Blog Archives
When Alsace Drinks Like Burgundy (Wait…Nah.)
Actually, why compare the Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir 2016 Les Jardins to Burgundy? Like in Oregon, it’s time to say Pinot Noir (especially from a storied locale like Alsace in France) don’t need that “Burgundian” comparison so abused it should really be retired because it’s completely irrelevant. (Also there’s plenty of Burgundy thats, well, not [More]
Wow, These Are Some Killer Washington Wines
I went to a “Meet the Makers” Visit Seattle event at Filson’s flagship NYC store in Union Square and soaked in the idyllic and nostalgic Pacific Northwest vibe. One of the highlights, of course, was the selection of Washington State wines available to sample. And I have to say, I was fairly gobsmacked by many [More]
Spätburgunder Spotlight (Spätlight?)
Can’t say I’ve had a lot of German Pinot Noir. So when I had the chance to attend a dinner celebrating Spätburgunder (that’s the country’s name for Pinot Noir), there was no way I was missing it. Hearty thanks to Icy Liu for the invitation. (Her IG is full of incredible wines.) Our Master of Ceremonies [More]
Thoughts on Chile Inspired by Winemaker Rodrigo Soto
I met Rodrigo Soto back in 2012 when I was visiting the Veramonte winery in Chile. (Sidebar: they have a really cool antique corkscrew collection there.) He’s been at the forefront of converting vineyards to organic farming for the Ritual, Neyen, Primus, and Veramonte labels. Recently I had a chance to reconnect with him for [More]
The New Best $15 Pinot Noir
Probably/definitely blasphemous, but I liken the task of finding a Pinot Noir 15 bucks or less to that of the quest for the Holy Grail. So when I picked up a bottle of Les Deux Moulins Pinot from the Loire Valley, I had a bit of trepidation. Though I was cautiously optimistic, because I had [More]
The 2002 Antica Terra Pinot Noir is a Decade-Old Delight
It’s been a banner couple of months for me and aged Oregon Pinot, and the 2002 Antica Terra Pinot Noir was no exception. It started a little funky at first, but after being open for a while, really hit its stride. What’s really curious about this wine is that it came in a 500ml bottle. [More]
Oregon Pinot Noir for an Oregon Coast Sunset
At a recent tasting of wines from Anam Cara Cellars I was really struck by their 2008 Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir. It has become one of my favorite values in Oregon Pinot Noir. Now, do not equate value with cheapness. Yes, it’s over 20 bucks. But for the level of complexity and finesse, it is [More]
The 2007 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Hits the Mark
Drinking the 2007 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvée at The Inn at Langley was not only pleasurable, but thought-provoking. The 2007 vintage in Oregon for Pinot Noir was characterized in great part by the large amounts of rain towards the end of the grape-growing season. The critical reports at the time were not encouraging. [More]
