2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir

Happy Saturday!  I had so much planned for today, but as I look back, I pretty much accomplished nothing on my list of chores.  That's all right though, weekends are meant for relaxing and I am feeling more relaxed this evening, so I'll call that a win!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, which I believe will be a great wine to pair with tonight's dinner and as a shareholder, I'm always happy to support my investments!  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful pale ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Pinot Noir.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, earthy peat, basalt and hints of peppery spice.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe red fruit, cherry, strawberry and currant that easily transition to some earthy notes of tar and basalt, with a good bit of peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, but still present a nice backbone for the smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a really pleasant example of a quality Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, with all the character and funk you'd expect.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from fresh salmon to Dungeness crab, hearty lamb shank to an earthy risotto.  Speaking of which, tonight I am pairing this wine with a new dish I've been anxious to try making, a hearty roasted beet risotto, topped with shaved parmesan and amaranth microgreens.  Cheers!

2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I know I didn't have a chance to post over the past week or so, but now I have a chance mid-week!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir.  As a proud shareholder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, it's always a pleasure to open a bottle, which in this case I found at my local Costco last weekend.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Pinot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, blackberry and plum amid earthy leather and a hint of oak.  The first sip is rush or ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry and currant that evolve to some notes of warm pepper spice and just a bit of funk midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, but offer a velvety smooth dry finish with a reprise of cherry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely right now, but might improve a bit over the course of the next year.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from salmon and seared tuna, to pasta or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an easy mid-week dish of tomato and mozzarella ravioli with some Italian sausage marinara.  Cheers!

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Happy Sunday!  Well, tonight I've brought out a forgotten bottle of wine, as apparently I've reviewed the 2018 vintage, the 2020 vintage and the 2021 vintage, but now I'm finally getting around to the 2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir!  As a loyal shareholder, I am a big fan of Willamette Valley Vineyards' wines, and although the whole cluster Pinot Noir is ideal and approachable on release, tonight we'll find out how they perform five years on!

The wine is a delightful ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl of my Pinot glass reveals aromas of raspberry, bing cherry, green cedar and a hint of eucalyptus.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant with just a bit of tartness that eases into some earthy notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a smooth, dry finish that lingers with a reprise of berry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of a solid Pinot Noir, that is approachable and ideal for pairing with a broad range of casual dinner fare.  This wine would be great with barbecue, pizza or tacos, grilled seafood or pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some miso glazed pan seared Coho salmon topped with microgreens, along with some farro and steamed broccolini.  Cheers!

2012 Lachini Willamette Valley Estate Pinot Noir

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month and new year, which makes it Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical day where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making, and tonight I have something a bit off the beaten path.  I bought a bottle of the 2012 Lachini Willamette Valley Estate Pinot Noir just a few months ago from Wines Till Sold Out, as it seemed a terrific bargain, so why not try some?  So, let's see what this Pinot Noir from the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon has to offer!

The wine is a deep rose color in the glass, somewhat lighter than your typical Pinot Noir.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, cherry, sweet lilac and hints of forest floor, a classic funky combination for this varietal.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe cherry that cascades through your palate, transitioning easily to some earthy elements of fresh cut grass and peat midpalate.  The tannins are quite subdued, but still bring forth a delightfully dry finish that lingers lightly for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, and although I am not the biggest fan of Pinot Noir, I find this wine to be an interesting departure.  As for pairings, this wine would pair well with a variety of aged cheeses, earthy dishes like wild mushroom risotto, or hearty winter favorites like Yankee pot roast or hearty beef stew.  Tonight I am taking that latter approach and enjoying this wine with some braised elk and bison short ribs on creamy mashed potatoes with some oven roasted carrots.  Cheers!

2021 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Happy Sunday!  As you may know, I've been a happy preferred shareholder of Willamette Valley Vineyards for a few years, so it's always a treat to review a wine that I have an equity interest in producing!  I previously reviewed the 2018 vintage here and the 2020 vintage here, so let's see what the current vintage has to offer!

The wine is a medium bodied ruby color in the glass with great clarity, just as you would expect from a nice Pinot Noir.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, plum and a hint of mint, with undertones of earthy peat and mineral notes.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe, sweet fruit, strawberry, currant and marionberry, that transition easily to some notes of black pepper spice, green tea and the faintest hint of tar midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and unobtrusive, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish, that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, though I think this wine is just a bit better than the 2020 vintage.  This wine is very approachable and would pair well with a range of dishes, from barbecue to Asian, but tonight I am taking a traditional Pacific Northwest approach.  I am enjoying this wine with a baked steelhead filet with lemon dill cream sauce, along with rive and some oven roasted baby carrots and leeks.  Pinot and salmon, you can't go wrong, cheers!

2017 Noirvana Pinot Noir

Happy Taco Tuesday (I bet you'll never guess what's for dinner tonight!) and let's have some wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of Michigan wine, and you know I'm not such a big fan of Michigan wines, but a friend of mine gave be this bottle for Christmas, and it's made by her boyfriend's family, so I had to give it a try.  The 2017 Noirvana Pinot Noir is from the Karma Vista Vineyards in Coloma, Michigan, so let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, just a touch darker than you might expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of cherry, currant, lavender and oak, with virtually none of the funk that's usually present with a Pinot Noir.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, strawberry and raspberry that transition to some classic earthy elements of tar and dusty limestone that are classically associated with the varietal.  The tannins are nicely developed and firm enough to support a supple dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's one of the better Michigan red wines I've tried, and likely would be a good comparison to many west coast Pinot Noirs.  This wine would pair well with a variety of more elegant dishes, from herb crusted rack of lamb, venison tenderloin or a classis risotto.  But, since it is Taco Tuesday, I am enjoying this wine with some steak fajita tacos, topped with cheese, sour cream and some fresh jalapeno.  Cheers!

2018 Domaine Deliance Givry 1er cru Clos Charle

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's certainly been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, so hopefully this is a good one.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle of Burgundy that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2018 Domaine Deliance Givry 1er cru Clos Charle is a pinot noir from the chalky limestone soils and cool climate of Givry.  I admit I've been on a bit of a pinot noir kick lately, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass, with great clarity, as you might expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases ample aromas of strawberry, sweet cherry and earthy peat with just the faintest hints of the classic Burgundy tar.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe berry fruit that eases gently to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are at first gripping, but then they soften to support the dry, supple finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Burgundy at a value price of just $27.  This wine would also pair well with some more challenging fare, from duck, to pork, Indian cuisine to chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a sesame grilled pork tenderloin along with oven roasted sweet potatoes and asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers! 

2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Well, it was an eventful Saturday, as I got the truck out and traveled to Illinois to move a windmill from my uncle's yard back to mine.  It was rather uneventful, as I prepared for the worst and had it removed and placed in the truck within about 10 minutes!  So, I got back early and had time to go to the hardware store and pick up some spray paint to repaint it before finding a spot to put it in the yard.  So, now that I have some time to sip some wine and make dinner, I've decided to open a bottle of 2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, which is a wine that I'm pleased to be an owner of, but also one that I think will go well with my classic Labor Day dinner.  So, let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is a wonderfully bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity to create such a gem like appearance.  A quick swirl in the glass releases aromas of strawberry, a bit of tart cherry and the faintest hint of rose petals.  Take a sip and you have a rush of tart cherry up front that eases into some earthy mineral notes with a bit of tar midpalate.  The tannins are supple, creating a base for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  This wine would pair well with a range of dished, from lamb to salmon, barbecue to asada beef tacos.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my classic Labor Day dinner, of steamed lobster and corn on the cob.  Back in my sophomore year of college, the Civil Air Patrol would sell live Maine lobsters for $5 each for a fundraiser, so our first weekend back on campus was always a lobster fest in our fraternity house.  Since my local market had live lobsters on sale today, I've recreated my Labor Day lobster dinner.  Cheers!

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir

Happy Sunday!  I apologize for not posting in over a week, but we had some thunderstorms roll through midweek, and although all my big trees survived, my home computer, printer and modem did not (the modem survived but now I only have wifi access to the web, no wired access).  But now everything is back online, so it's an ideal time to open up a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from Willamette Valley Vineyards, of which I am an owner, so I am very enthused to taste the 2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir.  This wine is sourced from the three estate vineyards, including the original vineyard in the Salem Hills, the Tualatin Estate and the Elton Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a pale garnet color in the glass with great clarity, just as you might expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of ripe berries, blackberry, currant and raspberry intermingled with dried herbs and a bit of minerality.  The first sip reveals a rush of sweet berry fruit that eases into some anise and a hint of spice midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing some backbone to the velvety dry finish that lingers for a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's the type of Pinot Noir that I enjoy sipping, vibrant fruit and minerality that is not overpowered by any sort of funk.  This wine would pair well with salmon, lamb or earthy mushroom dishes, or even a classic truffle mac and cheese.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pretzel crusted chicken breast along with a saffron potato puree and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir

Well, today was another day of work and errands, though I had time enough for a bike ride just before dinner, though I might have thought through that decision given temperatures in the upper 80s and 71% humidity! In any case, it's supposed to thunderstorm soon, so no patio dinner tonight, but there is still wine and dinner, and tonight I've opened a bottle that I picked up last week while in Grand Rapids, the 2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir.  This one is a special one, since I bought preferred stock in Willamette Valle Vineyards last year, which makes me a proud owner of the winemaker as well as the bottle!  So let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely, bright ruby color in the glass, with a decidedly gem-like character.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of blackberry, raspberry and currant intermingled with some earthy notes.  A sip reveals a cascade of dynamic fruit notes, with a rush of tart cherry that eases into some notes of marionberry with a hint of sweetness midpalate.  The tannins are supple, creating a velvety texture that makes the perfect base for the smooth finish, that's dry, but not abrupt.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant Pinot Noir for folks like me that prefer a heartier version.  The depth and texture of this one really makes it a new favorite for the varietal.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from lamb and duck, to an alder planked salmon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bison New York strip, topped with the very last of the season's garlic scapes and some blistered cherry tomatoes, along with an array of oven roasted root vegetables.  Cheers!

Eclipse Pinot Noir

Happy New Year!  It's been a rainy, sleet-filled day here, and now everything seems to have an eighth-inch coating of ice.  But things could be worse, we could be dealing with a pandemic, economic depression and deep social and political divisions, oh wait... In any case, to start the new year I've decided to open a bottle of wine that a friend of mine, Robert made.  There is no vintage, but he did make a pretty well designed label for his Eclipse wines (maybe this was during the eclipse, what year was that again?) and tonight I've opened a Pinot Noir that he crafted from grapes from Sonoma.  So, let's see if he should quit his day job!

The wine is a nice garnet color in the glass, with a lighter color and great clarity, as you might expect from a Pinot Noir.  After letting this one breathe for an hour or so, it's really opening up with aromas of black cherry, spice box and a hint of mint.  The taste is actually pretty good, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, cherry, blueberry and plum that transitions to some flavors of caramel and oak midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, for a soft, dry finish with a reprise of mint at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's actually surprisingly good given that this wine was homemade (my last experience with homemade wine was from my high school friend Nick, who's uncle Vuyo made white wine from grapes he grew on the south side of Chicago, which we affectionately referred to as Vuyo fluid).  This wine would pair well with lamb or pasta, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic New Year's dinner of king crab legs with drawn butter.  Cheers!

2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Well, this is a post I've been anxious to write, since I recently became a shareholder in this winery!  There are very few publicly traded wineries, but Willamette Valley Vineyards is one of them.  I recently bought some of their preferred stock (and by no means is this to be considered investment advice, please consult your own investment professional!) which has a lot of benefits for being a shareholder, including wine discounts, special events at the wineries, and a bonus of you choose to receive your preferred stock dividend as a wine credit!  

So since I'm now a proud shareholder, I searched around and finally found a bottle of wine to taste tonigh, the 2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, so let's see if my investment is paying off!

The wine is a brilliant ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you would expect from a nice pinot noir from Oregon.  The nose is a pleasant rendering of lovely floral and herb notes, lavender, lilac and hints of orange blossom and mint with earthy undertones.  The taste is a rush of lovely red fruit, cherry, plum and lingonberry washing over your palate before transitioning to some wonderful earthy notes of tar and tobacco midpalate, with a bit of white pepper spice at the end.  The tannins are expertly structured to provide a wonderfully smooth, dry finish that lingers with w bit of fruit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this Pinot noir falls into the category that I like, lighter but full of great flavor (a Pinot that us Cabernet lovers can get behind!) and it was also a darn good value at just $22 here locally.  This wine would pair well with the classic Oregon fare, salmon, Dungeness crab and fantastic Thai food, and tonight I've gone one of those routes.  I'm enjoying this wine with a nice Alder planked wild Alaskan sockeye served with some mango, pineapple and jalapeno salsa and some black beans and rice.  Cheers! 

2017 Megan Anne Pinot Noir

 Happy Sunday!  I admit I've been slacking on by blogging duties, but I've been battling a cold which has inhibited my wine reviewing.  But tonight I've opened a bottle of Pinot Noir (those of you paying attention will note that I'm not the biggest pinot fan, but what the heck!), this one the 2017 Megan Anne Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, which is Mark Ryan's label for Oregon Pinot Noir.  I bought several bottles of this vintage from Wines Till Sold Out, when I saw the offer at nearly half price, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a little richer in color than many Pinot Noirs, but still with great clarity and a nice crimson color.  The nose is chock full of ripe red fruit, cherry and marionberry, with earthy aromas of peat and tar, with a ribbon of vanilla strung throughout.  The taste is a rush of cherry and raspberry that bows to some vanilla and caramel intermingled with earthy peat midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but well structured for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, which it pretty high for a varietal that's not my favorite.  This wine would pair well with a variety of lighter dishes, from classic halibut, Dungeness crab or wild mushroom risotto, but I think it might also pair well with game, such as venison.  Tonight I am taking that route, enjoying this wine with a rare seared bison filet mignon with a rather whimsical pairing of tater tots and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

Fruit Hills Winery Marquette - Non-Vintage

Happy Friday!  We are really getting down to the wire, just 2 days left until Christmas!  I have another big get together planned for tomorrow, so it will be a full day of cooking, but don't fear, I'll probably have enough time for one more post before the big day.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I bought from a local producer about 7 miles from here, Fruit Hills Winery.  They source a lot of grapes from other locations, but I tend to focus on the wines made from local fruit (that being Indiana and Michigan!).  The Marquette is a blend of grapes from their vineyard in Bristol, Indiana (mostly Cabernet Franc) along with Marquette grapes from Michigan.  For those unfamiliar, Marquette is a hybrid released by the University of Minnesota in 2006 that traces its roots to Pinot Noir, so that's what makes this a good wine for tonight's dinner!

The wine has a lighter body, very similar to a Pinot Noir.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, plum and red raspberry, along with a bit of that funk that Pinot fans are so familiar with.  The taste is a rush of green grass and floral notes that transition to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat muted, leaving a finish that is somewhat sharp but still dry.  Very much a Pinot Noir type wine!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's not really spectacular, but it is quite versatile when it comes to food pairings.  This wine would pair well with Christmas ham or turkey, a variety of chicken dishes, or seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some fresh sea scallops seared in toasted sesame oil along with buccatini tossed with broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2007 Louis Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Chapelle

Happy April Fools Day!  No, I'm not joking on this post, but at least it's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  That fun day when I open a bottle that's at least a decade old that's been waiting to be tried.  Today was a day of spreading mulch around the yard, so full of earthy aromas, which means it's probably appropriate to enjoy a nice earthy pinot noir from Burgundy tonight!  And for this Cellar Saturday, I've opened a bottle of 2007 Louis Boillot Volnay 1er Cru from Clos de la Chapelle, one of the 30 premier crus from Volnay.  I believe I may have received this wine as a gift from my boss, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is very light in color, almost appearing like a rose.  The nose is a lovely combination of bright red berries, floral notes and a heaping helping of earthy goodness.  The taste is interesting, as you have a good bit of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry, mulberry, that has a nice balance of acidity, before you transition to some wonderful earthy mineral notes.  The finish is quite dry but very elegant, with a reprise of mild acidity from the very well integrated tannins.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Burgundy, but unfortunately I'm not the biggest fan of pinot noir.  This wine would be fantastic with lamb, mushroom risotto or about any hearty, earthy dish.  Tonight I am enjoying this with some classic comfort food, stuffed cabbage!  I used to love my mom's stuffed cabbage, but I put on a little twist simmering it with some arrabiata sauce and top with a bit of shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2006 Hendry Napa Valley Pinot Noir

Happy Saturday!  Well it's the first Saturday of February, which of course means it's "Cellar Saturday" when I get to raid the cellar for a bottle of wine that's had a bit more time to mature, a decade at least.  So tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Hendry Napa Valley Pinot Noir that my boss gave me last year.  Now Napa is known more for Cabernet than Pinot, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a lighter garnet color, somewhat darker and with a bit more of a brownish tint than your typical Pinot,  The nose is classic Pinot, with a rush of ripe strawberries and plums overlaid with some mineral notes and a bit of smoke.  The taste is actually quite nice, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, strawberries, cherries, and currant, that transition to some notes of green cedar and basalt midpalate.  The finish was quite nice, with smooth tannins and a very nice, long dry finish that has nice acidity but doesn't have the harshness that some Pinots can exhibit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very enjoyable Pinot Noir from a region that's really not known for the varietal.  This wine would pair with a variety of dishes, from lamb to seafood, but tonight I'm enjoying it with an old school seafood Newberg, a wonderful combination of scallops, shrimp, mussels and crab in a decadent sherry cream sauce served over puff pastry.  The acidity in this wine is perfect to counter the richness of the sauce.  Cheers!

2013 King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir

Happy Hump Day!  I just got back from the gym and now I've popped a pizza in the oven, so what wine to open?  How about a nice Oregon Pinot?  In this case it's a bottle that my friends brought last weekend and left for me (along with a water bottle and a sparkly hair apparatus), the 2013 King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir, so let's see how it is!

The wine is a bit lighter in color, with bright ruby color, classic Pinot.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, tar and that classic Pinot twang (which can best be described as a combination of tart cherry, burnt toast and barnyard).  The taste is pretty nice for a Pinot (and you know I'm not the biggest Pinot fan), with a rush of tart cherry, currant and some pepper spice that transition to some notes of tobacco and a hint of vanilla midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with a reprise of tart fruit on a long, smooth and dry finish, that seems to linger a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice example of the varietal, but not spectacular,  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from salmon to dungeness crab, to a classic pot roast.  But tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a thin crust pizza with spicy sausage and caramelized onions, as the tart fruit in the wine is a perfect foil to the richness of the pizza.  Cheers!

2011 Clos du Tue-Boeuf La Caillere Cheverny

Happy Friday!  It's been a very busy week and I am ready to relax!  So what's more relaxing than opening a bottle of wine?  Tonight I've decided to open up another bottle of by boss' reject wines, this one a Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley of France, the 2011 Clos du Tue-Boeuf La Calliere.  So let's see what this one has to offer.

The color is very light in the glass, typical of an old world Pinot Noir.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, fresh strawberry, dried herbs, tamarind and musty earth.  The taste is a good bit of tart cherry up front that transitions into some smoke and earthy notes midpalate. The tannins are fairly mellow, leading to a fairly long, smooth, dry finish with just a bit of a reprise of red fruit at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's nothing spectacular, but keep in mind that I am not a huge Pinot fan.  This would be a nice summer sipper, to enjoy on the patio, and would pair well with a variety of lighter dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with a grilled chicken breast over mixed greens with some oven roasted Yukon Gold fingerling potatoes.  Cheers!

2013 Domaine J. Meuret Les Chenes Pinot Noir

Happy Saturday!  I am simply exhausted!  I started the day running errands, then I planted all of my impatiens in the only flower bed I have that is devoted to annuals and mow that my back is killing me, I've decided to open a bottle of wine with dinner.  Thankfully, I received my wine club shipment from Maison Bleue on Friday, and included in the shipment were a couple bottles of 2013 Domaine J. Meuret Le Chenes Pinot Noir from the Phelps Creek Vineyard in Oregon.  The name "Lew Chenes" means "the Oaks" in French, which I can certainly relate to given the many oaks in my yard, but it was actually named for the many white oaks in the vineyard which was planted in 1990.  So let's see how this wine stacks up!

The wine is a lovely pale red color in the glass, a classic Pinot Noir.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, cassis, tobacco and cedar, certainly not your typical Oregon Pinot, but much more reminiscent of a great burgundy.  The taste is simply wonderful, with some lovely red fruit notes up front, cherry, red plum, earthy mineral notes and wonderful spice.  The tannins are very well structured and integrated, creating a long. seductive and dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, and you know I'm not a huge Pinot Noir fan!  This wine would be perfect with roast pork tenderloin, classic salmon or duck, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bacon wrapped Angus filet mignon, with grilled asparagus and a baked potato, and I must admit this wine was a perfect accompaniment!  Cheers!

2013 Origami Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Black Friday!  Tonight amidst all the hubbub, I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Origami Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, as I recently bought a case from Wines Till Sold Out.  I must admit this was not at all what I was expecting from a '13 vintage Napa Cabernet, in fact at first glance it appears to be a very nice Pinot Noir, with very light body and classic Pinot aromatics.  So let's see how things develop!

As mentioned this is a very light bodied wine, with lovely ruby color in the glass.  The nose is everything a pinot should be, lovely ripe red fruit, raspberries, tart cherries, green grass and dusty limestone.  The taste is such a mind blowing reversal, as your nose has you fully prepared for a Pinot and the taste is all Cabernet, with a blast of ripe red fruit, cherry, blackberry and raspberry, that transitions to some lovely vanilla bean, cardamom and oak notes midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with rather subdued tannins providing a nice base for the long, smooth dry finish that beckons another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it doesn't seem like it at first, but this is a wonderful Cabernet that plays mind games on the nose.  Although this would be a great wine with red meat, tonight I am enjoying this with a more Pinot inspired pairing with snow crab legs, drawn butter, cornbread and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!