Wine Review: Erath 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir

Name: Erath 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir
Producer: Erath Vinyards
Region: USA, Oregon, 90.3% Willamette Valley, 9.7% Umpqua
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $18.89, Fresh Market Food Store, March, 2008
Date Logged: 08/29/2008
Pairing(s): Grilled pork chops with Dijon baked potatoes
My Rating: 4 stars

Erath is a small producer in the Willamette Valley of Oregon that has been around since the late 1960s. They have 118 acres of vinyards, and purchase grapes from another 130 acres in Oregon. Almost two thirds of their wine is Pinot Noir, but they also produce Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and small amounts of Dry Riesling, Dry Gewürztraminer and Dolcetto. Erath produces three styles of Pinot Noir. The most affordable and first to be bottled and released each year is the 'Oregon', which is what I had here.

This wine is everything that I look for in a good American Pinot. It has a super light color that borders on pinkish. The nose is very floral, fruity, and non-French, with hints of cranberries, cherries and almost every conceivable red berry. The taste is fruit forward with very mild tannins and a little earthiness, spice and a hint of oak on the mid-length finish. The wine had a really nice silky feel in the mouth, and seemed about as fresh and aromatic as any wine I have had in recent memory.

We had this with pork chops and Dijon potatoes, and the pairing was perfect. I could also see having this with grilled salmon or grilled chicken salad. At less than 20 bucks, I think this wine is a great value and really worth having again. I logged its overall quality at 4 out of 5 stars.

Wine Review: 2006 Jaffelin Mercurey Pinot Noir

Name: 2006 Jaffelin Mercurey 1er Cru Le Clos L’Eveque
Producer: Roger Jaffelin
Region: France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey 1er Cru
Classification: Grand Vin de Bourgogne
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $22.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008
Date Logged: 08/10/2008
Pairing: Grilled Pork Loin
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This is what I want from a wine like this… delicious, fresh, moderate complexity, a little funkiness and a lot of fruit. A very well-balanced wine that is drinking very well right now. Moderate tannins on the back end, so it may stick around for a few years as well. Paired superbly with grilled pork loin, but is also a pleasant sipping wine as well. Beautiful light ruby color in the glass, and a nose that is loaded with fruit and forest aromas. We thought that this was slightly better than a 2005 Pernand-vergelesses we had a few months ago from the same producer.

$10 Value Contest: Chile versus Australia

Recently we had two "cheap" wines which turned out to be on complete opposite ends of the value spectrum. Other than the price, these two wines didn't have much in common, so it isn't fair to either one of these wines to compare them in a head-to-head competition. It is interesting, nevertheless, to just compare the bang for the buck aspect of these two wines.

First, on the high-side of the value curve, we had a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile (2006 BrisAndes from Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite), from the Colchagua Valley of Chile). We paid about $10 for it earlier this year at Total Wine and More in Delaware. With its French heritage backing by Lafite, I expected it to be a good effort, and was not disappointed. In fact, I was surprised at how good this wine actually was. It drank very much like a more expensive wine from Medoc, except a little more fruit-forward. It had a full flavor profile, with nice dark fruit, spice and chocolate tones. Very pleasing weight and finish, and paired perfectly with a grilled steak.

On the other end of the spectrum is the 2002 Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay from South Australia. Another $10 purchase, but that was several years ago, so a more recent vintage today is probably a dollar or two more expensive. I probably should handicap the wine a little since it has been in the cellar a little longer than a $10 chardonnay should, but my guess is that this wasn't a very good wine even in 2002. The primary problem was oak - this wine tasted like I inhaled while I was standing in a saw mill. We had this wine with a light grilled chicken salad. At first I thought I would grow to like it, but the oak just completely overshadowed any potential good elements of the wine, not to mention the food. We ended the meal with nearly a half-bottle left, which is a rarity at our table.

So, that's the problem with wine...or maybe what's cool about wine. Two bottles for the same price, one I could drink every night, the other I don't care to ever have again.

Wine Review: 2006 Domaine Pascal Bouchard Petit Chablis

Name: 2006 Domaine Pascal Bouchard Petit Chablis
Producer: Domaine Pascal Bouchard
Region: France, Burgundy, Chablis
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $17.99 Total Wine and More
Date Logged: 07/25/2008
Pairing(s): Seafood Pasta in Lemon and Olive Oil
My Rating: 3 Stars

This is classic Chablis, with plenty of green apple, citrus and mineral overtones. It had a long finish with a nice acidity. Perfect match with shrimp and scallops. Although it is very good, though, it wasn’t knock-your-socks-off good nor particularly memorable, and I’m not sure if it held its value up with the $18 price tag.

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.

Wine Review: 2006 Carneros Creek Reserve Pinot Noir

Name: 2006 Carneros Creek Reserve Pinot Noir

Producer: Carneros Creek

Region: USA, California, California, Napa Valley, Carneros

Classification: Reserve

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Pinot Noir

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $19.99, Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 06/27/2008

Pairing(s): 1) Grilled Chicken 2) Pizza

My Rating: 1.5 Star

OK, but not very likeable. A little more tannic than I expected. I anticipated a fruit bomb, but other than some light cherry flavors (think Ludens Cough Drops) nothing much to write home about. Thin and short finish. Not worth the price tag. Bad choice for pairing with the grilled chicken. It faired a little better with the garlicy pizza.

Wine Review: 2005 Chateau Coucheroy Blanc

Name: 2005 Chateau Coucheroy Blanc

Producer: Chateau Coucheroy

Region: France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Graves

Classification: Grand Vin de Bordeaux

Type: White Wine

Variety: 90% sauvignon blanc and 10% semillon

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $12.99, Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 06/23/2008

Pairing(s): Scallops and Shrimp

My Rating: 3.5 Star

Nice pale straw color. Grassy nose with citrus and apricot tones. More citrus and peachy flavors on the palate, with a little mineral background and strong acidity – nice if you like that kind of thing. Fantastic pairing with a light seafood medley, and perfect for summer sipping.

Wine Review: 2005 Louis Chavy (Alfio Moriconi Selection)

Name: 2005 Louis Chavy (Alfio Moriconi Selection)
Producer: Louis Chavy
Region: France, Burgundy, Cote D’Or, Beaune
Classification: Vin de Bourgogne
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, Total Wine & More
Date Logged: 06/22/2008
Pairing(s): 1) Pork Loin, 2) Salmon
My Rating: 1 Star

Not good. Closed nose. Felt like water in the mouth. It was drinkable with food, but that’s about it. Tasted more like a cheap Rose than a pinot from Cote D’Or. Fruit was nearly non-existant, and the acidity was way out of balance. I've seen other reviews that rave about this wine...so, I don't know, maybe it was just a bad bottle. I'm missing something here.

I have had little to no success with any wine labeled as an “Alfio Moriconi Selection”. This is the first I’ve had that this label appeared so prominently on the front of the bottle. I will beware of this in the future.

Wine Review: 2006 Chateau Saint-Robert Blanc Bordeaux

Name: 2006 Chateau Saint-Robert Blanc Bordeaux

Producer: Chateau Saint-Robert

Region: France, Bordeaux, Graves

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $14.99, PA Wine & Spirits
Date Logged: 06/20/2008

Pairing(s): Orange Roughy

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Wonderful nose of lemons and citrus. Worked well with light fish dish, but also drank nicely with fresh fruit appetizers and by itself. Almost candy-like on the palate, with a Jolly-Rancher sort of melon flavor. Not overly complex, but well balanced, with nice acidity and just a hint of smokiness through the medium finish. Had a lively and pleasant feel in the mouth. Excellent value.

Wine Review: 2003 Chateau De Bel-Air Lalande de Pomerol

Name: 2003 Chateau De Bel-Air

Producer: Chateau De Bel-Air

Region: France, Bordeaux, Lalande de Pomerol

Classification: Grand Vin de Bordeaux

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec

Year/Vintage: 2003

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $17.99

Date Logged: 06/15/2008

Pairing(s): Various grilled meats

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

We had this wine over several days. It actually improved (i.e., became more complex) each day after opening.

Great value-driven Bordeaux wine. Very nice dark ruby color. Complex nose and palate…plenty of tobacco, chocolate and black cherry tones. Finishes pleasantly long and tannic. Pairs superbly with grilled meats.

Wine Review: 2006 Barons de Rothschilds (Lafite) Chardonnay Los Vascos

Name: 2006 Barons de Rothschilds (Lafite) Chardonnay Los Vascos
Producer: Vina Los Vascos and Domaines Barons de Rothschilds (Lafite)

Region: South America, Chile, Colchagua

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $11.99, PA Wine and Spirits

Date Logged: 06/13/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled scallops and shrimp

My Rating: 3 Stars

Los Vascos was 50% acquired by Rothschild (Lafite) in 1988. A team of winemakers from Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) control the viticulture, harvest, maceration, fermentation and aging of the wines at Los Vascos. All production is estate bottled.

Almost colorless in the glass, with just a hint of pale straw tint. This is a light chardonnay that paired very nicely with a light summer seafood medley of shrimp and scallops. The palate was citrusy with some very nice apple and peach notes, and finished with an interesting mineral tone. Well balanced and a good deal.

Wine Review: 2004 Simonnet-Febvre Millesime Chablis

Name: 2004 Simonnet-Febvre Millesime Chablis

Producer: Simonnet-Febvre

Region: France, Burgundy, Chablis

Classification: Grand Vin

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $11.99, Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 06/10/2008

Pairing(s): 1) Tilapia w/fresh herbs and tomatoes, 2)Greek chicken wraps and grape leaves

My Rating: 4+ Stars

This was a good wine. Nice weight and rich feel in the mouth, well-balanced oak and acidity, and interesting mixture of citrus and mineral flavors. Extremely food-friendly, pairing well with both dishes. Next time I would like to pair it with raw oysters or steamed mussels.

Initially oily texture on the mouth with apple and tart citrus flavors. The mid-palate is dry with flint and maybe some nut flavors. It finishes a little sweet and fruity, with a nice length. Overall interesting from start to finish. At $12 it is a HUGE value.

Catching Up...Seven Wine Posts

I've been spending a lot more time lately drinking than blogging...time to catch up. I haven't drunk anything lately that has completely rocked my wine world, so I'm just going to do a mass summary review of everything I've had lately. They are listed in the following seven posts in order of Best-Value to Least-Value. All of them were decent, none were overly pricey, and none were must-haves. Tis the season of mediocrity.

Wine Review: 2005 d’Arenberg McLaren Vale d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache

Name: 2005 d’Arenberg McLaren Vale d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache
Producer: d’Arenberg
Region: Australia, McLaren Vale
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Shiraz and Grenache
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $16.99, PA Wine Store, June 2007
Date Logged: 06/02/2008
Pairing(s): Burgers
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Quick Comment: Nice earthy and balanced wine, excellent value, easy-drinking, would buy again