Day 2 Eugene, Oregon - Power of Social Media

Day 2 really shows what you can accomplish with social media. From Wine Forums [WLTV] &  Twitter. Its amazing, when used properly the internet is great.

Day 2 started like any morning, I woke up and had a shower, its the only decent thing to do really.  Matt [@hogan777] had plans! to visit some of his local wine stores, since he has connections and all, I called up @colemannicole [aka Brandon Miller] and told him to meet us at the Broadway in Eugene [I have no idea where Downtown Im guessing?]  We met talked about wine and Brandon sold some of his wine to the fine merchant Angus.  After that we split up for mid afternoon lunch.

We met later on for our Bordeaux night of wine. Bordeaux Varietal is what I mean, and I must say I was impressed with the Okanagan Red I brought because well I've had the recent vintage of Osyoos Larose at tasting and its just differnt, but 04 in a magnum! in  a good state.  And Ben's Walla Walla he brought yeah pretty amazing.  and the two 01's great, and the Paso Robles fantastic.  Really everything everyone brought did its job and added so much to the education of wine.


BORDEAUX NIGHT OREGON 2010 - Eugene, Oregon [SmileDoc's House] (11/15/2010)
This was Bordeaux night in Eugene at a Local Orthodontist house, many a Bordeaux blend very delicious evening if I may say with a nice tour of the cellar private cellar

• 2008 Nk'mip Cellars Chardonnay Qwam Qwmt - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  
  Great Acid, Fresh Fruit, Peaches, Apples, Pears. Opening up with some Oak but still in Balance with the fantastic Acidity that the Okanagan can bring (89 pts.)
• 2001 La Bastide Dauzac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
  
  seemed to have lost my notes on this wine.
  
  Starting to brick, Med Intensity on the Nose, this wine was more elegant and feminne on the nose and palate, a Very Pure Cranberry Mid-Palate [which Brandon did mention] and then the finish was a little short This is a drink up now. But I still enjoyed it (89 pts.)
• 2004 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  
  From a Magnum
  
  This is what I would call more Bordeaux then any of the WallaWalla/Napa I have had with that nice "Roasted Red Peppers" and Cranberry/Raspberry palate/nose. Notes of Wood [cab franc] a nice wine. Opens up nicely too.
  
  From the Magnum has plenty of time left in it (90 pts.)
• 2003 Château de Cruzeau - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  
  Starting to Brick, Developing on the nose, Earth, Savory, Dark Chocolate, Bigger Round Palate. Quite Delicious (90 pts.)
• 2001 Château Lagrange St. Julien - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  
  A big wine, masculine power behind it, cassis, graphite, pain du bread or however the french put it.
  
  Showing very well, and still has time to age even more. (91 pts.)
• 2005 Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  
  Big Nose of Liquor, Umami/Savoury on the Palate Gorgeous Red fruit mixed with a little Dark, that Walla Walla brings, has great acid, that Walla Walla terrior just showing itself nicely
  
  Decanted for a while and still big (91 pts.)
• 2002 Justin Vineyard Isosceles Reserve - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
  
  Med+/Pronounced Nose, Starting to Develop, Cassis++ and Savoury Notes
  Taste Med Acid, Full Body, Liquor of Cassis, Blackberry Jam. You can feel the warmth of Paso Robles. A End of the Night time of wine big powerful and utterly Delicious. (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker


THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Day 1 of Eugene Oregon Trip

Woke up at 6am to Get to Oregon by 3pm, only 30mins Late. The Reason I had to make it on time was a friend [who I was staying with] hooked up a tasting at his friends private cellar. A big Napa Cab guy, which for me is great I don't drink a lot of Napa Cabs or for that matter USA in general just so expensive up here in canada, and most USA wineries don't discount as much to agents, then Taxes, and everything just sucks.

So it started by heading over to the his house on the hills of Eugene, which is pretty nice, big trees I was in love.  Then to the house and the Cellar.  Who doesn't love a good cellar tour.  This is in his kitchen/bar area, and custom built with a bank door which he mentioend he picked up from an auction or something.  Pretty Sweet eh, holds about 4000 bottles.  Since I was the guest I was allowed to pick any wine to drink, I saw a magnum of Opus One 1997 but I didn't want to open 1.5L of wine for 3 people so I found a 2001 Silver Oak.  I wanted something with age to find out how California does in the aging department.

Before we could drink a red we needed to drink a white, and Steve asked if I was a white wine drinking I told him I am, and asked about California Chardonnays, and maybe year and half ago I would be totally turned off, but my tastes are turning to enjoy some oak in my whites. Southern Rhone Viognier/Marsanne/Rousanne blends just luciously delicious yes please!  So we opened a 2006 Pahlmeyer. Good big and California but restrained and not over the top. So we open the Silver Oak, definitly some develop going on and having a med body, you know not in your face.  Very Refined, maybe a little to refined?  Now this is where the story gets good, he saw that I picked a silver oak and we were talking about it how people pick it because of his name and he felt sorry for me in a sense lol.  And Decided to open a bunch American Wines to show me what he likes and whats better Im guessing hah.

2004 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
2004 Peter Michael L'Esprit des Pavots
2004 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 

I must say my wine of the night was the Leonetti, great acid, sour ripe red fruits, dark fruit yummy.  The Peter Michael we drank after the Lewis which I think kinda of killed it, but Peter Michael was still pretty good. Then he sent us home with the wines and a wine for our Tuesday night pinot dinner as he could not make it!

Great Guy, thanks Steve! [and of Course Matt @hogan777 for the hookup]



WINES FROM STEVE'S PRIVATE CELLAR. - Hills of Eugene (11/14/2010)
A friend in eugene took me to one of his wine friends, and we visited his cellar approx 4000bottles, and this was a selection of what the 3 of us drank that evening.

• 2006 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  
  med lemon in colour, on the nose med intensity, mineral, oak, sweet corn
  T: med acid, full body, med+ intensity
  creamy meringue/lemon pie, apple, nutmeg/spice, apricot
  
  conc: good balance but definitely has oak (90 pts.)
• 2001 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley
  
  c: dark ruby
  a: med/med+ intensity, vegtal notes, dark fruit, showing signs of developing
  t: med acid, med body, med intensity, med+ finish
  graphite, cranberry
  
  conc: good wine with some developing character note as big as I was expecting. losing its inital fruit in a good state I would say (89 pts.)
• 2004 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
  
  a: med intensity, vegetal ripe, mushy peas,
  T: med+ acid, high tannin[silky smooth], full body, long finish
  dark currant jam/cassis
  
  conc: very delicious to me this is what I think of napa cab. (91 pts.)
• 2004 Peter Michael L'Esprit des Pavots - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
  
  Nose of Cab Franc comes shining through. med body, very refined and elegant. drinking after the lewis this is a refreshing drink (90 pts.)
• 2004 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  
  c: dark purple
  a: med +intensity
  floral, red fruit
  t: med+acid, high tannin, med+ intensity, long finish
  Grippy tannins, cranberry, opens up nicely over time dried flowers,
  
  conc: it has a very refreshing taste, the acid/cranberry just makes it so nice (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker


THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

USA & South America WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 5

Since in WSET class we usually pour Blind and I like to mark down on the side note to guess variety, good for practice ya know, so there is always one wine that throws ya for a loop, last week during the NZ/AUS/RSA it was the darn Yellow Tail Merlot, which I thought was a Syrah first of all.  This week it was a Russian River Zinfandel, and those subtle hints of Mint, which you know you could associate with Cab Sauv, and the ripe fruit with Cali.  So 5 for 6 ain't all bad.

Must say the Torrontes from Michel Torino was pretty darn tasting good body and "muscat" characters and for what 13.99? its fantastic QPR.

The Caramenere Blend, which is more Cab Sauv then Caramenere, but I can pick up that Caramenere like bam unless its just Chilean Terrior for Bordeaux reds, but its good Brambly and Leafy can't go wrong

Now Pinot Noir from Oregon, visited some Oregon wine peeps [@benkearney @hogan777 @pfortier2  ] and they were talking about 2007 being a good vintage that would be hard to make a bad wine.  This wine is pretty darn tasty. I dont think you could go wrong, I do have a 07 Riesling from Willamette I'm going to open monday so we shall see~


WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 5 USA & SOUTH AMERICA - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (8/3/2010)

• 2009 Viña Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva - Chile, Aconcagua, Casablanca Valley
  Clear, Pale Lemon Green Going to a Water Rim
  A: Clean, Pronounced Nose, Youthful
  Herbaceous/Green Pepper/Aspargus/Peas, Citrus
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med- Body, no tannin, Med Alc, Pronounced Intensity, Med+ Finish
  
  Conc: Inexpensive, Good Quality, Drink Now! NZ Styled lots of green (86 pts.)
• 2009 Michel Torino Torrontés Cuma - Argentina, Salta, Cafayate
  Clear, Med Yellow, Showing Significant Legs
  A: Clean, Pronounced Intensity, Youthful
  Floral, A Honey/Syrup floralness, Popuri, Very Muscat Like, Tropical hints of Banana, Mango
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Body, No Tannin, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Muscat like FloralGrapey, Peach, Tropical Fruit
  
  Conc: Very Good, Inexpensive, Showing well balance between acid/fruit/body excellent (88 pts.)

• 2007 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec - Argentina, Mendoza
  Clear, Opaque Core moving to a med ruby Rim, showing legs legs legs~
  A: Clean, Med Intensity, I say Showing Signs of Developing Teacher says Youthful nose
  Lil Meat, Lil Clean, Lil Savoury, Toast[Like it], Red Fruit, mineral, Stewed fruit
  T: Dry, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med+ Body to Full, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish
  Dark fruit Juicy, Cherry Skin, Raisony
  
  Conc: Mid Price, Good, Very fruit forward but A better showing of Malbec for me [not usually a fan] (87 pts.)
• 2008 Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley
  Clear, Deep Ruby, Showing Sig Legs
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity,
  Herbaceous[Tomato Stalk] Earth Soil, some fruit
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med Body, Med Intensity, Long Finish, Med+ Alc
  Ripe Juicy Cherry/Black, Herbaceous/more tom stalk, spice[Black Pepper]
  
  Conc: Very good, balance of body and acid, could use I think some more bottle age (89 pts.)
• 2007 Andrew Rich Pinot Noir Cuvée B - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Clear, Med- Ruby just starting to show signs of Garnet
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, developing
  Cherry, Sassparella, Some stems, dried strawberries, cigar smoke, 'haunting'
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Low Tannin, Med+ Body, Med+ Alc, Med Intensity, Med to med+ finish
  Chalky Mineral, Beautiful Cherry/Dried Strawberry, Sassparella Spice, Something else...Elegant
  
  Conc: Outstanding, Premium, Ready to drink but can develop a little more
  So Delicious I had to pretend to spit in WSET Class (92 pts.)
• 2006 Ravenswood Zinfandel Belloni - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  Clear, Deep Ruby going to a med ruby wide rim
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developing
  Savoury, Cassis, REd Fruit ,Black Raspberry
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med+ Body, high alc, med+ Intensity, Long Finish
  Ripe Herbs/ Minty, Cassis, Woodsy, Black Raspberry
  
  Conc: Very Good, I tihnk it could use some time to develop but very 'delicious' opens nicely with a little air (89 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker


THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

6days 2139km Later

Was on a 6 Day Wine Vacation, well it what I told the Canadian Border guard coming back and he didnt get me to pay the extra duty on the extra 3 bottles I brought back [only allowed 2 bottles, after that its about 117% Tax on the rest]

2136km [ 1327mi] in 6 Days
Vancouver > Seattle > Issaquah > Yakima > Kenniwick[aka TriCities] > Walla Walla > Portland > Mcminnville[Willamette Valley Wine Country] > Oregon Coast > Eugene > Home

BioDynamic workshop
wine dinner in Eugene
now on to transcribing all my notes, and going through over 700 pictures argh so many