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Wine of the Week, September 29, 2013


 CREME DE LYS CHARDONNAY 2011 CALIFORNIA $10.99

A word first about the meaning and importance of the wine term: vintage, the year in which a wine was produced. A particular wine can vary greatly from year to year, depending on the weather, the amount of rainfall, at what time of the growing season the grapes were picked (too early would mean increased acidity as opposed to late-harvest: a much sweeter grape), and many other factors. I'm thinking about a vineyard that was purposely flooded a week before harvesting in order to plump up the grapes. It increased the amount of  wine, but, of course, the flavor of the wine was diluted. So, the vintage is very important. Most wines are consistently good vintage after vintage, owing to the skill of the vintner. Creme De Lys Chardonnay exhibits lush flavors of tropical fruit, apple, vanilla, and a hint of butterscotch. Because of sur lie aging (cf Wine of the Week 9/8) in wooden casks, it has a creamy and buttery style. It is a mouthful. I would pair it with cream sauce recipes such as lobster thermidor and the many Alfredo sauce recipes. Other comparable wines here at Harney's are Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay.


Wine of the Week, September 22, 2013

OZV ZINFANDEL 2009 OAK RIDGE WINERY LODI, CALIFORNIA $13.99


What a remarkable wine! One of the best Zinfandels I have ever tasted! It only confirms that California produces the best Zinfandels worldwide. An interesting aside: DNA fingerprinting has traced the Zinfandel grape to the Primitivo grape as found in southern Italy, and further to a grape in Croatia. OZV (Old Zinfandel Vine) fully satisfies one's expectations: it is dark in color; full-bodied; robust; concentrated; with aromas and flavors of jammy raspberry, blackberry, plum, and mocha, and a hint of smoke (from the oak) and spicy black pepper. It has soft tannins, and a long, smooth finish. Once we have crossed a threshold of taste, there is no going back. OZV is a Zinfandel to which you will compare future Zinfandels.

Wine of the Week, September 15, 2013

MONTEBUENA RIOJA TEMPRANILLO 2010
$10.99/2 FOR $20.00

Rioja is a wine region in Spain which grows the Tempranillo grape (native to Spain) extensively. This is a big wine: 14% alcohol, boldly dry (not sweet; it is fruity, but not sweet), with deep concentration. It is light- to medium-bodied, with a beautiful ruby red color, with aromas and flavors of cherry, raspberry, plum, peppercorn, and vanilla. Because it is a relatively young wine, it could use about an hour of aeration during which time the flavor will expand. Remove the cork and busy yourself with the cooking. It would be interesting to take a sip upon opening the bottle, and then compare it with the taste an hour later. The difference is remarkable.

Wine of the Week, September 08, 2013

ACROBAT 2012 OREGON PINOT GRIS
$11.99


Another delicious, thoroughly-satisfying Pinot Gris (Grigio) from Oregon. Acrobat is so distinctively Oregonian in aroma, taste, and texture. Let me explain. It is aged for four months sur lie (on lees), which is the course sediment consisting mainly of dead yeast cells and small grape particles that accumulate during fermentation, which can be filtered out of a wine or allowed to settle at the bottom of (in this case) stainless steel vaults. In the hands of a vintner who knows what he is doing, a wine that ages sur lie gains in complexity: a creamy texture, with hints of honey, nuts, toasted bread. Acrobat has aromas and flavors of citrus fruits, pineapple, honeysuckle, melon, and apple, with a long finish. If I were to line up for a tasting Pinot Gris from Italy, Alsace (France), and Oregon, the differences of style - I enjoy all three - would become immediately apparent, and I wouldn't have to be going on and on with words: one taste is worth a thousand words.

Wine of the Week, September 01, 2013


14 HANDS RED BLEND 2011 COLUMBIA VALLEY
WASHINGTON STATE $10.99

I have already in the past reviewed 14 Hands Red Blend in this column. However, it has been out of stock for a while and this is a different vintage, and, I feel, it deserves a re-introduction. In general, red blends are made to be immediately drinkable. Just open and imbibe. I am partial to the red wines of Columbia Valley, as you can tell from previous reviews. Columbia Valley seems to bring out unique tastes that are unattainable elsewhere. Its Merlots are rivaled, in my opinion, only by Bordeaux, France and Tuscany, Italy . This vintage is a blend of Merlot, Syrah (Shiraz, it's the same grape), and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is soft, mellow, and smooth, with aromas and flavors of berries, plums, cherries, currants, and a hint of mocha. At $10.99, it is an outstanding value.