Newsletter October 14, 2002

Jean's Picks
of the Week

The frost is on the pumpkin and we are going to see temperatures in the 20's tonight-- suddenly I want cassoulet and big hearty wines and some of that cave aged Gouda we carry at the store- heartier foods than 2002's dang hot summer encouraged. Out with the cold gazpacho, in with the Raclette, fondue, and roasted meats.

So what's sitting next on the kitchen island waiting to be sipped this week?

Youngberg Hill Pinot noir 98, drinking great and brought to my attention by Ann because the price has gone down $10 a bottle! At $27, it was another well made OR pinot, at $14 a bottle by the case, it is a great deal. Medium bodied, nice cherry and strawberry hints on the nose and a balanced, richly toasty and well integrated tannins. Enough age to be at its peak, through 2003.

A to Z Pinot Noir 2001 from Hatcher Wineworks- I like the premise of this wine, as described by Deb Hatcher- to combine the best of a lot of vineyards in the Willamette Valley to blend the best possible Pinot noir- sort of a contrarian philisophy, when single vineyard wines are receiving the most attention. Not a wrong note does this wine sing- very very pleasant, interesting, well balanced, relatively complex, under $20, and great chance to check out the 2001 vintage.

Owen Roe Abbotts Table-
well, this one is often open at my house, David O'Reilly is one of my favorite artists (oh wait a minute, he's a winemaker, just seems like an artist!)- he makes Owen Roe, Sineann, and O'Reilly wines, and his attention to detail is incredible- the grapes, the winemaking, the labels, the bottles, everything is carefully thought through and executed. The Abbotts Table is a blend of a bunch of really great wine that did not quite meet his high standards- all his Oregon Zinfandels are blended into this plush bottle of Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Syrah, Zin and Pinot. Try this wine you'll wonder at it while you pour a second glass...!

Sineann Gewurztraminer 2001 NW Gewurztraminer mostly gets a bad rap- in Oregon the grape has historically been used to make inexpensive, light, rather boring grocery store wine for new wine drinkers. There are a few wonderful gewurztraminers- Andrew Rich's late harvest is one, and this wine made from rich and yummy fruit from the respected Celilo Vineyard is another. This wine is everything I love from Alsatian Gewurz with an original David O'Reilly twist. Wonderful with baked apples, had it with Ray's sauerbraten last night and it was a wonderful complement to the heavy meat- danced in my mouth! This wine is excellent with turkey- we are suggesting it for Thanksgiving dinner.

Solena Anything- I just keep reaching for Danielle and Laurent's wines- they are fascinating, lilke a really good movie that you can watch again and again and always find something new and interesting... all are young, so I let them breathe for a day before drinking, I have to stop opening my stash- I want to try them after they have aged... but it is soooo hard!