambly note on a moderately full body. The tannins
are dark & gripping. They grip softly but grip nonetheless. This is
something different & damn tasty!

Sent from my iPhone

Service? Ummm...Hello? Anyone?

So I was just in Chicago recently & I visited a couple wineshops. It's a disease really. Every time I go anywhere I have to do a little...ok a lot....of vino shopping because I'm curious what's out there that I wouldn't have access to in my shop. Since Kelly was with me I did my best to restrain myself & didn't spend too much time in both stores. My first experience was great. We went to UnCork It downtown near the lake. Its a relatively small store but considering that its downtown (expensive leases!) its pretty good size. They had a nicely eclectic selection & I wasn't there five minutes until I had 3 bottles in my hand. Soon thereafter a nice woman walked up to me & asked if I needed any help. She was very friendly & knowledgeable & led me to a bottle of Andrew Rich Roussanne 2006 Columbia Valley, WA $18.99. She also suggested some winebars we should visit while we were in the 'hood. All in all, a perfect example of Customer Service...good customer service.

The next day we went to Binny's, it is the leading wine/liquor retail company in Chicagoland with locations all over the city & suburbs. As soon as we walked into the South Loop location I knew that this place was something different. It had a deep selection & a clean, sleek, well labeled sales floor. There seemed to be a small handful of salesman milling about the front & one that was helping a well dressed man in the Champagne section. No one said hello or greeted us in anyway or so much as gave us a second glance. Was it that we weren't dressed in a tie & slacks? Did we look like we weren't going to spend some serious $$? Regardless of what it was there is no excuse for not at least saying "Hi! Welcome to (blank)." or "Do you need any help today or have any questions?" Ridiculous! I don't care how much a customer spends. There is no excuse for not greeting them or asking them if they need any assistance. After 15 minutes of being there, & not getting so much as a glance in our direction, I asked a salesman if they had any Txakolina. He took me over to the Spanish section & showed me 3 bottles. He didn't offer any information at all & was about to walk away until I asked him "Well which one do you like the best & why". He said "Uhh I like this one" as he pointed to the most expensive one. I ended up buying it but C'MON! That's all you got! Just point your stubby pale finger at the most expensive bottle? Ridiculous. Its obvious that this guy didn't even know anything about these wines otherwise he would offered a little more information. Or maybe he thought "ehh whats the point of wasting my time with these two? They don't look like they're going to spend any $$." It makes me so freaking mad just thinking about it! The woman at the checkout was the only bright light. She was nice, friendly, smiling & sweet. I want to call Binny's & tell them to put that woman on the floor, I don't care if she knows anything about wine they can teach her. It's painfully obvious that their level of service is SEVERELY lacking. What a shame, all that wine deserves better stewardship.

Always With Me

I've been thinking a lot about my grandmother lately. She passed away near my birthday 12 years ago. A lot of times when I'm cooking a really great dish, tasting a wonderful wine or sampling some outstanding food I'll think about her. I'll think "what would she think of this dish I just cooked? Will she like it? Will she want to add something to tweak it in some way? Will she be proud of what I just made?" I'll wonder if she'll think I made the right choice with the food/wine pairing. I wonder if she would be proud of me & what I've done with my life. Sometimes I'll just wish that she could be there to enjoy it with me. Whatever it may be. I wish that I could go back to Spain, Bolivia & Peru with her to have her show me through her neighborhoods & show me her favorite restaurants. Then I would reciprocate by taking her around Memphis, San Francisco, New York & all my favorite places in various wine countries. But I would settle for just one thing. I wish I could cook just one last meal for her. We would start with a vintage grower Champagne like Benoit Lahaye or Chartogne Taillet. First course would be a simple platter of aged Manchego, Jamon Serrano, Marcona Almonds & manzanilla olives. Next I would prepare her a grapefruit & avocado salad & I'd pair that with Cantina del Taburno Falanghina 2007. Then we would have my seafood stew with fennel, pernod, grouper, cod, scallops & shrimp & crispy garlic croutons. We would drink Domaine des Baumard Savennieres with this course. Then I would serve her lamb shanks braised in red wine, garlic, onions & oregano over truffled parmiggiano mashed potatoes...or maybe risotto. I would pour a 1997 Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino & a 1998 Torre Muga with this dish so I could give her a little bit of Italy & a little bit of Spain. For dessert we would have some of my homemade bacon chocolate truffles with a McCrea Ciel du Cheval Syrah 2002. And then we would have cheese, glorious glorious cheese. Sottobosco al Tartufo, Humboldt Fog, Point Reyes Blue, Fromager d'Affinois, Cabrales, with quince paste & fig bread. With the cheese we would drink Cabernet Franc Icewine from Magnotta & a #10 TBA from Alois Kracher. After all that deliciousness we would polish off the leftover wine & talk until the sun came up. I miss you Ta!

Turley-tastic!

My friends Lance & Fiona have been collecting Turley Zinfandels for quite sometime. Enough in fact that they amassed quite a village of delicious zinfandel. They were kind enough to invite me over for a comparative tasting of 2004-2006 vintages of Dragon Vineyard, Rattlesnake Ridge & Dusi Vineyard. Needless to say I was on the verge of spontaneously combusting at the mere thought of trying some of these gems. Kelly & I were on our way back from my folks' in Illinois so we hit Memphis just in time for me to rush to Whole Foods to gather provisions for a dish to pair. I also had in my possession a fresh summer truffle that I purchased at Fox & Obel in Chicago. I was racking my brain on what to use it on. With truffles you have to be careful not to use to much or to overwhelm itself. Also, this was a summer truffle so I knew that it would be more delicate & milder in flavor than winter truffles, also $1000/lb less than the winter ones! I decided to go with seared ny strip over arugula with shaved parmiggiano & grated truffle. Mmmm, perfect with the big reds.



We started the evening off with bubbles.....as every evening should begin in my opinion! The bubbles of the night were from L.Mawby from the Leenalau Peninsula in Northern Michigan. I know what your thinking..Michigan? What? Bubbly? No! Yes, actually this producer does a very good job with methode champenoise wines. I was very very pleased with the quality & complexity of the wine. Biscuity, yeasty, orange peel, some chalkiness. Yum!



So it begins...we dove right into the much lauded Turleys with gusto. They didn't disappoint. Each vineyard site showed its own personality & characteristics. I was partial to Rattlesnake & Dragon, both were wild & a little foxy with brambly fruit & a jammy juicy quality that wasn't overwhelming.







Lance was very organized & tagged each one with info on a drinking window.



About 3/4 of the way through the Turleys we took a breather & Fiona served up the most sensually spiced curry mussel soup I've ever had! It was smoky, sweetly spicy & just heavenly. Luckily, I had brought along a Ridge Chardonnay 2003 Monte Bello Vineyard that paired seamlessly with it. The poached apple/pear/apricot & pie spice notes matched well with the soup.



At the end of all of this, as if it wasn't enough already, Michael B brought along a 24 year old port to finish us off. See below to see how much crazy sediment was dropping!

Inspired to Pop A Little SB

So I was reading my friend Sam's blog yesterday. I love how she does, for lack of a better term, tells it like it is. Unfiltered & raw. This latest post was about how sauvignon blanc is a bit...maligned shall we say? I've enjoyed many a sauv blanc over the years & think that this grape produces quite lovely wines. I don't really care for the New Zealand versions so much but they have their place. It inspired me to pop open a little SB myself. I have a glass of Leeuwin Estate Siblings Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2008 Margaret River, Australia. Right off the bat I get aromas of fresh cut jalapeno & tomato vine with a hint of a citrusy, creamy note. The palate is lithe & clean with bright, but not overwhelming, acidity. The finish is moderate & leaves a pleasant mineral note behind. I wish I had some oysters or fresh clams with this little gem.

Soil Seminar at Penner Ash Cellars

Ok, so be warned this post is kinda geeky. I completely understand that most people just want to sip on wine & don't care to know about where it comes from much less the kind of DIRT it grows in. However, for me, this is just so freaking cool. It would be like.....meeting the star player of your favorite athletic team...I guess.




Anyway, so the final seminar of OPC 2009 was a soil seminar at Penner Ash Cellars. Not only is Penner Ash special because of the incredible pinot noirs that Lynn Penner Ash makes but also because it has two distinctive soil types on the estate. These two soil types, volcanic & sedimentary, are within oh maybe 100 yards of each other on the Penner Ash grounds. That fact alone shows how diverse the Willmette Valley is & how this affects the pinot noir grape.

My group was sent inside first to blind taste through a series of wines that were grown on the two different soil types up above us in the vineyard. I would have PREFERRED to have gone through the soil trenches first to feel the dirt in my hands & smell the soil types before tasting but...oh well.



It was shocking the difference between the two. The sedimentary soil wines were firmer & had a gripping tannin to them. Amazing, a real "lightbulb" moment for me.

After the glasses were drained (I mean C'MON! It was the last day of OPC & the last seminar so I wasn't spitting as much but I still had a clear head) we donned our sunglasses & headed back up to the vineyard. The OPC staff had dug a trench in to the soil in a staircase sort of way so that we could walk down into the ground & run our hands through the soil. The volcanic soil was gritty & rust colored & felt like large pieces of red rock that were hollow. On the other side the sedimentary was striated down in the ground with alternating layers of dark & chalky white soil. About 10 feet down I could see the layers of soil were saturated with moisture, so much so that the water was running out of that layer in rivulets.

At the end of it we climbed out of the dirt made our way to the big tent, popped open a very much needed cold beer & sat down. Lynn Penner Ash, Sam Tannahil (of Francis Tannahil & A to Z) & Leigh Bartholomew (vineyard manager of Archery Summit) fielded a few questions as we drained our cold brews. I kept looking over the treeline telling myself NOT to break out in a sprint no matter how close Shea Vineyard was. But mostly I was just soaking it all in & not wanting OPC to end. I was becoming nostalgic for it as it was happening.

Oregon Pinot Camp day 2

I've been out of town since last Saturday so I'm just now getting back to posting.

On day 2 of Pinot camp we began at Torii Mor Vineyards for a tasting seminar on Vintages. . We tasted through 9 different wines all blind in three different sets. We discussed their textures, weight, acidity, alcohol & fruit. One of the panelists, Louisa Ponzi, explained that she goes to great lengths in the vineyard to ensure that the wine is the best they can produce regardless of the vintage. Now she by no means meant manipulation through chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. One thing I had been pleasantly shocked by was the widespread mindset of sustainability in Oregon. Lynn Penner Ash remarked that OPC used to hold a seminar based entirely on sustainability. They did away with that because that mindset permeates throughout everything almost all the winemakers do. It seemed as though every winery was certified in something & truly believed in it.

Like in any marginal climate, Oregon is very much effected by vintage. Viticulture in marginal climates can have it very rough but can obviously produce beautiful wine.

Next we boarded the red bus & barreled down the two lane road back down the mountain & over to Argyle Winery for a seminar on Cool Whites. Of course Oregon is well known for its sublime pinot noirs but this marginal climate is also perfect for riesling, pinot gris, pinot blanc & to some degree chardonnay. I'm not much of a fan of chardonnay for the most part....unless we are talking about Chablis but CMON that's Chablis! Anyway, they served us a lineup of these dynamic varietals from the top producers in Oregon.

The First Flight: Chardonnays
Domaine Drouhin Arthur 07
Bergstrom Old Stones 07
Stoller JV 08
Bethel Heights 07
Belle Pente 07

Flight 2: Pinot gris
King Estate Signature 07
Anne Amie 08
Willakenzie 07
Adelsheim 07
Benton Lane 07
A to Z 08

Flight 3: Fruit Salad
Elk Cove Estate Riesling 07
Lemelson Riesling 07
Montinore Riesling 07
Maysara Pinot Blanc 08
Penner Ash Riesling 07
Amity Pinot Blanc 07

The standouts for me were:

Domaine Drouhin Arthur 2007 had aromas of apple, pear, chalk & lemon curd. It didn't knock me over the head with oak or butterscotch like some sickly sweet CA chard. The palate had notes of cooked granny smith apple, toffee, lemon curd & a nice weighty texture that wasn't too rich & heavy. Lovely.

Bergstrom Old Stones 07 gave me aromas of sandalwood & spice box with a piquant bittersweet quality on the palate & a luscious medium bodied palate.

Penner Ash Riesling 2007 was filled with bright lime zest, mandarin orange & floral aromas with a racy, zesty palate. Nice long finish too! I wanted to keep sipping on it but with another seminar lined up for the day I thought I better lay off.

My parents opened up a bottle of Miraflores Syrah 2005 El Dorado, CA for us. It was black as night with aromas of licorice, blueberry, smoke & a hint of soil. The palate was rich but not heavy with nice sweet fruit in the palate & a moderate finish. Thanks Mom & Dad!

Drinking Patricia Green Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2007. Aromas of gooseberry, baked apple, preserved lemon. The palate is a bit weighty, maybe some lees stirring? Kind of creamy with a citrus curd texture. Delicious.

Road Trip

Kelly & I are heading out of town this Saturday. First stop, Louisville. I've been before & really loved the city. My friend lives in the Highlands so its walking distance to some great places on Bardstown Rd. We've been to NIOS, Seviche...where else should we go?

After that we are onward to St Joseph, MI to see my friend Sarah's new spawn, Isla.

Next its onward to Chicago. I love love LOVE that city. I used to spend time there when I was a kid but its a whole new world as an adult. Where should we go? Anyone heard anything about Piccolo Sogno, Cafe Prosecco, The Publican? Where else should we go? What about great wine shops?

After Chicago it will be much needed family time with Mom, Dad, my sister Danyl & niece Halei.

Can't wait!!

Day 1 Pinot Camp

Sunday morning, day 1 of Oregon Pinot Camp (OPC) came quite early. Even though I was a good boy & went back to my hotel early, & didn't go to Lumpys, that alarm clock was still a little jarring. However, I quickly realized that I was in Willamette Valley & was about to embark on a magical experience. That woke me up fairly quickly! I put on my super fluffy robe & sauntered down to the shared Euro style bathroom & showered. Once clean, I dressed appropriately comfortable & headed down to the bakery next door to grab a coffee. I hopped into my rental & drove the 1.5 miles to the McMinnville Comfort Inn where my bus (RED BUS! WE'RE HOT!) was picking up. I was one of the first up by the bus so I offered to help my camp counselor decorate said bus. We lined the bus with red streamers, flames & other sorts of "inferno" type things. As more people started filing in the counselors popped open Argyle Brut 2000 sparkling wine a super delicious 60/40 pinot noir chardonnay blend. What a way to start the day! They had orange juice on hand for mimosas but screw that! I didn't want to sully my beautiful bubbles with OJ! We finally loaded onto the bus & headed off to our first destination. Upon arriving at Evergreen Vineyards & Aerospace Museum we were greeted by a gorgeous breakfast spread with local salmon, homemade pastries, local eggs, local berries & delicious coffee. We ate adjacent to the famous Spruce Goose of Howard Hughes fame. That plane was the size of Rhode Island! It was HUGE!! At breakfast I met two very nice people from Arkansas, Erin & Mark, & a very nice woman from Iowa, Elyn. After breakfast we headed into the IMAX theatre to be introduced to the participating wineries of OPC 2009. A young boy, all of 15 maybe?, walked up to the podium & told us about how his father, the owner/winemaker of Brooks Vineyards, died last year. He explained that everyone up on that stage & throughout the Willamette Valley banded together & helped them finish out the harvest, bottle the wine & pretty much saved them during this horrible time. He said that if it weren't for those people his family's winery wouldn't have made it through. I imagine it would have been difficult to find a dry eye in that place. After the introductions we watched a brand new HD film about the birth & future of the Willamette Valley's wine industry. I hope this film gets released on the web because it truly was a moving piece about a marginal area & the dreams & aspirations of a small group of dreamers who strive to create world-class wine.






Next it was back on the Red bus & on to Archery Summit Vineyards for a seminar on winemaking. The barrel room at AS was cool, moist & dark with a multitude of barrels holding sleeping wine. We were led through a series of three different stations about three different stages of wine making.

Station A:
1. Harvest
-Determining ripeness
-Picking

2. Reception
-Equipment & processes

Station B:
3. Pre-Ferment
-Modification of Must
-Additions to Must

4.Fermentation
-Management of Extraction
-Pressing-Managing Tannins & Texture

Station C:
5. Aging
-Maturing
-Barrels

6.Finishing
-Blending
-Stabilization
-Bottling

After these in depth seminars with the likes of Jason Lett & David Adelsheim we were treated to a delicious wine country lunch out on the gorgeous patio overlooking the valley. Red Hills Provincial Dining catered a lunch of roast pork sandwiches, minted pea salad & a few other delicious little things that are escaping me now.





As we dug into the yummy spread all of us were gazing around at the beautiful scenery & beginning to make friends with one another. Most everyone there was open, friendly & cool but there were a few pompous wine jerks who thought they were the be all end all of wine. Cmon!! Get over yourselves! Anyway, I digress. The conversations swirled from Txakolina to gruner to expectations of the rest of Camp. We were an interesting bunch, some from Iowa & Tennessee, some from Chicago, Charlotte, Vegas, UK. All in all everyone was just ecstatic to be there & loving every minute of it.

Oysters! Oysters!

Tuesday July 28th Sole Restaurant will be hosting an oyster & wine tasting at 6:00 p.m. Elizabeth Mall of Delta Wholesale has personally selected the wines to pair with each oyster course. The tasting will be very casual in style & will include 5 courses with 5 wines. Cost to attend is $40/person plus gratuity. To reserve a spot call Sole Restaurant at 901.334.5950.

New Article. Summer Vino.

Check out my new article on summer wines here.

Carova Milk Bar Summer Edition

The lovely Elizabeth offered her gorgeous Midtown bungalow for the first meeting of The Carova Milk Bar in a long, long, looooooong time. Why has it been so long? I really don't know. Memphis blessed us with a tolerable Summer evening; & by tolerable I mean it was ONLY 90 degrees. So we began with Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2008 ($25.99 at Joe's) out on the patio. E already had a lovely spread of olives, sausage, cheeses & sushi waiting for us as sipped. Next up was a Vincent Girardin Morey St-Denis 2001. The aroma was brimming with dark cherry & forest floor, on the palate the wine was rich & dark with tart cherry & a sort of tea-like tannin. It was heavenly with a red Cerignola olive. Lance & Fiona popped open the first of their wines, a 2007 Neal Family Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley.

Elizabeth had the first course, a super summery salad of butter lettuce, toasted walnuts, fresh cherries, creamy blue cheese & a gorgeously elegant ginger-sesame vinaigrette. First off, I'll admit that the wine we chose to pair with this dish seems like an odd pairing or even a mistake. However, isn't experimentation kind of the point? Anyway, I digress. Richie & Meagan so kindly shared with us a DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate 1994. This blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot & cabernet franc had aged into a gorgeous, sensual little thing. The rich liqueur-like fruit had softened into a woodsy, dried fruit, pantry spiced red wine that had a haunting presence. The cherries in the salad made the wines texture explode with voluptuousness yet still remaining elegant enough for the salad. Our next wine was a Peter Lehman Eight Songs Shiraz 1999. Its amazing how it takes 10 years for a Aussie shiraz to calm down to a state of drinkability. To be perfectly honest, I really am not much for Australian wines but this one was pretty special. The decade of age had turned this from a bombastic fruit laden alcoholic monster into a spicy, sweet moderately bodied viscous Rotie-wannabe. Its not often that I get to taste something that makes me realize how much I need to keep an open mind at ALL times.

The next selection was from Elizabeth's cellar, a Robert Sinskey Cabernet Franc 2001 Los Carneros. Lower quality, overcropped cab francs reek of stewed bell pepper. The hallmark of a excellent one is a pepper quality yes, but more of a black peppercorn. It also had a plum skin aroma that was lively & rich with hint of violet. The wine's velvet texture was smooth & supple with a lively finish.

For our next course yours truly prepared a Provencal Fish Stew with pernod, fennel, white wine, cod, flounder, scallops, shrimp & homemade shrimp stock. To pair with this I brought a Domaine des Baumard Savennieres 2006 ($30.99 at Joe's). The waxy, honeycomb notes & bright acidity really matched well with the fennel & pernod. Those flavors in the stew really amplified the texture & minerality in the wine. The rich broth poached the fish just perfectly....if I do say so myself.

Our next wine was also courtesy of yours truly, Martinelli Lolita Ranch Pinot Noir 2004 Russian River Valley. I love how a big, brawny, masculine pinot comes from a woman, the legendary Helen Turley. At 5 years old this bad boy could have gone another 5 easy. The nose was all dark, dark cherry & brambly fruit with fresh wild herb & earthy mushroom. This wine was big & rich with a sensual lusciousness that was voluptuous & at 15.8 alcohol I was shocked at the balance. Then again that shows how much of a deft hand Mrs. Turley has with this ripe fruit.

Next course was provided by Richie & Meagan. Their home-smoked salmon baklava was a savory twist on that Mediterranean classic. Crispy layers of phyllo dough encased salmon they smoked themselves folded with honeyed goat cheese & dill. They topped it with creme fraiche, flying fish & smelt roe & fresh dill. That gorgeous little dish was paired with a spicy little sparkler, Szigeti Gruner Veltliner Brut NV Austria $20.99. The white pepper & stone fruit notes amplified the smoky-sweet flavors in the salmon-klava. This bubbly also woke up our palate after the previous reds.

Lance & Fiona lavished us with another vinous beauty, Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 1995 Pauillac. Ok, so here's the thing. I am really just not a Bordeaux guy. I know it may sound weird but I'm just not. However, again I was shown how I should always have a wine open mind & palate. Its not often that I get to taste something so classic & traditional as a Pauillac. This right here was a wine from a region that has made countless winemakers across the world fall in love with wine, plant grapes & make their own wine. Lance said that the last time he had this wine it was a bruiser, soooo we were initially going to decant. After a little preliminary taste through by Richie & I to confirm the order we decided to skip the decanter. 14 years of bottle age had softened it & integrated its power & weight into velvet soft texture & dark, tart red currant fruit.

As if we needed anymore food at all, Kelly plated up his chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches that he made himself (I'm so proud!) Elizabeth turned to me & said "alright. why don't you head downstairs into my cellar & pick 2 wines to open." !!!!! Wha wha Whaaat?? What to do? What, what to say? What to pick? Should I? Shouldn't I? I remember saying "I don't really know if you want me down there...WHOOSH! And off I flew downstairs followed closely by Richie & Meagan. Oh would Elizabeth regret thiiiis. I stopped myself from pulling anything that was too outrageous, well....kind of. We emerged upstairs with Williams Selyem Zinfandel Forchini Vineyard 2002 & Michel Chapoutier Les Meysonniers 1998 Crozes-Hermitage. We weren't all that bad because we did tell her that we would be more than happy to take them back downstairs & try again. Elizabeth just smiled & said "pop em!" The W-S zin was first. It was all brambly, wild red raspberry, fig & clove. The palate was sweet but balanced with a really cool earthy spice note. 7 years had been very good to this wine, it lost none of its prowess & presence. What made this wine special was not only that it was really very delicious, but that Elizabeth chose to share this beauty with us. Well kind of chose.... The Chapoutier was next. One whiff & taste & I turned to Kelly & said "this is like beef bourginon!" It really was! It was meaty & rich with layers & layers of savory, earthy notes. The finish lingered for what seemed like a millennium. It was truly spectacular.

The wine, food & great friends made this summer evening something I won't soon forget.

Last night the Carova Milk Bar met for the first time in forever. Many bottles & outstanding dishes were sacrificed in the name of gluttony. Details to follow.

Just drank a beautiful ros? from Penner Ash Cellars. Lovely salmon hue with bright full cherry fruit in the palate.

OPC Orientation & Dinner at Torii Mor Vineyards & Winery

The first night of Oregon Pinot Camp (OPC) was jam packed with things to do. From 4-7 was the Camper Orientation at Ponzi Wine Bar where all 50 participating wineries were pouring. At first it seemed a bit overwhelming. All these wines....sensory overload...! Once I picked myself up off the floor I realized that I need a game plan. Must have bubbles. I visited Soter Vineyards table & sampled their stunning Brut Rosé. In the glass it had such a gorgeous pale fleshtone with nice slow moving tiny bubbles. Super delicious. Up next was a sip of Argyle 2005 Brut which was filled with toasty, yeasty orange peel & apricot marmalade notes. The dosage left a hint of sweet fruit on the palate. I also tasted bright citrus, cooked apple, rainier cherry & a supple rich finish. After these two bubbles it was on to some still rosé from Soter. It was light pink/salmon with a distinct aroma of chalky, rocky soil & crushed cherries. The palate just made me smile. Fresh, bright & fruit with a soft, dry finish. I think at that point I just grabbed some salmon & sat down to take it all in. I...just couldn't believe I was actually there! Looking around I saw wine geeks just like myself sipping & spitting with big smiles on their faces. The winemakers were pouring their wines & chatting with those of us who were curious enough to ask questions. Everyone was emanating pure happiness. It was great. I do wish that my fellow campers were a little more eager to interact with one another but maybe they were quietly soaking it all in like I was. After OPC orientation I made my way up a long winding gravel road to Torii Mor Vineyards & Winery. I was invited to a casual backyard cookout by Marge & Ron Olson, the winery owners. I arrived a little early so I was the first one there. There were bottles of pinot gris, pinot blanc & riesling chilling as well as magnums of 2004 Olson Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir. Their home & tasting room are adjacent to their 35 year old Olson Estate Vineyard & situated atop the Dundee Hills Appellation. Their dog Corky conveniently laid at my feet waiting for me to drop my lamb burger stuffed with feta & sun dried tomatoes. The setting was absolutely stunning. Perched at the edge of their deck I could look down into the valley & across it to Mt. Hood. Their Olson Estate Pinot Noir easily matched the setting. It was rich with dark cherry & earthy spices on the nose. The palate was silky textured, round & beautifully balanced; so sensual & fleshy. This was just ridiculous! Was I really here?

Time for A Change

Just fishing here. How many of you would like to see Tennessee change the laws to allow in-store wine tastings in retail wine shops? I for one would love it if we could.

The Willamette Valley Experience

Its been awhile since I've flown by myself anywhere. But for this trip I had to suck it up & fly without Kelly because Oregon Pinot Camp is for the wine biz & by invite only. This stunning site was my welcome mat to Portland, Oregon.




There were folks from all of the U.S., UK, Japan, Canada & Europe. It was a veritable melting pot of wine folks from all over the world. After stepping off the plane I picked up my rental car & drove straight down to McMinnville. I was lucky enough to have stumbled across Hotel Oregon online & I'm glad that I did. The other hotel selections were Comfort Inn & their ilk. Hotel Oregon is a boutique Euro-style (meaning shared bathrooms) hotel in a renovated bank/retail office building. Its funky, cute, cool & loaded with personality. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind sharing a bathroom. After checking in I headed down a few blocks to have lunch at La Rambla. McMinnville has this awesome little village vibe with great shops & restaurants. La Rambla specializes in authentic Spanish cuisine. I haven't eaten like that since Barcelona. My first plate was Jamon Serrano (heaven) on San Simon cheese over homemade grainy toasted bread.



This dish was pure Spanish bliss. Mmmmmmmm.

My next plate was a Tortilla Espanola with egg & potato served over classic Romesco sauce & topped with garlic aioli. On the side is a little salad with chopped hazelnuts, dried blueberries & hazelnut vinaigrette with manchego cheese.



With a full belly I was ready to face the winemakers at Saturday night's OPC (Oregon Pinot Camp) orientation.

Pic info

Sorry, the photo below was taken by me (on trusty iPhone) at Stoller Vineyards in Willamette Valley.

Thank you

I really just have no words. What I just experienced in Oregon was something I'll never forget & never be able to recreate. I've been blessed. The people in the Willamette Valley wine industry are some of the most open, collaborative, friendly & sharing people I've ever had the pleasure of sharing a glass of wine with. They opened their homes, their kitchens, their bottles & their wealth of knowledge to me & for that I will always be grateful. Thank you Oregon.

Back from Heaven

Just got back from the Willamette Valley. I'll be posting soon!

Rhoney Rhone

I sampled two outstanding Rhone rangers recently. Graff Family Vineyards is a small producer in the Chalone AVA of Central California. They specialize in Rhone varietals & they do them justice. Their 2005 Consensus is a blend of 94% Syrah 4% Mourvedre & 2% Viognier. It has a beautiful purple/ruby color in the glass with aromas of blueberry, smoke, beef, soil & anise. The aromas are bright but not overpowering. Flavors of dried meat, blackberry & a viscous texture are evident on the palate.



Next I tried Gloria Ferrer Syrah 2002 Carneros. Yes that Gloria Ferrer. I was surprised that they produced anything but bubbly. The real surprise was in the glass. Aromas of cassis liqueur, bacon fat, smoked meat & blueberry-balsamic compote were leaping out of the glass. The palate is still very vibrant, round & super super delicious. There were flavors of blueberry, beef, clove, pepper & a sort of violet-vanilla thing going on. Tasty tasty stuff. I apologize for the photos. Iphone is great but pics, not so much.

A Little Vacation

My very good friend Emily said something very inspirational to me yesterday. "Memphis has a lot to offer. It is a pretty exceptional city & we should live like we're tourists in our own city." With that being said she took me to a Sakura sushi out in Germantown. Admission: I am one of those people who makes it a point of not venturing out East. I don't like it out there. I don't feel comfortable out there. It doesn't seem to have any personality...ok I'll stop there before I piss someone off. But I stopped & thought to myself "why the hell not?" I'll break out of my comfort zone! The sushi was delicious & the company even better. Emily makes me laugh so hard & I always have a good time with her. On top of that she is cute as hell & sharp as a tack. After our sushi extravaganza I suggested that we go somewhere that neither of us would think to go. We ended up at Folk's Folly, an East Memphis steakhouse institution with leather & wood everywhere & wingback chairs with low tables & a piano in the bar. At first glance, not my scene. But we had a great time sipping on Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico 2006. This Tuscan beauty lies somewhere between modern & traditional styles. The nose has a concentrated cranberry-raspberry compote aroma with a bit of fennel/anise. The palate is balanced with bright acidity, moderate tannins & tangy fruit. Thanks for such a good time Emils!

Dinner at the Majestic Grille

For those who haven't dined at the Majestic Grille, I highly suggest that you do. They have perfected very good, simple, bistro food. Who doesn't love that? Last night we celebrated Kelly's moms birthday at the Majestic. The space is beautiful (its in an old theatre), the service is spot on, portions are very nice & the food is delicious. Kelly & I both had a ceasar salad which was perfectly briny, not too much garlic & creamy without being gluggy. For my entree I had the smoked salmon appettizer & the chicken/bacon flat bread. The salmon was cold smoked, perfectly seasoned & was accompanied by capers, onions, horseradish sauce, mustard sauce & crostini. My flat bread was obviously hand thrown. It had the rustic semi oval shape of a hand tossed pizza with a perfectly crispy, snappy crust & a creamy, garlicy bite to the toppings. I would have had a glass of wine or two but after this weekend I needed a little break.

Tasty Memphis

This past weekend was Kelly's birthday so I decided to take him out for a little wine & good eats. We began at Restaurant Iris for a cocktail on their comfy cute patio. I had a glass of Quinta do Portal dry rosé 2007. It had a deep crimson color (almost looked like a pinot noir) with aromas of overripe raspberries & earth. On the palate I tasted super ripe strawberries, almost a pickled watermelon note, clove & it had a weighty viscous texture. A delicious glass but I think it might have needed a bit of Chef Kelly English's Neola Farms beef shortrib Raviolo.

Next we ventured onto Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen. We started with a couple splits (187 ml) of Zardetto Prosecco. I really wish more restaurants offered these one glass sized bottles of bubbly because I love beginning a meal with bubbles. They're fun, tasty & open up the palate. Kelly ordered the polenta to start & being a vegetarian the chefs made him a meat free white wine & tomato sauce to top it with. It was creamy & heavenly.

I began with the seared scallops with fennel, braised leeks & a truffle vinaigrette. It was unctuous, earthy, sweet & so incredibly delicious.



Next I had the lamb sirloin with artichokes, fingerling potatoes, olives & tomato. The lamb was cooked to a rosy pink & was so tender & delicious. This particular cut is only slightly gamy with a nice toothsome texture. The natural jus it was in tasted as if it had been fortified with garlic, veal stock & wine. The sauces pungency was a perfect match with the delicate earthiness of the lamb.



The entire dish perfectly complimented the Domaine Drouhin "Laurene" Pinot Noir 2004 Dundee Hills, Oregon. This wine was rich, concentrated & filled with earthy dark cherry & hoisin notes. But to tell you the truth I think I opened it too soon. It could have used another 5 years. Oh well, it was so damn tasty!

West Coast Tasting June 25th

Selections from the U.S. West Coast (Oregon, Washington & California) will be poured at a wine tasting on June 25th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m at the Vine (map). Come join me & the rest of the Joe's Wines staff as we lead you through a selection of 35-40 of the best wines these states have to offer. Cost to attend is $35/person. The ticket price will be deducted from the purchase of a case (mixed or solid) if you place an order that evening. Other special discounts will be offered along with a variety of picnic style snacks to nosh on. The wines will be delicious & the company will be even tastier...if I do say so myself! Stop by Joe's to purchase tickets.

Joe's Wines & Liquors
1681 Poplar
Memphis, TN 38104
901.725.4252

It's coming back!

Check out my recent post about one of the best dry rosés in the world (at least in my opinion Samantha). We will have the Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2008 $25.99 back in stock at Joe's Wines, 1681 Poplar, on Wednesday June 10th. Get it while you can. I know for a fact that the winery is sold out so after its gone you'll have to wait until next year for some.

A lesson in Economics

The very same goods & services cost differently in different markets, cities, states etc. No one would think twice about seeing the same house cost vastly different in Memphis than San Francisco. So why exactly is it ok to complain or annoyingly point out that a bottle of wine cost differently elsewhere? It drives me mad!! This woman yesterday complained that she bought the same bottle of sangria in New Orleans for $5 cheaper. I got news for ya lady. YOU AREN'T IN NEW ORLEANS!!!! First of all, Tennessee has one of the highest, if not the highest, alcohol tax in the country. Second of all, different stores buy different amounts of the same product. The more the store buys of something, the less it costs them & therefore the less it retails for. Third, bottled sangria? SERIOUSLY? You're going to complain about some god awful rot gut? I wish I knew where she worked so I could go in & point out how differently I paid elsewhere for the same goods or services she offers. I'm sure I'm alienating people by writing this post but its my blog & I just feel the need to vent.

Best Quote Ever

"If chardonnay is a lap dance than riesling is a slow tantric orgasm of flavor"
-Terry Thiese

The Best Rosé in the World

Ok. I know that's a strong statement but I just can't help myself. Every year that this bad boy comes out I just squeal like a little child & call my sales rep every day until it arrives in my store. Rosé wine is the only thing that keeps me sane during the disgustingly oppressively ridiculously hot & humid summer months in Memphis. This particular bottle is the holy grail of dry pinks. The biodynamically farmed Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2008 Los Carneros District of Napa Valley is, in my opinion, the Domaine Ott of the New World. Actually I don't know if that's the right comparison because Ott under delivers & is overpriced. I guess what I mean to say is that this is the New Worlds best example of a well made dry rosé. The color is like a rosy cheek on someone who is sexually excited, faintly flushed capillaries. Normally this color is misleading on this particular bottle given that its palate is usually just the opposite & not faint at all. But this year its austere, elegant, razor sharp & so bright & clean with a barely under ripe wild strawberry note & hints of melon. The nose exhibits white raspberry, rainier cherry & a kind of moist rock quality. Its really good juice which the very thought of puts a smile on my face. Unfortunately, we at Joe's bought up the entire retail allocation which sold out in 45 minutes. Normally I wouldn't blog about a lovely little pink that no one else can get in Memphis (I also got an email that this wine is sold out at the winery, sorry!) However, I heard a rumor that the distributor might be getting more so I'll keep you posted if I get some more in.

New Article

Check out my new article here.

Oregon Pinot Camp 2009, coming soon

After trying for almost 2 years I finally got invited to Oregon Pinot Camp! So I've booked a little Euro-style room at Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. Anyone stayed there? I'm also looking for recommendations on hotels in Portland. I don't want anything too expensive. Just comfy & cool & near to fun bars, restaurants etc. Any restaurant recommendations? I think I'm going to eat at Beast, Naomi Pomeroy's restaurant. Anyplace else I should check out? Or what about winebars, lounges, divebars? Help!! I leave in a month.

Thinking Pink

I've been away for a bit, sorry. Stella is taking up a lot of my time & energy keeping her from doing the things she is not supposed to do. Her leg seems as though it is healing up the way it should & she is happy as can be. Hopefully the vet will say as much on Wednesday. So, even though it has been beautiful cool weather the past weekend it has been getting warm here in Memphis. The one good thing about summer, I hate the heat, is all the good dry pink wines to choose from. My latest favorite is Zaca Mesa Z Gris Dry Rosé 2008 Santa Ynez Valley, CA ($17.99 at Joe's Wines, 1681 Poplar 901.725.4252). You can't tell from the image above but it is a faintly pink wine, almost more salmon than pink. Its very provencal in style with notes of dried raspberry, a hint of brine & herbs on the nose. The palate is deliciously bright, with mouthwatering acidity, fresh strawberry notes, a medium bodied weight & a luscious finish. A bottle of this, a plate of olives & a sunlit patio with friends would be absolute heaven.

I Need A Glass

Sometimes I just need a good glass to blur the edges a bit. Tomorrow our little baby girl, Stella, is having knee surgery. She is still acting like her little puppy self & not like she's about to have ACL surgery. Not a clue. I, on the other hand, am a total wreck. Needless to say I could use a glass of wine.....or two. Magnificent Wine Co.'s House Wine Red 2007 has been a go to wine of mine since it hit the market last year. I originally tried it a few years ago on vacation in Louisville. It offers so much bang for your buck. At $13, I really feel it over delivers for the price. This yummy little Washington red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, cabernet franc & sangiovese. Its dark, luscious, spicy & bursting with currant, plum & blueberry fruit. Its exactly what I need to take the edge off my nervousness for my little baby puppy dog's big scary surgery.

Tilth, After Drooling For Over a Year.

A few weeks ago we were in beautiful, cool Seattle. Now I'm in balmy 80 degree Memphis. Sticky. Humidity short circuiting brain.

While in Seattle we dined at Tilth. I had initially read about this restaurant in the New York Times last year when it was named one of the Top 10 best new restaurants OUTSIDE of New York. I was drawn in by the photograph of this beautiful old house painted an earthy green tone. It just seemed so warm & cozy. The restaurant focuses on local, sustainable produce, meat, fish, etc. Since I was on the veggie tip on my last post, I'll start there. There are two dishes that stand out in my mind. Kelly ordered the cassoulet based on earthy, creamy, unctuous beans with wild chanterelles & Oregon truffles. Simply superb! I know, I know! Cassoulet without duck confit & duck sausage! If it makes us feel more comfortable we can call it something else.

The second dish was absolute heaven. Braised pork cheeks over a pig trotter cake in a pancetta-parmiggiano broth. Honestly, I wish I could describe this dish but I really don't think I could come close. The only thing I can say is that it gave me the same feeling I used to get when I was in my grandmother's kitchen smelling those sweet/savory smells & eating her incredible food. It paired perfectly with an rich, earthy, truffly, dark cherry laden Evesham Wood Pinot Noir 2006 Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon. I plan on seeking this winery out when I go to Oregon Pinot Camp in June. Cheers!

No I'm Not Going Vegetarian But...

Kelly & I went to Whole Foods in East Memphis for a class on veggie burgers taught by my very very good friend Justin aka The Chubby Vegetarian. His Lentil-Mushroom burger was absolutely outstanding! It was meaty & earthy & was a perfect meat substitute. With Kelly becoming a vegetarian I'm always looking for ways to update my cooking repertoire. I still love me some meat, as anyone who has visited this blog will see, but damn those veggie burgers were yummy!

Go on over to Justin's site & get some recipes from him.

Even More Surfaces...

Check out this post at Dr Vino, click here.


The way I feel about is that sure we would love to all take advantage of freebies. I'm just being honest here. But that can dilute the enthusiasm about a particular wine region because it basically amounts to being bought & paid for, in a sense. For example, when I went to Taste of Washington recently I did so on my own dime. There were some trade events that I was not charged for, such as entrance to the Grand Tasting & a trade tasting on Friday, but I paid for everything else. Travel, accommodations, even my seminars on Saturday. My enthusiasm & passion for Washington wines is a result of my own curiosity & insatiable desire to learn more. Not because I was bought off.

Hilarious!!

This is quite possibly one of the most entertaining email exchanges I've ever read in the wine world.

Washington Is Grape Heaven

I've returned from my first excursion to Seattle for the Taste of Washington....& it was truly one of the best & most well planned series of events that I have ever attended. For someone like me, who is in the biz, it was amazing. But anyone who enjoys good wine would love the Taste of Washington. To see some of my rockstars (Chris Camarda, Charles Smith, Ron Bunnell, Chris Upchurch) & taste their wine was an experience like no other. I sat in on a couple seminars about two "grand cru" vineyard sites; Klipsun & Champoux. Patricia Gelles, owner of Klipsun, is an English transplant who saw the winemaking potential of Red Mountain in Eastern Washington in the early 80's. Her vineyard supplies the raw material to such luminaries as Lachini, Januik Cellars, DeLille & small group of highly sought after wineries. Bruce Schoenfeld of Travel & Leisure led both the Klipsun & Champoux seminars. What I found really interesting was his observation of the uniqueness of WA state. "It has long struck me that Washington may be the most unique wine growing region in the New World," he said. "Vineyards are not monopoles." This allows the showcasing of many different styles of making wine from the same vineyard. Its blatantly obvious that the true stars of WA are the vineyards. However, the winemakers put their own spin on the beautiful raw material they are given. I immediately got the impression that Patricia was a force of nature.

Bruce: "Have you ever turned a winemaker who has asked to purchase some of your fruit?"
Patricia: "I have. If I taste some of the wines they've previously made & don't like them I shall refuse."

John Bigelow of JM Cellars recounted a story of when he was trying to get into the winemaking business. He went to Patricia to try & buy her fruit & she refused based on his inexperience. With his tail between his legs he went to Pete Hedges of Hedges Family Estate & asked him if he could buy some of his fruit. Hedges said that he didn't have any of his own estate fruit to sell but he did have some very expensive fruit from another vineyard that he wouldn't mind selling. That vineyard: Klipsun! John & Pete agreed on a price & John left feeling very accomplished. Shortly afterwards he ran into Patricia & said "I'm getting some of your fruit after all, isn't that great?" Her response: "No you are not." She explained that she controls who gets her fruit & would not stand for anyone superseding her authority. Patricia promptly rang Pete Hedges & gave him an earful for trying to sell off some of her fruit that he had contracted to purchase. Thankfully, she did take pity on John & finally agreed to sell him some Klipsun grapes.

Patricia: "Washington merlot on its own has such substance & depth. California merlot doesn't have that kind of grip even at triple the price."

She couldn't be more right. I'd had merlot from WA in the past that I thought was exceptional (Milbrandt, Andrew Will, Nelms Road) but never had I been subjected to such an overwhelming merlot. Good...no...GREAT merlot. Not the thin watery, hollow swill from most CA producers but dark, luscious, supple, gripping, spice laden, fruit laden deliciousness. Merlot haters, get the hell over yourself & get on board with this fantastic elixir. Seriously.

It really was a unique experience to taste a group of wines all from the same site. We tasted three wineries, Januik, JM, DeLille. A barrel sample & a finished wine from each plus two Mystery wines. One from Klipsun & one not.

The Klipsun wines all had similar opaque purple cores with dark red rims along with similar plum-like aromas. While they shared similar characteristics it was how they expressed them in different nuanced ways that was so cool. They also all shared a liqueur quality on the nose & palate with significant concentration.

Taste Washington!

I'm in Seattle right now. Came out here for the Taste of Washington; a series of trade tastings, seminars, networking & a Grand Tasting focused on the wines of Washington State. It has been a whirlwind to say the least. The seminars were very eye-opening & fun, one was on Klipsun Vineyard the other I went to was on Champoux Vineyard both are grand cru sites in WA. I'll update with a more extensive post after I return to Memphis. Today I'm off to the Grand Tasting. Wish me luck!

Grilled Cheese Not Quite So "Top Chef" style

The great cheese off has came & went. Last night Justin & I battled it out in a hardcore grilled cheese throwdown......ok not really hardcore, just fun. We had been discussing this contest for quite some time. From the get go I knew I wanted to do something with a gouda style goat cheese. I don't know why other than the fact that I LOVE gouda goat. I was considering a second grilled cheese, something sweet rather than savory. However, I just couldn't come up with anything at the market. So, I picked up some Mahon cheese from Spain to complement the gouda. I grabbed an avocado as well. The unctuous texture of the avocado, I speculated, would work well with the cheese. Earlier in the day I caramelized some onions in hopes that they would add some sweetness & depth the sandwich.

Upon arriving at his home, I discovered that Justin had similar ideas. He had caramelized onions as well, but added extra punch with sage & rosemary. Hmmmm....this was going to be a tough one. As we unpacked our goodies, Amy poured both Kelly & I a glass of wine. Justin & I both got to work grating cheese, I sliced up my avocado & bread. I chose a roasted garlic boule & Justin decided on a large French bread. We both layered our fresh breads with the goodies & got to griddling. After they were significantly golden brown we sliced them up & served them to our significant others, & ourselves of course.

I gotta tell you, it was tough going up against Justin. No matter how fun it was, & it WAS super fun, part of me did really want to win. But I had to give it up to Justin. His grilled cheese was packed with flavor, his caramelized onions packed some serious richness & sweetness. They added so much. But the biggest factor was the all important "gooey" factor. It is paramount that a grilled cheese has serious goo. My grilled cheese, while delicious, just wasn't gooey enough. Oh well! This "cheese" off was too much fun.

Don't Let This Economy Kill Our Culture

Get out & eat! Dine in Memphis' amazing independent restaurants now! Help them survive this economic crisis & really couldn't we all use a good meal right about now??

I don't want to turn around & see that some of the best restaurants I've ever dined have closed their doors. These people are our friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. Places such as Restaurant Iris don't just provide food & drink they provide an experience, something you'll never forget.

Don't forget about them now when they need you the most. Support what makes this city great! Get out & eat in our independent restaurants!!

Dark & Stormy

I've been bad about posting, I know. I'm sorry. I just haven't felt as though I've made much to say lately.

Last Saturday at The Cove (a great bar on Broad Ave right off of Hollywood) I was turned onto a cocktail that I've never had before; a Dark & Stormy. It is approximately 1 1/2 oz of dark rum (preferably Goslings Black Seal) to 6 oz Ginger Beer with a twist of lime. It has just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of dark molasses & spice from the ginger. I think I had 2 or three that night.

Last night I re-created this recipe at home with Goslings & Reed's Ginger Beer that I bought by the 4-pack at Whole Foods.

Delicious again. I have a feeling this is going to be my cocktail of choice for the hot Memphis summers.

First Big Trip of the Year

I'm going to Seattle for business. Seattle is a city that I've always wanted to visit but just haven't gotten around to. Any recommendations for restaurants, wine bars, wine shops or anything at all?