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)

A Tinto Velasco Wine [Blened With Syrah]

...the other [group] is the Tinto Velasco variety, in which the predominant anthocyanin is 3-G-delphinidin, the initial anthocyanin in this route. Also, 3-Gcyanidin predominates over 3-G-peonidin in the Tinto Velasco variety due to weak FMT enzyme activity

The last group, which is quite different from the other samples, consists solely of the Tinto Velasco variety. This is characterized by a much higher proportion of 3’5’-hydroxylated than 3’-hydroxylated anthocyanins, which sets it apart from the Rojal, Gordera Roja and Teta de Vaca Tinta varieties. But it also differs from the other varieties in that, instead of 3’5’-hydroxylated anthocyanins predominating, 3-G-delphinidin and its derivatives predominate over all other 3’5’-hydroxylated anthocyanins because FMT enzyme activity is weaker.
Read Full Study [6pages]

Now that I have your attention, firstly let me say I don't fully understand all that technical stuff but its to make a point about this wine.  Especially the first image, the graph, I mean when I saw that [after Google'ing the Tinto Velasco Grape] it made sense as to why the wine tasted the way it did I mean look it is way outside of the range of the "Normal" Grapes, especially comparing to Tempranillo.

The Wine I had was a blend of Tino Velasco and Syrah, the aroma and flavours I was picking up from this wine was so interesting that well it made me think.  A wine so different then what we normally drink, yeah a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are different, but this is just way out there in Left Field, or as the chart shows top middle, in no mans land.

As you can see below from the note below I was definitely picking up Syrah notes, a more Rhone like style, and then the other flavour that just bam hit ya, you don't usually associate watermelon with a red wine maybe a rose.

Blogging Format Tasting Notes

• 2007 Bodegas El Linze Vino de la Tierra de Castilla El Linze - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla (3/6/2010)
  Colour: Dark Purple
  
  Day 1
  Aroma: Big intensity, the most interesting nose I have had in a while, a unique fruit, Almost Cherry/Watermelon Rind. Like A Lip Gloss you would fine at A Sephora store in Vancouver, little meatyness too
  
  Taste: Earth, Candied Fruit, Watermelon Rind, Cherry, Little Oak Use
  Med Acid, Med minus body, lots of tannins grippy
  
  Day2
  Aroma: Charcoal, Perfume [Almost Quince Like]
  Taste: Meaty, Charcoal, Red Fruit Cherry/Cranberry something Flowery (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)

Kid in a Candy Store

For me there are a couple of place where I can feel like a 'Kid in a Candy Story' one being Ming Wo Cookware shop looking for Chef Cooking Goods, Another is the Mikuni Truck mmmm, then there are the related a Really Good Wine Shop and Being at the winevault.ca and a palate of rare/old wines just sitting there, 1970s Ausleses', 1980 Cali Chards, in hidden inside Cases of Old Burgundies and Bordeaux 50s 60s etc.

I store my wine at the WineVault and don't often head down into the basement, but I was there for a wine tasting event, and there just happened to be some old wines I had to get my camera, this is jsut what was on top of the 40 or so cases that has been donated to the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival Gala Auction.

Enjoy

BC [Okanagan Namely] VQA Trade Tasting.

Twice a year the VQA [Vinters Quality Assurance] sponsors these events to try the new releases, Fall being more reds, spring being more whites. I must say that the quality of wine is really progressing a lot more being "drinkable" meaning I would pay money for them. Some that Jancis Robsinson Raved about I didn't find to be that "awesome" they were good But I found them to be too one dimensional.

Tasted A lot but these are the ones that stood out. Also helped out the old friends from the Restaurant.

Random Pictures, including after events har har.....to much to drink


Some Standout Wines and Wineries

8th Generation [German Wine Maker / Grower]
Pinot Gris 2008 [Really Nice Acidity Thumbs up for me]
Rose 2008 [Fantastic Sold Out and 2009 has a waiting list from my understanding]
Merlot [Don't know Vintage But really nice]

CedarCreek Winery
In Generally All Wines Doing pretty well
2007 Merlot [Big Wine, Big Tannins, Good purity of fruit]
Plantium Chard 2007 [Oaked for sure in French Oaked I generally Don't like Chard or Oaked Whites heh]

Chandra Estate Winery
Chardonnay "Yue" 2006 [A Chardonnay I liked, Hint of Oak very nice Good value too]

Clos Du Soleil Winery
Never heard of this Winery, Had a good looking blond pouring so OF Course I had to try the wine.
Red 2007 [Man what a fantastic wine it actually made me stop and think about it, did some research after the event seen its good some good reviews from local wine critics defintly a buy]

Garry Oaks
Really Impressed with there Wines
Pinot Noir [Red Fruit, Spice good purity of fruit tho Cranberry, Strawberry ,Rhubarb]
Pinot Gris [Love it good Acidity]

Mission Hill
Compendium 2006 [Drinking Nicely, smooth touch of fruit, dark chocolate]
Quatrain 2006 [A merlot Syrah blend, Syrah very syrupy coming through smooth creamy, fruit]
Oculus 2006 [BIG MASSIVE WINE, almost not drinkable, no point in opening this anytime soon the Tannins are just massive good fruit coming through tho]

Poplar Grove Winery
The 2005 Merlot and Legacy showing very nice currently [Just opened a 2004 Merlot which was Fantastic, you can ask Kim and Vibemore about it!]

Quails Gate Estate Winery
Heard Lots of good things about there Pinot Noir, they were pouring both of theres
Definitely a new World style play
Pinot Noir 2007 [Raspberry Coulis very nice]
Pinot Noir 2007 Reserve [Same profile as regular but a lot smoother]

Road 13
Viognier Rousanne Marsanne 2008 [Really Impressive]
Jackpot Syrah 2007 [Jancis Robinson Liked this wine, has those Rhone Qualities minerality fruit]

Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery
Both Bubblies I love Blanc de Blanc really good
Cipes Brut NV
Organic Cipes Gabriel Blanc de Blanc NV

Not to Shabby all in all

Tourist In Your Own Town

Dear Diary;
Last week the new "Canada Line" opened up which is our skytrain system that runs now from YVR to Downtown. Big news here in Vancouver, we were [dad and I] planning on going on it last week when it was free but that turned into a ..... well lets just say paying for it when its running normally and without all the media photo ops is a way better way to go.

Took an extended lunch break to downtown, went by the new Vancouver Convention Centre which is massive and really nice to look at [Had a wine tasting on the 3rd Floor that faces the mountains with glass windows really nice].

Headed on over to Miku Restaurant for some Lunch time sushi and a bottle of wine, found a Chenin by Chateau du Varennes Savennieres 2005, it was really a perfect sushi wine, not overly complex but had a touch of minerality and lemon zestyness and great acidity. A wine that goes perfect with raw fish, seasoned with a little soy and wasabi. The food was really good, Abrui style sushi which from my understanding the fish on the top was lightly torched with a charcoal "brick" and it added a nice smokiness but also on the fatty fish it just warmed up this good fatty oil. The Dessert was fantastic too made in house two pastry chefs from what the menu said not to shabby.

All in All a Fantastic Lunch heck even dinner be good [prices are not crazy compared to other top end sushi places], in a nice business area of down so the night crowd might be a bit more .........You know business men and high class hookers? haha its in that area.

Then we head back down the new Line and out to the Airport, Airport really quiet for a Summer, must be the recession I know the restaurants in general are down 25% Im guessing

Chateau Curton La Perriere 2005 Bordeaux Cuvee No5

So I just found out this wine is imported by my favorite British Columbia Importer Freehouse wine and spirits so props to them, a great company fantastic people, I have met almost all there stuff at tasting and they have flown in 4 wine makers that I have me and talked to and even cooked dinner for one the guy who brought in a 20year vertical tasting! Oh and they import the St Cosme Rhone and Chateau Pesquie, both wine makers that I met too

That being said, this wine Chateau Curton la Perriere Curvee No5 Bordeaux 2005. Is from what I can tell is 100% Merlot 25year old, not fined or filtered. 17.99 Canadian! and I saw it for 10 British Pounds I mean that's a steal in Canada.

Colour Dark-Purple
Aroma: Spice, fruit, menthol a bit on day two with a prune/spice/molasses combo.
Taste: Good fruit, acidity tamed with decanting very silky def. needs decanting even for 30mins. Day2, fruit is there even darker and more brooding, almost plum/spice/prune combo very very nice

Overall/Reflection:
Score: 90

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)

I am Off to Salt Spring Island!

So I Leave tomorrow for Salt Spring Island, going by BC Ferries really the only way unless I want to fly by float plane but a little pricey for me today.

I have 6 bottles of wine for 4 days, really 2 half days and 2 full days.

Plan to Visit Salt Spring Island Winery, David Woods Goat Cheese mmmm, and buy some Salt Spring Island lamb to go with the wine!

The only way...

The Only way to open bubbly now, thanks you tube for showing me, the best part its so easy. As long as there is a place to shoot the cork aka don't do it inside facing anything breakable