Wine Review: 2005 Willamette Valley Vinyards Pinot Noir

Name: 2005 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir
Producer: Willamette Valley Vineyards
Region: USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinto Noir
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $20.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: July 26, 2008
Pairing(s): NY Strip Steak and Salmon
Rating: 4 Stars

We brought this wine to dinner at Cafe Du Jour, which is one of our favorite BYOB establishments in Pittsburgh.

The color of the wine was very pale burgundy, almost with a brown tint to it. It had a complex nose, with an old-world aroma of dirty forest and black fruit. On the palate, it had plenty of dark berry and cherry fruit elements, with some more aromatic clove-like tones. It had noticable but not overbearing tannins and a nice medium finish. It paired very well with both of our meals. Good, solid wine and highly recommended as a French-style burgundy from America.

Wine Review: 2007 Pascual Toso Chardonnay

Name: 2007 Pascual Toso Chardonnay
Producer: Pascual Toso
Region: South America, Argentina, Mendoza, Maipu
Classification: Estate
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $7.99, PA Wine & Spirits
Date Logged: 07/06/2008
Pairing(s): 1) Orange Roughy 2) Grilled Chicken
My Rating: 2 Stars

Oak rules this wine. If that’s what you’re after, then this wine will satisfy you immensely. I’m not a big fan of the buttery oakiness that this wine exudes, but I still found it reasonably enjoyable and certainly worth the 8 bucks I paid for it. It paired well with the fish and the grilled chicken dishes, the oak actually accentuating both nicely. Other flavor components include vanilla, pear and apples. The nose is floral and pleasant. It's a little unbalanced, with the acidity too weak. The finish is also a little short and leaves a bit of a burnt aftertaste. All-in-all, though, not a bad food-friendly wine to keep around for the summer.