Tag Archives: Portland

Wine of the Day: Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir 2014 5-20-2016

Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 ($31.95) Buy Now: $26.60 special

Our hometown take on Beaujolais – bright and peppy, with wild floral elements, strawberry-laced fruit flavors, and a touch of licorice and spice. As seductive as Morgon, aromatic as Fleurie, and structured yet mysterious as Moulin-a-Vent. Brick House are the real deal, and their ‘Gamay Noir au Jus Blanc’ is a picture-perfect postcard from beautiful vineyard a mere 25 miles from our shop. – Tyler

Grapelive 92+ points “….I think my favorite Brick House was the new 2014 Gamay Noir, it really stood out and reminds me of 2009 Cru Beaujolais, it has a Cote de Brouilly feel and wonderful structure to go with expressive and ripe dark fruits… The pure Gamay Noir character shines through on the nose and palate with blackberry, a mix of floral and spice, cherry, strawberry and succulent currant as well as a hint of flinty stones, minty herb, walnut oil and plum/peach flesh.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Cave Mont Blanc 1187 Extra Brut 2012 5-19-2016

Cave Mont Blanc ‘Blanc de Morgex & de la Salle’ 1187 Extra Brut, Vallee d’Aoste 2012 750ML ($31.95) Buy Now: $28 special

The domaine was founded in the early eighties with the stated purpose of reviving abandoned vineyards along the picturesque slopes of Mont Blanc in the Valle d’Aosta. This northwestern Italian pocket features the highest-altitude vineyard sites in all of Europe; very few machines are even capable of working such extreme topographies – needless to say, they’re seldom employed within the region.

The ‘1187’, made from 100% Prie Blanc, wonderfully tethers the balance between delicate and powerful – it’s a thing of paradoxes. The bubbles are soft yet move quickly along the palate, and the minerals are bracing yet the wine translates as elegant and smooth.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay 2012 5-18-2016

Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2012 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special

At Brick House, their Biodynamic farming features careful but not excessive interventions. As a result, their wines boast outstanding complexity and transparency. Cascadia is fermented on native yeasts and is raised in only used oak, completing malolactic fermentation before aging for a full year on the lees. The wine presents a bit more weight and richness while maintaining buoyancy. Fantastic! – Tyler

Wine Spectator 91 points “This sleek, open-textured and inviting white is light on its feet, showing apricot-tinged pear and spice flavors and finishing with finesse. Appealing now, but should develop depth with cellaring. Drink now through 2019. 520 cases made.”WS

David Schildknecht – Wine Advocate 90-91 points “Last tasted from barrels (old demi-muids) in July, the pieces that will have become Tunnell’s 2012 Chardonnay Cascadia – from several clones (some top-grafted to older vines) – display fresh apple laced with candied lime peel and garlanded with honeysuckle.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Marc Deschamps ‘Les Champs de Cri’ Pouilly-Fume 5-18-16

Marc Deschamps Pouilly-Fume Les Champs de Cri, Loire 2012 750ML ($29.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Forget what you know about Sauvignon Blanc! The ‘Champs de Cri’ from Marc Deschamps delivers an insanely complex combination of lemon zest, fresh herbs, jasmine, and elderflower. Roughly a year of aging on the lees affords the wine more texture and weight, yet the overall delivery is that of precision and grace. The result is an energetic, slightly salty Sauvignon Blanc with real dimension – a must-try for Loireheads, Sauv blanc lovers, and the drinker who wants the best in the wine life! A bottle like this can and should age wonderfully, though that shouldn’t prevent the reader from digging in to their stash a bit for a remarkable value from a Loire legend.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bergstrom Le Pre du Col 2014 5-17-2016

Bergstrom Le Pre du Col, Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Friday, May 27th

The Le Pre du Col (or ‘meadow on the mountain’) is a bright and fresh Pinot with plenty of body and acidity to spare. It opens with a bright zesty note of spice and herbs. The palate shows notes of purple flowers and red cherries with hints of iron and tobacco. I would give this a few years in bottle before opening or, if need be, 4-5 hours in a decanter before serving.

Le Pre du Col is planted to marine sedimentary soils in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The winery describes the AVA as offering Pinots sweet cinnamon spice and ripe Oregon strawberry and cherry aromas.… Read the rest