[cock]Tails of Good Taste

After a nice long 15 hours at the winery I had a serious hankering for a good cocktail. With my favorite 'tails in town being too far off the route home, I headed straight to my apartment for a little mixology experiment.

Chartreuse is the most magical and mysterious liquor---it's gorgeous, tastes incredible on it's own, and can add complexity to just about any drink with nary a dash. I knew that was going into my shaker, so I made my own take on the Alaska; I call it The Duchess:

3 parts Small's Gin (or any bold flavored gin)

1/2 parts Chartreuse

dash of Angostura Bitters

Shake with ice, serve straight up garnished with a twist of lemon peel. Totally hits the spot.

 ♥ devon

Wines for Feasting

Thanks to Katharine Cole of MIX magazine for mentioning us! They asked me to recommend my favorite PNW gems  best suited for a Thanksgiving feast. Seeing as those wines are mostly small production and may sell out quickly, I figured we'd throw out a few more for your Turkey filled table.

 Jaquère Montmeliwhat?

Jean Vullien Savoie Blanc Jaquère, Montmelian 11.50$

The only non northwest wine of the bunch, this is the steal of steals at $11.50. We've gushed about Jean Vullien's Mondeuse on multiple occasions and this white is just as good.  Bright lemon/lime and subtle herb all prop up a backbone of stony minerality. This wine is extremely well balanced. The citrus notes work wonderfully with lemon zested green beans, and it's touch of fresh basil makes this a perfect white wine for light turkey meat and savory stuffing. A salty caramel finish comes as a delightful surprise, allowing the wine to pair with dishes such as caramelized onion tart. Oh, and for those wondering, Jaquère is the grape and Montmelian is one of the 17 cru's of Savoie in southeastern France :)

Together We Shall Rule The Galaxy as Father and Daughter*

Et Fille 2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 23$

Oregon Pinot Noir is a classic Thanksgiving pairing, and at this price its hard to find a better 2009. Using a blend of fruit from multiple premium vineyards, father/daughter wine making team Howard Mozeico and Jessica Mozeico-Blair have crafted a Pinot that is silky-smooth while still maintaining it's bright acidity. The harmonious balance and gorgeous mouthfeel are two qualities we've found lacking in other 2009 Willamette Valley Pinots (it was a very hot year).  Fresh pipe tobacco and blackberry jump out of the glass while rich baking spice coats the palate. It's a stand-out stuffing and turkey wine, rich enough for dark meat but light and fresh enough for light, and it's got enough body to stand up to any other meat on the table.

Venison and Violets

Enso 2010 old vine Mourvedre, Bella Grace Vineyards 28$-----Just released Nov. 1st and only available at ENSO Winery and Tasting Lounge.

This wine smells of chalky chocolate covered blueberries and your grandfather's old leather chair that's been hiding in the attic for decades. Surprisingly dusty despite it's youth, this Mourvedre tastes like no other wine being made in the northwest. The tannins are soft but omnipresent while the acid is bright enough to make it perfect as the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving table. The palate is full of  peppery venison jerky and licorice covered rocks; it's a stellar match for meats, stuffing, cranberry sauce and cheeses.

We'd love to hear what will be on your table for the holiday--send us your Thanksgiving selections, and happy feasting! ---Brent

*No relation to the Skywalker family.

the Busy Season

Dear Autumn, it's been a fun harvest season, but I miss my wife.

Pinot Gris harvest is hand sorted at Rex Hill Vineyards.

For the winemaker, fall is a season of constant preparation, incessant measuring, meticulous cleaning, lifting, organizing, mixing, watching, driving, and recording---not to mention being sticky and wet, fearful of bunch-dwelling spiders, and most likely falling on your ass a few times.

Ryan Lee Sharp (winemaker, Enso Winery) transports 4 tons of Malbec and Counoise into the winery for hand-sorting and de-stemming. He and his partner, Chris Wishart, will harvest numerous tons of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Pinot Gris, Mourvedre, Reisling, and more throughout the season. And this is a small production wine joint!

Wine as Art
Tons of grapes are picked, hand sorted, de-stemmed, transferred into fermentation bins, and cold soaked to encourage vivid color and complexity. After days of cold soaking, grapes are inoculated with yeasts, and fermentation begins. Yeast eats away at the grape's natural sugars and produces alcohol over several days. Sugar + Yeast = Alcohol, CO2, & Heat. Throughout the fermentation process, CO2 pushes grape skins and seeds (must) to the top, forming a tough cap which is punched down into the juice multiple times each day. When brix (sugar levels) and alcohol levels are ideal, wine is pressed into barrel or tank, aged for months, and finally bottled for further aging---and finally---release. Every winemaker has a unique process; a different approach; a special concept. All this work results in an inspiring, romantic, piece of art.

Braun and Sharp scoop the dregs of fermented Zinfandel pomace into the press.

Autumn Pick

2006 Chemin de Terre by A to Z Wineworks, Southern Oregon. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, etc. It's like you're hanging out with Bruce in the Bat Cave---we're talking cool, wet slate and clay with chalky, perfumed bramble berries and dark blueberries to finish. Without being too weighty, Chemin de Terre--or, Dirt Road--is an easily accessible and comforting taste for the dreary seasons. We sipped, we liked, we recommend for $20.

the Nightly Table

2007 Sineann Merlot, Hillside Vineyards, Columbia Valley WA ($25). This guy is like that well-fitted black velvet glove that perfectly accessorizes your decadent inner-1980's celebrity. We all have one of those--right?! Pairing suggestion: Rogue Creamery blue cheese, the oh-so-spicy Olli Sulameria Calabrese, and Madonna's Like a Virgin on vinyl.

Lovely youthfully robust Mondeuse. This wine is so versatile, I would open a good Vin de Savoie on any old night or for a special occasion. Domain Jean Vullien et Fils VDS St-Jean de la Porte $15.

Pyrenees Vineyard & Cellars 2005 Pinot Noir, $20---We went a little Mythbuster's on the "perfect pairing: Oregon Pinot Noir + PNW salmon" rumors. Our experience? One may have to do quite a bit of digging to find a stellar Pinot for the fish. Your best bet is a well aged, light and dusty cool-vintage Pinot. The Pyenees, though big and delicious in it's own right, struggled with the salmon's bold flavors, and left us feeling somewhat awkward... perhaps roast chicken would suit it best.

 

Wishing you a happy Autumn of good friends and fabulous libations! --Devon.