Thursday, December 16^th

5:30-7:30pm

With maker Steven Westby

Witness Tree Vineyard is a 100-acre estate in the Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley named for an ancient oak which towers over the vineyard. Steven Westby is the winemaker and vineyard manager for Witness Tree and can often be found on a tractor or out walking the vineyard, checking on the crop. His use of low yields in the vineyard and minimal handling in the winery create wines of depth, elegance, concentration, and character. Come give them a sip.

2010 Witness Tree Pinot Blanc $15
Pinot Blanc is grown in very small quantities in the Willamette Valley. Witness tree has two and a half acres in production. This limited bottling offers delightful fruit flavors reminiscent of apple and pear, balanced beautifully by a crisp refreshing acidity.

2010 Witness Tree Chardonnay $15
The Witness Tree Chardonnay is a blend of estate-grown Davis 108 clone, coupled with a bit of Dijon clone fruit farmed at the Stand Sure Vineyard. Upon opening the wine brings intense aromas of pineapples, mangos and other juicy tropical fruits. As it is a cooler vintage, the acidity is a bit higher-toned, yet in complete balance with fruit and alcohol content. In the mouth the wine shows exceedingly vibrant acidity balanced by a rich, very full mouth-feel of more tropical fruit, butterscotch and a kiss of toasted French oak.

2010 Witness Tree Estate Pinot Noir $25
Deep garnet in color, the Witness Tree Estate Pinot Noir is powerful and yet full of grace with aromas of dark, primary fruits with intense perfume and spice driven qualities. On the palate the wine is round, full and satiny with notes of black cherries, rhubarb, dried herbs and baking spices. The finish is fresh and clean with well-integrated tannins and acid. Though drinking well in its youth, it will definitely reward the patient cellarer.

2012 Witness Tree Dolcetto Remari $20
The Dolcetto comes from a 1.6 acre site exhibiting big grapey, sassy flavors! Its considerable “slurpy factor” makes it a wonderful cocktail wine, while its natural acidity gives it the power to pair exceptionally well with all kinds of cuisine. It is an interesting twist on the Piedmonte varietal. Only 48 cases were made.

We still have a few spots for our Grower Champagne Tasting this afternoon at 5:30pm.

$20 per person (plus tax). $15 (plus tax) for Wine Club Members and one guest. AND any wine ordered or purchased during the tasting is 10% off.

Here is what we will be tasting this afternoon:

Champagne is a world ruled by the big houses that buy juice from a lot of different growers and blend it to make consistent wines that vary little from year to year. Grower Champagnes or Farmer Fizz on the other hand are wines made by small estates that grow their own grapes, make the wine themselves and blend out of their own stocks. The wines are more distinct, personal, and surprisingly delicious.

Sunday evening, we’ll be pouring a selection of these special wines. Champagne lover and aficionado, Leanne Beane will be with us to share her knowledge and enthusiasm. We’ll also have light appetizers to accompany the wines. We’ll also be offering 10% off all wines purchased that evening. It’s a great start to the holidays.

R. H Coutier Brut Tradition Grand Cru — $45
Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims
60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Organic
Produced entirely from Grand Cru grapes the Brut Tradition shows rich, leesy fruit obtained through extended bottle aging prior to disgorging. Quite vinous in texture, it is full and long with crisp apple fruit notes on the finish and showing some toasty notes in the nose.

Etienne Chére, Brut Traditions — $48
Valee de la Marne
40% Chardonnay, 30 % Pinot Noir , 30% Meunier
Etienne Chéré vineyards have been passed down in the family since the late 1800’s. Their Brut Tradition, mainly from the 2006 harvest, is a good, well-structured Champagne is very expressive with a full body, and notes of vanilla and wiffs of smoky brulee.

José Michel & Fils Brut Tradition — $40
Moussy, Côtes des Blancs
60% Pinot Meunier, 40% Chardonnay
Michel’s Brut is composed of reserve wines that are 5 or 6 years old. The wine has great toast on the nose, along with ripe but crisp lemon and some orange zest followed by a full bodied mouthfeel and a long finish.

Alain Bailly Grande Reserve Brut Holiday Special Pricing — $30
Serzy-et-Prin Marne
60% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Sixth generation growers, Bailly’s estate consists of 12 hectares composed of eighty vineyard plots. The Grande Reserve has a golden tint, fine mousse, very full bouquet mingles toast, figs, fresh bread, and structured vinous aromas full of richness and freshness.

Colin, 2004 Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru — $60
Colin is a family run Estate with a total of 30 acres. The grapes from the 2004 Blanc de Blanc come from Grand cru vineyards in Cramant and Oiry. This vintage has a pale gold colour and a light and subtle nose, with white fruits and flowers flavour. It seduces with its fresh and fruity palate. A pleasant champagne, sagely measured. –Hachett Guide

Champagne is a world ruled by the big houses that buy juice from a lot of different growers and blend it to make consistent wines that vary little from year to year. Grower Champagnes or Farmer Fizz on the other hand are wines made by small estates that grow their own grapes, make the wine themselves and blend out of their own stocks. The wines are more distinct, personal, and surprisingly delicious.
Sunday evening, we’ll be pouring a selection of these special wines. Champagne lover and aficionado, Leanne Beane will be with us to share her knowledge and enthusiasm. We’ll also have light appetizers to accompany the wines. We’ll also be offering 10% off all wines purchased that evening. It’s a great start to the holidays.

Space is limited so please call or email us to save you a spot.

R. H Coutier Brut Tradition Grand Cru — $45
Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims
60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Organic
Produced entirely from Grand Cru grapes the Brut Tradition shows rich, leesy fruit obtained through extended bottle aging prior to disgorging. Quite vinous in texture, it is full and long with crisp apple fruit notes on the finish and showing some toasty notes in the nose.

Etienne Chére, Brut Traditions — $48
Valee de la Marne
40% Chardonney, 30 % Pinot Noir , 30% Meunier
Etienne Chéré vineyards have been passed down in the family since the late 1800’s. Their Brut Tradition, mainly from the 2006 harvest, is a good, well structured Champagne is very expressive with a full body, and notes of vanilla and wiffs of smoky brulee.

José Michel & Fils Brut Tradition — $40
Moussy, Côtes des Blancs
60% Pinot Meunier, 40% Chardonnay
Michel’s Brut is composed of reserve wines that are 5 or 6 years old. The wine has great toast on the nose, along with ripe but crisp lemon and some orange zest followed by a full bodied mouthfeel and a long finish.

Alain Bailly Grande Reserve Brut Holiday Special Pricing — $30
Serzy-et-Prin Marne
60% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Sixth generation growers, Bailly’s estate consists of 12 hectares composed of eighty vineyard plots. The Grande Reserve has a golden tint, fine mousse, very full bouquet mingles toast, figs, fresh bread, and structured vinous aromas full of richness and freshness.

Colin, 2004 Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru — $60
Colin is a family run Estate with a total of 30 acres. The grapes from the 2004 Blanc de Blanc come from Grand cru vineyards in Cramant and Oiry. This vintage has a pale gold colour and a light and subtle nose, with white fruits and flowers flavour. It seduces with its fresh and fruity palate. A pleasant champagne, sagely measured. —Hachett Guide

Saturday, October 27^th — 2pm

Come by this Saturday when we will be pouring some tasty wines from Oregon and Washington. The Northwest is bursting with great wine and we’ve rounded up these examples that have great quality and are modestly priced. Come wet your whistle. Local oenophile Steven Brown will be on hand to tell you all about them.

2011 Anne Amie Pinot Gris $18
From Yamhill-Carlton and the Chehalem Mountains the grapes for Anne Amie’s showcase the heart of the Willamette Valley. The cooler 2011 vintage was great for white wines. Their Pinot Gris has intensely aromatic floral notes that give way to a palate of Asian pear, Meyer lemon and rose petal. The body is balanced and crisp,

2008 Vista Hills Winery, Treehouse Pinot Noir $20
Vista Hills is a 40 acre estate in Oregon’s Dundee hills that uses a consortium of winemakers. The 2009 Treehouse was produced by Dave Petterson at Panther Creek Cellars who also manages Vista Hills. The Treehouse Pinot Noir offers an earthy nose with notes of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, plum and nutmeg on the palate. Round tannins provide sturdy length and structure. It is a good example of Oregon Pinot at a great price.

2008 Cana’s Feast Brico Red $15
Located in Carlton Oregon, Cana’s Feast specializes in Italian varietals. The fruit for the Brico red comes from Coyote Canyon, Ciel du Cheval vineyards in Columbia Valley. This Sangiovese-predominant blend is a full-bodied and lively wine with zesty Old World appeal that is complemented with a rich and full palate more often expressed in the New World.

2008 St. Laurent Winery, Syrah $16
Fruit growers who expanded out into grapes and then wine, the folks at St Laurent make some tasty Washington wines at quite reasonable prices. The Syrah comes from their Wahluke Slope vineyard which they sustainably farm. Bright and flavorful, this Syrah has a juicy mouthful of dark blackberry and raspberry with hints of spice. It was barrel aged for 18 months mostly in French oak with 21% of that being new.

2008 Bunnell Family Cellars, Mourvedre $36

After winemaking at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Beringer and Kendall-Jackson, Ron Bunnell turned his hand to making his own wine. Bunnell specializes in small handmade lots of wine from Rhône Valley grape varieties. The Mourvedre, from Northridge Vineyard on Wahluke Slope, has aromas of white pepper and grapefruit pith, soft tannins, complex flavors of cassis and Rainier cherries, white pepper, star anise with a hint of grapefruit rind.

A few of the things we love in wine are small producers, older vines, sustainable practices, and great quality value. These all play second fiddle to pure hedonic pleasure, but there is no reason to not have it all. This Saturday we’re tasting some wonderful French wines that fill the whole bill. They come to us from Wine Traditions, a small but discerning importer who specializes in all the above. Come discover them for yourself.

2011 Château Magneau, Graves Blanc $14
45% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillion, 15% Muscadelle
Château Magneau has been run by the Ardurat family since before the reign of Henri IV. Its 30 year old Bordeaux vines are sustainably farmed without chemicals. Muscadelle used in a small proportion gives the wine an extroverted and inviting bouquet. Semillon offers both ripe stone fruit flavors and a rich texture on the palate. Sauvignon Blanc adds melon and citric flavors and provides a clean citric finish to the wine. The result is a full bodied wine with a nice progression of mixed fruit, clean citrus and rich texture.

2011 Domaine Les Grands Crays, Viré-Clessé $20
Clos du Chateau ,Chardonnay
In Viré-Clessé in the Haut-Maconnais, Dominique Terrier farms 20 hectares of vineyards, sending 25% of his crop to the local co-op and vinifing the rest himself. Clos du Chateau comes from the estate’s upper parcels (average age 40 years). The soils are very stony with some veins of flint and very little topsoil. Vinification is done using indigenous yeasts. The wine then rests sur lie until bottling. The Clos has a big voluptuous body with herbal and mineral notes throughout and a clean citrus core. It’s an amazing Burgundy for the money.

2009 Château Jouclary, Cabardès $12
Merlot, Syrah, Grenache
Cabardès gets influences from both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean creating a unique clime allowing it to grow these differently suited varietals. Merlot supplies the backbone of the wine, while the old vine Grenache and Syrah from the stony upper hillside contribute ripe flavors and warmth on the palate. The wine has fine mineral aromas and deep dark fruit.

2002 Chateau Guerosse, St. Emilion Grand Cru $30
85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc 
Chateau Gueyrosse has slightly under 5 hectares vineyards of 40 year old vines that they farm without any chemicals. Yields are kept exceptionally low. It undergoes a long maceration of 3 to 5 weeks. The wine is aged in tank for 1 to 3 months and then in older barrels for 18 more. The 2002 is showing lovely fruity aromas, and a good full structured body with a long finish. It is aged and ready to drink.

2008 Loupiac- Gaudiet, Loupiac $16 / 500ml
80% Semilon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
Château Loupiac-Gaudiet dates from the 15th century in the village of Loupiac directly across from the appellations of Barsac and Sauternes. Harvesting is done in stages to allow botrytis to fully affect the grapes and concentrate the sugars. The wine is one of delicate flavors and pristine balance. It is a lovely desert wine with good fruit and noble rot at a better price than a Sauterne.