Portland Wine

A Blog for Clients, Customers, and Wine Geeks everywhere.

      This month we dive headfirst into unknown territory: Spain, the country with the most acres planted to vine in the world! (Surprised? We were.) The Spain of the past is home to a few legendary wines, such as Rioja for one, aged forever in neutral oak, but that’s just one standout among a sea of other mediocre wines that have gotten little notice on the world stage. Unfortunately, many a wine lover has walked into this sea with the tide, then turned around and walked right back out. But that was the Spanish wine of the past. These days, and here the extended sea metaphor tapers off, it pays to explore the depths. Highly educated winemakers use traditional and international grape varieties combined with modern techniques to create a pool of wines well worth diving into, headfirst.

      Our first wine this month comes from the Penedès region in Spain where historically oak-aged, powerful varietals, from Grenache and Monastrell (Mourvèdre), dominated production. Now, international varieties are grown alongside traditional grapes. This was mainly initiated by the legendary Jean Leon, who was the first to plant French varietals after smuggling them into Spain from France. Revolutionizing Spanish wine, Leon produced his wine as the French chateaux did, with all estate-grown and -produced fruit. The Le Havre vineyard, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are grown, were planted in 1968 and are known for their balanced if limited harvests. Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months, this wine has remarkable structure with a plethora of aromatics: graphite, eucalyptus, musk, cassis, leather, and black cherry. It’s the perfect mix of New World fruit, oak, and Old World tradition. It’s tightly wound and needs plenty of breathing time for its complex layers to emerge, so plan accordingly.

      Near the border of Portugal, located in the northwest corner of Spain, is the area known as Galicia. Within this region lies the Dominación de Origen of Rias Baixes where the Albariño grape holds sway. Originating in the twelfth century “Alba-Riño” means “the white wine from the Rhine,” and is long thought to be from the area of Alsace and a possible relative of the Riesling varietal. Producer Benito Santos was one of the original growers of this grape when this D.O. was first created in 1988, and his was one of the first vineyards to be certified organic in Galicia. Because of its proximity to the ocean, this area is cool and moist with a maritime climate. The wines are crisp and aromatic with a slight ocean brininess. The wine is crafted “au naturel,” with a minimal use of sulfur from the Igrexario de Saiar organically farmed vineyard.

Jean Leon
Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Region: Penedès, Spain
Vintage: 2005

This Spanish red from the Penedès region is layered with classic Old World Cabernet characteristics of mint, cassis, black cherry, leather, and graphite. These subtle secondary aromatics emerge alongside semibold fruit and rich tannins. This wine needs a few hours to breathe, but once it opens up, its depth and structure shine and continue to evolve.

Benito Santos
Igrexario de Saiar
100% Albariño
Region: Rias Baixas, Spain
Vintage: 2010

This white from northern Spain’s Rias Baixas region is aromatically lush, full of citrus, peaches, white flowers, and green apple. With a briny minerality on the palate, these wines are ripe with a soft texture that is balanced out by firm acidity, keeping it fresh and vivacious. Shellfish is its natural mate.

February 2012 Recipe

Calimari Picante

This simple dish belongs to a Spanish chef named Felix who I worked for in Sun Valley, Idaho. He made it as an appetizer but it was such a popular dish that we ended up selling it in entrée portions as well.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients
-1 ½ Pounds Calamari steaks cut in strips
-3 Diced medium sized tomatoes, seeds removed
- ½ bunch finely chopped scallions
-8 cloves minced garlic
-4 Shallots finely diced
-1 cup Chopped parlsey
-2 TBL Chopped fresh thyme
-1 TBL Dried chili pepper – add more to taste.
-Half lemon
-Olive oil
-flour
-Salt

Instructions

-Lightly dust Calamari strips with flour and salt.
-Heat olive oil in a large skillet and flash-fry calamari to a golden brown. Overcooking will toughen the calamari. Remove from heat and hold.
-Add to skillet tomatoes, scallion, garlic, shallot, herbs, and sauté briefly.
-Then add salt to taste, dried chili peppers, and lemon juice.
- Serve with sauce mixture on platter or individual plates with calamari placed on top.
 

Achieving the right wine storage conditions can be a tall order, especially if you don’t have a wine cellar to call your own. Not many of us can lay claim to owning a wine cellar, and even more of us are in the bad practice of storing wine incorrectly. But if you want to get serious about your dedication to the art of collecting what is possibly the finest elixir known to man, you might find the perfect answer in the availability of wine storage units at some Portland self-storage facilities.

Self-storage units are the best solution to keeping a massive inventory of wine. Not only are they safe and convenient, but rental fees are a lot less expensive than building a wine cellar. There are many things to consider when storing wine at these facilities, but in the end it will totally be worth it.

When choosing the appropriate unit, the most important feature you want to look for is the ability to control the temperature. Storing wine at too warm a temperature can cause leaks in the cork, while storing in too cold a temperature can cause freezing. Climate controlled self-storage units can be set to specific temperatures, ensuring that regardless of the variety of wines you’re storing, the bottles will be kept in the optimum environment to preserve their taste.

While the average suggested temperature for wines in general is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, red wines and white wines do have slightly differing requirements for optimum aging. If you’re going to be storing large quantities of several different types of wines, the ideal circumstance is to store them in separate units that are set to precise temperatures. Here are some general guidlines for what temperature you should store each type of wine:

Red Wine - If you’re going to be storing red wine, the best temperature is a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Red wine encompasses merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, shiraz, and zinfandel.

White Wine – Chardonnays, sauvignon blancs, and pinot grigios should be stored at a slightly lower temperature than their red cousins, and are best when maintained in a 45 degree environment. If you’ve got a treasure trove of champagne, you can also store these with your white wines.

Dessert Wine – Because they’re well preserved by their heavy sugar content, you don’t have to be as nitpicky with regard to temperature when storing sweet dessert wines. As long as they’re kept in a relatively cool, dark environment, their taste will be well preserved.

If you have a valuable wine collection, it’s also important that you store bottles in the right conditions to promote proper aging and prevent oxidation. The tips below offer best practices and suggestions for proper wine storage.

1. Keep wine away from sunlight. The UV rays of the sun can change the smell and taste of wine, which is one reason you'll see home wine storage built in basements. Most rental units do not have windows, so your bottles will be safely shielded from UV damage.

2. Store all bottles lying on their side. Actually, the most preferable position to store a bottle of wine is with the cork facing downward at a 45 degree angle. You can use or make inexpensive racks in a storage unit to keep bottles stacked on their sides. This prevents the cork in the bottles from drying out, which exposes the wine to air.

3. Avoid excessive movements. Bottles should be moved as seldom as possible until they’re ready to be consumed, so position them strategically.

4. Store wine in a dry location. This means that you should avoid wine rack storage in environments that are prone to humidity. If a wine bottle is exposed to too much humidity, the cork itself can dry and crack, spoiling the flavor.

5. Isolate the wine. Don't store your wine bottles with anything else that may have a strong smell because the odors can actually get into your wine.

Storing you wine collection in a self-storage unit is the best alternative to building a wine cellar, and a much cheaper one. Use these tips to store your wine properly and assure that it stays in pristine drinking form for years to come.
 

      We start 2012 geeking out on biodynamic wine. You may ask, oh wine club faithful, what else is new? But really we have you to thank! Your support allows us to seek out these special wines and do something few others are doing. We think it’s really important to support environmentally conscious winemakers whose passion from vine to bottle is truly reflected in a great wine. Since we started the club, organic and biodynamic wines have come more and more into the spotlight. Right now they’re almost trendy. And that’s why we have to separate the wheat from the chaff, and continue to follow our passion in 2012. Happy new year!
      This month we travel to the Loire Valley, whose diversity in varietals ranges as much as their quality. You can find just about everything here—inexpensive to high end, Pinot Noir to Cab Franc to Malbec! One thing that is consistent among most wineries in the Loire is the practice of biodynamic viticulture.
      Our first wine comes from Domaine Huet, one of the most prominent estates in the Loire Valley. The estate is located in Vouvray, which lies to the east of Tours on the right bank of the Loire River. The region first began to produce wine in the year 372, and in 1936 the Vouvray Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée was created. The indigenous grape variety here is Chenin Blanc (or Pineau Blanc de la Loire, as the locals say), and it’s one of the most versatile varietals, capable of being made in all styles: dry, off-dry, semi-sweet, unctuous, and even sparkling. Huet’s Haut-Lieu Sec represents their dry version with just 0.8% residual sugar. It’s undetectable, due to being balanced out by the naturally high acidity this grape provides. Domaine Huet is one of the original practicing estates of biodynamic viticulture. Winemaker Noël Pinguet calls himself a “practicing nonbeliever” when it comes to biodynamics. He may not understand all the science behind it, but the superior results speak for themselves.
      Just a little farther up the Loire River lies the AOC of Touraine-Mesland, where our second wine comes from. Winemaker Vincent Girault’s family has been working in wine production since 1854 in all aspects of the industry, from tending vines and producing fine wines, to selling wines, and even cooperage (the art of handcrafting wine barrels). This wine is a blend of Gamay, Côt, and Cabernet Franc. All these vines are biodynamically farmed and range in age from 20 to 50 years old. The subtlety of this wine allows it to pair well with less hearty meat, like game and chicken, yet it can also be a perfect match for salads and cheese.

2010 Domaine Huet Le Haut-Lieu Sec
This dry, medium-bodied Chenin Blanc from the renowned Loire estate of Domaine Huet has floral, green apple, and lemon aromatics. The palate is flush with quince and mineral tones with faint hints of orange blossom and honeysuckle. Dry yet plush, with a refreshing finish, this wine pairs well with anything from salad to salmon, but it’s a great sipper on its own as well. Biodynamic.
 

2007 Clos de la Briderie Touraine-Mesland
This Loire Valley red is made up of three varietals: Côt Noir (Malbec), Cabernet Franc, and Gamay. There are lots of things going on here in this subtle, medium-bodied wine. Peppercorns, chocolate-covered cherries, dried cranberry, some violet notes, and graphite. And that’s just the nose! These aromas carry over, although they’re more subdued, to the palate. Pairs best with game meats. All biodynamic viticulture.
 

January 2012 Recipe

Geek wines such as these do not require the distractions of complicated food pairings but rather simple flavors and combinations. A pan-fried portion of fresh fish served with a light crème sauce* of white wine, tarragon, and bacon would do justice to the Huet. For this month’s red, which has unpolished floral and peppercorn qualities, a crispy roast chicken rubbed with white pepper, course salt, and lemon does the trick. As it turns out, the following sauce recipe works quite well with both of the above suggestions.

Typical French Cream Sauce

This sauce can hold on the stovetop for a couple of hours under low heat but I suggest doing it closer to the finish.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients
-1 cup heavy cream
-1 cup white wine
-8 ounce package of bacon sliced into lardons (matchstick rectangles)
-1/2 small dice shallot
- 2 TBL chopped fresh tarragon
-2 TBL butter

Instructions
-Cook bacon in pan until crisp. Remove and hold bacon, and pour off most of the fat from pan.
-Add diced shallot to pan with remaining bacon fat under medium heat and cook until translucent.
-Raise heat to high and add white wine … allow wine to reduce by ½.
-Add cream to pan with onion/wine mixture. Stir and bring to a simmer.
-Add tarragon to mixture and reduce heat to low.
-Stir in butter to finish.

-Use bacon as a garnish to the sauce and protein when plating. I usually portion the sauce onto the plate, place the protein on top of the sauce, and then garnish the bacon on top of the protein and around the plate. This is especially helpful when one of the guests prefers not to eat pork because we can just skip this step.

*There is absolutely nothing ever light about a crème sauce except the portion size.

 

Marie – Courtin, Eloquence, Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs. 750mL $66
This rare Biodynamic Champagne comes from the village of Polisot in the Côte des Bars. It is 100% Chardonnay which gives it a stunning clean, green apple and citrusy crisp flavor.
Vouette & Sorbée, Fidèle, Extra Brut, 750mL $64
This Certified Biodynamic Champagne is from the Aube’s Côte des Bar. It is 100% Pinot Noir and vinified in oak barriques which gives it a very unique and fuller flavor profile.
TH & V Demarne-Frison, Lalore, Brut Nature, Blanc de Blancs, Magnum - 1500mL $127
This Champagne was only imported in Magnum size, so it’s big and ready to party!!! The initials on the label stands for Thierry Demarne and his wife Valerie Frison who have been farming Biodynamically for years, and until just recently were selling their juice to a cooperative. This is one of their first releases and it blew us away.

Chartogne-Taillet "Les Barres" Extra Brut
Price: $105.00
Vintage: NV
This Champagne from Chartogne-Taillet is from their single vineyard ‘Les Barres’ . This a 100% old-vine Pinot Meunier on ungrafted roots

2004 Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion
Price: $135.00
Vintage: 2004
This 2004 Vintage Champagne is a Blanc de Blancs sourced from 100% Grand Cru vineyards.

Not finding what you’re looking for? We are Champagne geeks and can help you find a bottle in any price range. Just drop us a line.
(877) 404-1121
info@purevinewines.com
 

In dank, dark, and dreary our Dear Ones do dwell.
Fortified with love, within each glass shell.
Well-sealed, sans curses, yet promise abound,
entombed for some time, now they’re coming around.

Called up from the cellar, some fast asleep.
Those that are ready, spill foreword to speak.
While those that must whisper, drip faintly a squeak.
All answer our call and rise to their feet.

A choirs of odd voices, the occasional scream,
some coaxing is needed , was it just a foul dream?
Some terrors come nightly, while here it’s an annual,
…this 12th Scary Bottle Night is all
birth, death, and burial!

Please join us for this years Scary Bottle Night on
Friday, October 28th from 5:30 until 9:30.
Proudly bring your scary bottle…the bloodier the better.
Ancient custom calls for monetary donations
of $10 per person.
Food, lovingly prepared by us, will be served up.

This will be our last mailed party invitation.
In the future, all invites will be via email and posted on our website.
Please make sure we have your updated email address!

      Things slow down a bit here in these wonderful summer months. The warm weather is here (finally!) or a welcome relief from the heat wave depending on what part of the country you call home, and our minds wander. Sure, we still taste through lots of wines for the club and website, but food is on our minds. Dining with a bunch of friends in the late afternoon shade is one of summer’s true pleasures. The go-to food and wine: Italian. The pleasant, food-friendly acidity and backbone really help these wines shine at the table. So, short of a trip to the Italian countryside, try this month’s wines alfresco with a heavy dose of Italian home cooking.
       Both wines this month come from northern Italy. The first is an Italian classic, Valpolicella. This region is known for its light and fruity table wine; however, over the centuries different styles have evolved that have allowed this wine to become richer, with more intensity in both color and flavor. One such technique used to achieve this result is the ripasso method, which literally means “re-passed.” Musella takes 20% of the grapes that constitute this blend to make a basic Valpolicella, while another 20% comes from Corvina grapes that are left out to sun-dry for four weeks. The remaining 60% of the grapes are refermented on the unpressed skins of Amarone style grapes (another technique, in which all grapes are laid to dry for 120 days in the sun, leaving them raisin-y, with potentially high alcohol and intense richness). The combination of these techniques creates a wine with greater depth, complexity, and a marked fleshiness. Confused? Try the wine—it will all make sense after you finish the bottle (in fact, everything will)!
       Our second wine is an Italian white. There’s just something so refreshing and alive about these wines. The vibrant freshness, the crisp acidity, the lively fruit and prominent aromatics always allow us to spot them in blind tastings. This month’s selection is no exception. Even though the varietal is atypical, the style is typically Italian and abundant with all of these charming characteristics. The Mercandelli family has been making wine at the Cabanon estate since 1909. Patriarch Giovanni Mercandelli died in 2003, but his inspiration and passion continue in his daughter, Elena, who worked alongside her father starting when she was 14 years old. She certainly has paid her dues, studying enology at the prestigious schools of Trentino and the University of Bordeaux. She was not only one of Italy’s first female winemakers but also the country’s youngest winemaker. Fattoria Cabanon covers just 40 acres, located where Lombardy nudges up against Piedmont. It is an environment that creates perfect conditions for grape growing, enabling the estate to produce wines using the means provided by nature, not by man. Never have chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides been used to cultivate the soil. Says a spokesperson for the estate, “We have our own ways of controlling pests as well as mustering beneficial spiders, insects and organisms to help us in our work. This is how vines were grown thousands of years ago, and it is how we will always cultivate them.” The estate is totally organic and certified.

Musella
Valpolicella Superiore
Red Blend
Region: Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
Vintage: 2005

This northeastern Italian red from the Veneto is bright with ripe, dark cherry and other berry notes. The body is medium with a palate of underlying spice, leather, and earthiness. Tannins are moderate and acid is prevalent, making this an easy match with food.

Cabanon
Opera Primi
Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Provincia di Pavia, Lombardy, Italy
Vintage: 2010

This Italian white comes from the northern region of Lombardy, where chalky soils contribute to the clean mineral notes in this dry, stainless steel–fermented Sauvignon Blanc. Intensely aromatic with citrus and grassy herbaceous notes, it makes for a refreshing summertime classic.

       This month’s white wine is EASY! Easy to drink, easy to like, easy on the wallet…an easy club selection. Yes, wine club faithful, we normally debate and taste and spit through many a wine looking for the right one to challenge our palates and yours—feel sorry for us yet? Well, this month when our French importer walked into the office and began his pitch on wines from the Mâcon (“underrated, great value, crowd-pleaser”), he was preaching to the choir as long as the wine was up to snuff, and it was. A few years back we spent a month in the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy and were so very impressed with the white table wines we drank nightly with dinner. Made predominantly from Chardonnay (with a few Aligotés here and there), we found these wines to be splendidly refreshing, with bright acidity, tropical, steely aromas, and great with most foods. When we got home, we discovered that most of these wines were unavailable—they didn’t make it out of the region. The locals kept this secret to themselves until recently. Although the Mâconnais has always taken a backseat to its more northern neighbor, Côte de Beaune, thanks to renowned Burgundian producer Domaine Leflaive (who also makes wines from the Verzé appellation), wines from the area have been getting deserved attention as well, and more are now being exported. Our wine comes from producer Nicolas Maillet, whose domain consists of 5.5 hectares of vines planted primarily with Chardonnay. His Mâcon Verzé is produced from 40-year-old vines and is one of the more rich and complex Mâcons, and at a price you can drink nightly with your dinner right here at home. So what better way to ease into the warmer summer months than by sipping this month’s white? Easily the easiest wine to drink, we think!
        Our second wine this month comes from Jacky Blot, notable Loire Valley producer best known for his Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups. He acquired Domaine de la Butte in the appellation of Bourgueil back in the summer of 2002. Bourgueil is Cabernet Franc country, similar to its slightly more famous neighbor Chinon, but you actually need to be a pro to distinguish the difference. Bourgueil and Chinon lie across the Loire River from one another and share a similar terroir, history, and winemaking tradition. The Mi-Pente (mid-slope) bottling is the most concentrated cuvée Jacky Blot crafts. The ideal south-facing block of vines makes Cabernet Francs of greater structure and distinction in the Bourgueil region. The Mi-Pente is a superbly structured, firmly tannic wine that can be enjoyed today with a few hours of decanting but will show at its best with three to five years’ cellaring.

Nicolas Maillet
Mâcon-Verzé
100% Chardonnay
Region: Mâcon Verzé, France
Vintage: 2009
Mâcon Verzé wines fall within the larger Mâcon appellation, near the commune of Verzé. This Chardonnay has elements of tropical and stone fruits. It’s refreshing with bright acidity, yet has a slight bit of richness that gives it some additional structure. These Mâconnais Chards are so easy to love and are a great introduction to French Chards at a reasonable price.

Domaine de La Butte
Mi-Pente
100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Loire Valley, France
Vintage: 2008

Black cherry, mushroom, truffle, and other earthy characteristics with a slight bit of funk make this Cabernet Franc recognizable as an Old World effort. Coming from the Bourgueil region of the Loire Valley in France. Winemaker Jacky Blot crafts this wine from a single vineyard of 50-year-old vines. With aromas of dark, ripe fruit and bold tannins, this wine will cellar up to five years but can be enjoyed today with game and heartier meats.

Recipe of the Month:
Crepes de Sarrasin

Savory crepes can be found all over France and are eaten at all times of the day. This recipe calls for gruyere as the filling but you can use anything. I recently used leftover smoked pork with some diced up pickles.

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup white buckwheat flour
¼ cup whole buckwheat flower
½ pound grated gruyere
½ stick butter
Salt and pepper

Directions
1. Whisk eggs and 1 ½ cups water together. Stir flour and salt and pepper into egg mixture. Refrigerate overnight.
2. To cook, heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Once hot, remove pan from heat and pour ¼ cup batter into pan center. Tilt pan to distribute batter and return to heat. Cook until lightly browned and then flip. Cook other side 1 minute more. Transfer to plate and keep warm in oven.
3. Continue cooking all the crepes until batter is finished.
4. Return cooked crepes to pan one at a time, sprinkle ¼ cup cheese in the middle, and fold to make a square. Cook for about 30 seconds or until cheese melts. Serve with a pat of butter.
5. Try adding other ingredients in addition to or in place of the gruyere.

     This month our focus returns to Oregon but not to Pinot Noir. This time we'll shine the spotlight on two wines born of pet projects and passion. We love featuring wines from our home state because we know them, their terroir, and the winemakers like nowhere else. In addition, we often taste these wines with the winemakers themselves, and while that may make these seem like an easy choice for the club, our most passionate arguments in the tasting room often erupt over these wines. Hometown pride runs deep, so we expect these guys to represent. While Pinot Noir may be the meal ticket for these winemakers, small lots of other varietals can really reflect their passion and expertise.
      Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis started on separate paths in the Oregon wine industry at about the same time back in 1996, both becoming head winemakers at two of Oregon’s larger wineries, Sam at Archery Summit and Cheryl at Chehalem. In 2001 after marrying, they founded their joint venture: Francis Tannahill Winery, with the goal of making “wines that balance power and concentration with integrity and elegance.” In 2002 they also cofounded A to Z Wineworks, which is now Oregon's fastest growing winery, known to produce Oregon's best wine values by focusing on the skills and talents of the founders. But let’s get back to Francis Tannahill’s true passion: making small batches of less-common Oregon varietals that aren’t intended for the masses, but for a select few. This leads us to our first wine for this month, Francis Tannahill’s 2007 Rogue Valley Grenache. This native varietal of Spain is widely planted around the world but is probably best known as the main grape in the Southern Rhone’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Requiring long, hot, dry growing conditions, this varietal also thrives in Oregon’s southernmost appellation, the Rogue Valley. It is one of the last grapes to be harvested. This long ripening season allows the grapes to reach peak sugar levels, making Grenache-based wines higher in alcohol content, often reaching 15%. Though we’re not huge fans of high-octane cocktail-style wines ourselves, we do like to offer all styles, and this one’s got the balance to fit the bill. It’s blended with 26% Syrah to add color, depth, and tannins that even it out nicely. Big and bold, it wants grilled beef and lamb. A stew would be a great partner too!
      Our second wine comes from Brooks Winery, where the legacy of its originator, Jimi Brooks, lives on through commitment to organic and biodynamic farming, and his passion for growing and producing beautiful Pinot Noir and Riesling in Oregon. He passed away prematurely in 2004, at the age of 38, but he left a philosophical legacy about winemaking and viticulture that family and friends carry on today by continuing the winery in his name and honor. This month’s white is Brooks’ Ara Riesling, which was the featured wine (vintage 2006) at President Obama’s first state dinner. Oregon’s cool climate and volcanic soils lend great potential to the Riesling grape, allowing its natural minerality, as well as floral and citrus aromatics, to blossom.

Wines:
Francis Tannahill
Grenache
76% Grenache, 24% Syrah
Region: Rouge valley, Oregon
Vintage: 2007

This deep purple-black-hued Grenache is a powerhouse of layers with red berry and black fruit, cassis, and dried-fruit aromas. The palate is loaded with black cherry and smoke, and it ends with a sweet, vanilla oakiness. These grapes are sourced from the organically farmed Sundown Vineyard in southern Oregon.

Brooks
Ara
100% Riesling
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Vintage: 2008

This richer style Riesling exudes lemon and honey aromatics, along with a complex and full body to follow. Mineral overtones and a hint of petrol add to this wine’s classic Riesling characteristics. Solid and balanced acidity finish it out and make it a good match with Asian and/or spicy foods. Only 185 cases produced of this biodynamically farmed wine.

Food Paring:

For this month’s food recommendation and pairing we asked the winemaker, Sam Tannahill, what he would suggest to accompany his Grenache. Here’s what he had to say:

“Lamb mole tacos – I like the way the spice and chocolate in the mole goes with the wine and the gamey edge on the lamb works really well.”

“I would also recommend veal or calves liver with caramelized onions and pancetta. There is not much smoke on the wine so I wouldn’t use bacon. “

“An Oregon bird (maybe pheasant of chukar) simply roasted with a Marion berry sauce and served with some roasted leeks and beets is great when the wine is young.”

“Lastly, (while not light – the wine really is pretty big) as the wine ages make what I call a “St Marcellin truffle sandwich”. Take a ripe St Marcellin cheese and some black Oregon truffles. Cut the St Marcellin open, thinly slice the truffle, open the cheese and layer some black truffles in. Slap that baby on some grilled bread and pop into the broiler until just beginning to melt and bubble.”

      I have to say that although each suggestion speaks love to our stomachs, it’s the St. Marcellin cheese that really stands out. The soft, creamy texture and slight mushroomy aroma of the rind with the hidden truffle treasure inside all melted over crispy grilled bread really works with this wine. While truffles may be a little harder to come by, these cheeses are available at any decent cheese shop, come in small wheels, and are inexpensive.

“We had noticed that the purest wines were made with biodynamic viticulture, and it was out of the question that I would poison myself or others. I think that every living element plays a crucial role in the characteristics of the grapes.”
~ Winemaker Catherine Maisonneuve
       This month we challenge your palate Old World style. Get ready—our first wine involves some tannic tough-love, but it truly rewards an open mind and a meat-centric food pairing. It comes from France’s Cahors region in the Dordogne, where the Malbec grape reigns (yep, they were doing it long before Argentina). This beautiful area is one of France’s oldest wine regions, with many vineyards dating back to the Roman occupation. These so-called “black” wines, because of their inky color, reveled in their tannic greatness early on but were later overshadowed by Bordeaux’s mellower blends and lost all but local popularity. These classics remained relatively obscure outside the region until recently when, thanks to a few dedicated and talented winemakers, Cahors came back, this time with the unruly intensity of the Malbec grape tamed. Literally crushed into submission—although delicately, mind you.
       The team of winemaker Catherine Maisonneuve and Matthieu Cosse of Domaine Cosse-Maisonneuve make this month’s Cahors “Les Laquets” and they’ve really set the bar high for the region. Catherine, an oenologist, spent many years in other wine regions of France honing her craft before settling in Cahors with ex-rugby player Matthieu. An elegant (think oenologist) yet rough-and-tumble (think rugby) wine: just what one would expect from the synergy of these opposites. Together they have bridged the gap between traditional and modern winemaking techniques. The vines are farmed biodynamically with very low yields. Each parcel is vinified separately to highlight the terroir. This 100% Malbec comes from a tiny 5.6-hectare parcel of land, and the grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted, and aged in a combination of old and new oak. This wine has a dark fruit palate with a rustic edge. Enjoy by a warm fire with a hearty meat dish!
       Our second wine, Cortese di Gavi, or just “Gavi” comes from the hills of the province of Alessandria in Italy’s northern Piedmont region, expanding over thirteen communes. Tassarolo is the municipality where Castello di Tassarolo makes their biodynamically farmed wine from a single vineyard of 40-year-old vines. This food-friendly wine is bone dry in character, with a hint of flintiness that emerges from the mineral-rich soils of the area. The bouquet hints at white flowers, green apples, and honeydew, yet the unique concentration and complexity bring a richness that comes from barrel fermentation and a subsequent 12 months in barrique. This depth is cut with bold acidity to balance out the weight. Due to its close proximity to the Ligurian coast, the region’s winemaking and gastronomic traditions lean more toward the Ligurian than the Piemontese. Try with seafood, or even traditional pesto Genovese.

Les Laquets
Cahors
100% Malbec
Region: Appellation Cahors Contrôlée, France
Vintage: 2002
This deep-hued red is no fruit bomb, as one might expect from a New World Malbec, but rather it’s traditional in style, coming from the grape’s place of origin, France. The nose is muted with blackberry, plum, sassafras, and anise. The palate is slightly earthy with a rustic edge. Malbec is the primary grape of the Cahors AOC, and in an effort to reclaim the prize that was once theirs, they have priced them reasonably well to compete with their New World counterparts. This is a great example of an Old World Malbec ready to drink now.

Castello di Tassarolo
Gavi
100% Cortese di Gavi
Region: Gavi DOCG, Piemonte Province, Italy
Vintage: 2008
Gavi is Piedmont’s shining white star. Made from the indigenous Cortese grape, it’s blessed with all the noble characteristics of a true Gavi. The nose is floral and citrusy, with a slight minerality. The body is medium with a degree of richness and texture on the palate. The finish is crisp and clean. As the Castello di Tassarolo Estate says, “an intense and persistent bouquet that develops for up to 15 years. A classic table wine for seafood and white meats.”

Recipe of the Month
Lamb and Lentil Stew
Serves 4

This fairly simple dish is easy to prepare so long as a few simple cooking rules are followed. First, marinating the lamb overnight and properly drying it before browning. Second, not crowding the pan when browning the meat. And third, cooking the lentils separately and adding to the lamb just before serving.

Ingredients:
3 pounds stewing lamb – cubed
1 bottle course red wine
2 large onions – medium dice
1 pound carrots – medium dice
1 pound French lentils
½ gallon chicken or beef stock
1 bunch parsley- chopped
Orange peel from one orange
1 head garlic peeled
Clove and/or allspice – pinch
Salt and pepper

Directions
1. Combine lamb, red wine, onions, carrots, garlic, clove, pepper, and orange peel in large bowl. Hold overnight.
2. Remove lamb from marinade, separating from veggies. Hold marinade. Dry lamb on towels.
3. Heat a large heavy pan until just smoking, add pieces of lamb but not too many at a time. Brown on all sides and remove.
4. Repeat process until all lamb pieces are browned.
5. In a large pan add marinade, beef and enough stock to cover meat, bring to a boil before turning to simmer. Stir frequently. This part takes around 3 hours.
6. In a separate pot, gently boil lentils in remaining stock with salt and pepper. If using a package of lentils, follow their directions or cook according to your own preference. This takes no more than 45 minutes.
7. When lentils are just tender, remove, strain, and hold.
8. When lamb is tender and comes apart with a fork add lentils and parsley.
9. Adjust seasoning to taste and enjoy with a nice bottle of Cahors!

BIG SIP OREGON 2011
Double Tree Lloyd Center,
1000 Multonomah Street Portland Oregon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Marianna Riggins
Company: EC2 Productions
Phone: 1 800- 422- 0251
Email: mriggins@E2cproductions.com
http://www.bigsiporegon.com/
Portland Oregon March 5th 2011 Noon – 4 p.m. for consumers
Portland Oregon March 7th 2011 Noon – 2:30 for industry
 

Well-known successful food and wine management company E2C productions, is launching a brand new event called Big Sip Oregon. With value and economics’ in mind this event is filled with great wines for anyone who is interested to find the absolute best wine values, a sure hit with the wide variety of wine aficionados in the region.
The concept is simple, great quality for the best price. Hand selected wines will be featured that would generally not be available to purchase in stores, making it an irresistible gathering to pass up for the avid wine buyers. In the same vine(vine) of classic events produced by E2C Corporation, Big Sip will be a noted event for its excellence in varieties, educational value, quality, style and fun!

Not only will all buyers be able to try, sample, sip and swirl, they will also be able to garner valuable information on wine basics, traits of wines, and much more from seasoned wine expert Marc Hinton (a.k.a. Enobytes & Oregon Lives Wine Bytes). Such sessions on How to Tell If Wine Is Corked and How to Buy for a Well Balanced Wine Cellar and why you should balance your cellar are sure to catch the attention of the guests that arrive. Live music with Jim Fisher and some nice bites of fare round out the gathering.

On Monday the industry will play guest to Big Sip Oregon when restaurateurs and industry professionals checking out the values too and learning some tricks of the trade from exceptionally talent in the area like Ken Collura of Andina on how to identify your tables wine acumen and much more.

The Big Sip will be providing fun and education for a broader audience in its first year in Portland on March 5th 2011,Doors opening at 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. Located in the Double Tree Lloyd Center, Portland Oregon 1000 NE Multonomah Street. For more information please contact Marianna Riggins at E2cProductions 1800-422-0251 or email at mriggins@E2cproductions.com, or visit the website http://www.bigsiporegon.com/