Archive for Tasting Notes

Weekday Bordeaux

Stop by the shop today as we’ll be tasting a great everyday drinking wine from Bordeaux.  Better yet, it has a bit of age on it to integrate the flavors.  And better still we bought up the last of it while it was on sale.

2015 Château Val Beylie, Plaisir Bordeaux  $15
75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organically grown grapes from estate vineyards just outside of St Emillion make up this unoaked Bordeaux.  Deep purple color with clean, fruit forward nose, smooth in the mouth with red berry candied fruit with hints of smoke and good acidity, nice and balanced on the finish.
Was $17 Now $15

Summer Shop Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6PM

A Pair of Pinot

We’re taking a break from the heat and chilled rosé to taste a two very different Pinot Noir.  Come with us as we wander away from the Willamette for a weekend.

Friday

2021 Vallepicciola, Pievasciata Pinot Nero  $20
Pinot Noir
Tuscany
The expressive aroma of the wine reveals hints of ripe cherries, raspberries, blackberries, spices, black pepper and herbs.  Its taste is warm, enveloping, soft, and pleasant, with characteristic fruity-spicy accents, rounded tannins, fresh acidity and a long aftertaste.

Saturday

2022 Giraudon, Bougogne Chitry  $22
Pinot Noir
Bargain Burgundy.  This lovely Pinot Noir is wonderfully aromatic, fruity and refreshing, year after year. We get red and dark berry fruits like currant, cranberry, and cherry, with earthy spice, lean acidity, and chalky tannins on the finish.

Summer Shop Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6PM

Heat Warning

It might be kind of toasty here this week.  Be prepared and stock up on lots of Rosé.  To help you start today we will be pouring Vera.  Come have a sip and chill out.

2021 Vera, Vinho Verde Rose  $11
80% Rabo-de-Anho , 20% Vinhao
Vinhão is tinturier (red pulp grape) hence the dark color. Rabo de Anho adds lightness and freshness to the blend. Floral, crisp, fresh strawberry and watermelon. Tastes like a summer Friday afternoon.
12% alcohol by volume

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6pm

Summer Sherry

Nothing is better than a few Tapas and some sherry on a summer afternoon in the garden.  Stop by the shop this Friday and Saturday as we’ll be tasting three dry sherries to tempt your palate. Bring your own olives and sardines.

Bodegas Dios Baco, Manzanilla  $14
100% Palomino
Aged for approximately 3 years in the traditional system of soleras and criaderas, this Manzanilla is bone dry, light and fresh, clean and crisp, with a delicate and refreshing acidity with hints of apple and straw and a nutty finish. 500ml

Marques del Real Tesoro, Del Príncipe Amontillado  $20
It is aged as a Fino for about 8 years, then further fortified and put into the Amontillado solera. It is released at around 16 – 18 years old. The Marques Amontillado del Principe is highly complex, with notes of hazelnut and walnut.

Marques del Real Tesoro, Almirante Oloroso  $20
A round, silky Oloroso aged for 15 years.  Classic aromas of hazelnuts and walnut cake, fruit pastry with prunes and dried pears, as well as cinnamon, toffee and candied orange peel.  The palate is dry but it feels nicely glyceric with an (imaginary) hint of sweetness. Raisins, red berry jam, figs, dates and toffee.

Summer Shop Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6PM

Put A Dog On It

This Portuguese red just arrived at the shop and it has our tails wagging.   Stop by on today and get a taste of it yourself.

2019 Kranemann Wine Estates, Hasso Douro Red  $15
Touriga Nacional,Tinta Roriz,Tinta Barroca
Ridgeback wine.   Ripe black fruit aromas and wild berries. Full-bodied, showing a great depth, structure, elegance, firm but soft tannins.

Summer Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Anfora

Wine aged in clay, or amphora, originated in what is now modern-day Georgia, around 6,000 years ago.  Clay is porous, so it does allow for some oxygen to effect the wine giving the wine a deep and rich texture, but without any oak flavors from barrels.  But this old technique is coming back into fashion.  This weekend we’ll be pouring two amphora wines for Piedmont that showcase the style.  Come have a taste as the jets fly over.

Friday

2022 Altre Vie Dolcetto d’Alba Anfora  $22
A gorgeous rendition of this varietal. The fruit is deep and dark, with a distinct earthy mineral imparted by clay amphora.
13% alcohol by volume

Saturday

2021 Altre Vie Roero Arneis Anfora  $20
Gentle and pleasant notes of white flowers and fresh nuts on the nose. An unexpectedly bright acidity on the palate for an Arneis, with aromas of stone fruits, minerality and a nice almondy finish.
13.5% alcohol by volume

Summer Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6PM

Two 2020 for $20

This weekend we are tasting a pair of French wines to match whatever festivities you have planned. Stop in and have a taste.

Friday

2020 Fond Croze, Rasteau $20
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
The full-bodied 2018 Rasteau offers up scents of raspberries and blackberries instead of plums and dark chocolate. Despite the wine’s power (15.5% alcohol on the label), it’s reasonably fresh and drinkable, with silky tannins and a lively finish.

Saturday

2020 Justin Girardin, Bourgogne Blanc $20
Chardonnay
Made from grapes from the Santenay area, this Chard has a good balance between aromatic complexity and freshness. It shows a pleasant nose filled with fruity notes. Rounded on the palate with typical volume expected of a Chardonnay before a beautifully mineral finish.

Summer 2023 Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6PM

Vieille Touring

We are running on our normal Summer Schedule this week and Patrick is back in today with a little Bordeaux to sample.

2019 Chateau De La Vieille Tour, Bordeaux Superieur  $15
42% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc
Aromas of ripe blackberries and cassis, together with black olives, bark and nut shells. Medium-bodied with polished tannins and bright, juicy-fruit character on the palate.  Organic

Summer hours:
Tuesday to Saturday
Noon to 6pm

We’re Back

We are in the shop today pouring an unusual Malbec high in the hills of Argentina.  Come have a taste.

2020 Zorzal Terroir Unico Malbec   $15
A very slatey version of Malbec.  This un-oaked, high-elevation Malbec shows old world elegance and structure. Black fruits and blueberries with spice and violets on the nose and finishes bright with good acidity and citrusy tannins.

This coming week we are back to our
Summer hours:
Tuesday through Saturday
Noon to 6pm

Stock Up

Patrick will be at the wine shop this Tuesday as usual BUT:

We’ll be CLOSED Wednesday, Thursday & Friday for a little vacation.
(July 19th, 20th & 21st)

We’ll be back Open on Saturday
(July 22nd)

On Tuesday as a little incentive to come see us we will be pouring:

2020 Poderi dal Nespoli, Prugneto Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore  $15
100% Sangiovese
Emilia-Romagna
This north-of-Tuscany Sangiovese has an intense bouquet of fine red fruits. On the palate, the freshness pairs well with soft tannins and notes of violet, cherry and plums. The finish is long and spicy.

Sorry for any inconvenience from this but it is time to get out of town.