10. Try every type of wine you can.
9. Price doesn’t mean quality
8. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t like something that had “96 points parker”
7. Drink reds with white meat
6. Drink whites with red meat
5. read, watch, and learn everything you can about wine
4. Take notes after every glass
3. Share your notes with every wine drinker you can find
2. Have fun!
1. Break all the wine rules
Follow these 10 tips and find your way to wine tasting bliss!
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2004
“Deep red with a bright rim. Pungent, spicy and cool on the nose, with fresh raspberry, wild strawberry, mocha and fresh rose scents. Youthful, tangy red berry flavors are elegant and focused, with mineral and floral pastille accents. Nicely silky pinot, finishing on a sweet red berry note, with a hint of fresh bay.
Mahi Sauvignon Blanc 2006
“This wine blew me away, I can honestly say this is my new favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The outrageous complexity of grapefruit and kiwi mixed with the acidity of a $50 Riesling makes this the winner it is!!”
Bottoms up!
So I thought I would share with my small readership the greatness that is winelibrary tv. Somewhat irreverent, always informational, and the type of wine review show that kicks you in the … well you know.
So take a minute and watch the most current episode, enjoy!
Wine Press Northwest Reports
First container of Oregon wine arrives in China
By The Associated Press
Published Thursday, December 9th, 2004
PORTLAND – The first container of premium Oregon Pinot Noir arrived in Beijing last week, marking the opening of a new frontier for the state’s cadre of vintners.
It began as a chance encounter between Henry Estate Winery’s Doyle Hinman and a wine-savvy Chinese businessman at a red-wine tasting in Bordeaux, France, last year. It finished with the arrival in China of 1,250 cases of Oregon’s signature wine.
“When people talk about China’s booming economy, they aren’t lying,” said Hinman, the Roseburg-based winery’s sales and marketing director. “If we can get just a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of their 1.3 billion people to buy our wines, it will be huge business for us.”
American Pacific Group, a Portland trade and export company, is playing a pivotal role in the arrangement. Using its expertise in trade with Chinese companies, it buys the wine and then ships it to ports near Beijing and Shanghai. The company then oversees distribution and sales to high-end restaurants and luxury hotels around the country.
“No question there’s a big learning curve involved,” Terry Protto, one of the company’s four partners, told The Oregonian newspaper. “But our knowledge of the business landscape in China means we can get it in, get it paid for and get it sold, no matter what the product is.”
Last year, international exports amounted to only 3.5 percent of the state’s $200 million in wine sales, according to the Oregon Wine Board. Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom and France claimed the bulk of that business. China, by contrast, didn’t buy enough wine to merit its own listing on year-end export reports.
Meeting the goal of one cargo container per month would likely propel China to No. 1 among Oregon’s international export customers, said Katie Stoll, who manages the wine board’s export program.
A single monthly container would propel total yearly sales in China to 15,000 cases, surpassing the 13,908 sold to Japan last year, she said. Canada, Oregon’s second-largest buyer of exported wine, bought 11,269 cases in 2003. The United Kingdom and France combined to buy 5,356 cases.
The first container, which arrived in China last week, carried Pinot Noir produced by Henry Estate, King Estate and Amity Vineyards. All three were among 14 Oregon producers who traveled in May with Protto and other American Pacific Group executives to attend wine tastings in Beijing.
Plans are for the next container, expected to leave Jan. 15, to carry Pinot Noir from all 14 participating wineries, Protto said.
If their efforts meet with continued success, other Oregon vintners will benefit, said Henry Estate’s Hinman.
“As far as we know, no one else is blazing this trail,” he said. “Not California, not Washington, not anybody. Once we establish Oregon as the preferred brand for high-end Pinot Noir, we believe a lot of others will be able to follow.”
Every once in a while I like to share some great deals on wine with my… 2, maybe 3 readers of this blog. I also would like to support those in the wine industry I think are doing amazing things. Today on www.winelibrary.com they are featuring some amazing deals, check ‘em out!
Hartig Family Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $17.99 |
| Case Price: | $215.88 |
Hartig Family Estates produces traditional, premium California wines of the highest quality. Our Hartig Family Estates wines are personally selected and produced under the supervision of Sea… (more)
Sunday Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2005
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $7.99 |
| Case Price: | $95.88 |
“Sunday Mountain is a beautiful picnic spot near Blenheim in Marlborough overlooking idyllic vineyards. This Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect balance between the traditional gooseberry characte… (more)
Sharpshooter Chardonnay Edna 2005
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $16.99 |
| Case Price: | $203.88 |
“The cooling breezes typical of the Edna Valley provided for a long, even growing season, allowing the Sharpshooter grapes to reach optimum maturity in 2005. This barrel aged Chardonnay comp… (more)
Waca Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $11.99 |
| Case Price: | $143.88 |
“Made entirely from from estate fruit grown at the Rathbone’s families Parker Coonawarra Estate. The vines are over 30 years old. Winemaking takes place on site at the Parker Coonawarra wine… (more)
Viticcio Rosa Rossa 2003
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $7.98 |
| Case Price: | $95.76 |
“This is great wine for the price. The nose is definitively Sangiovese, with notes of earth, fruit and spice. The palate is loaded up with fruit, but not completely new world, with great und… (more)
Fantinel Tesis Pinot Grigio 2005
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $9.99 |
| Case Price: | $119.88 |
“COLOR-medium golden; NOSE-very intriguing hint of mango & pineapple; TASTE-tons of great acidity, heavy bottle of Pinot Grigio, great mouthfeel & structure, long finish, very good bottle” G… (more)
Big Moose Red 2002
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $5.99 |
| Case Price: | $71.88 |
“A pleasing mix of ripe, tart fruit flavors that vary from strawberry and rhubarb to plum and apricot, with interesting hints of baking spices, mineral and violet nuances. Smooth and tasty. … (more)
Rocky Creek Zinfandel 2004
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $8.99 |
| Case Price: | $107.88 |
“WOW! Finally! Move over Rosenblum and Ravenswood we have a NEW CHAMP under $10. This is a massive wine loaded with all the fun that Zinfandel brings. This is one of those wines that you buy… (more)
Domaine Sainte Barbe Macon 2005
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $12.99 |
| Case Price: | $155.88 |
A sensational White Burgundy for the money. Medium bodied with gorgeous bright citrus notes and a tremendous balance of fruit and minerality that most Macon’s strive to achieve. An outstan… (more)
Navarrita Merlot 2004
| Bottle Price: | |
| On SALE: | $7.99 |
| Case Price: | $95.88 |
Those of you who have not had a great valued Merlot in a while … this will bring you back!! Somewhat smokey with fresh berry and plum flavors on the nose and an incredible, long lasting f… (more)
So the first bottle of wine we had at the great Roy’s Club (See post below).
Petit Sirah, which was on the menu as just a normal syrah, is also known as Durif. I think this sounds better as the Petit makes it sound…petite….
Well this actually was a nice experience being my first taste of Petit Sirah, which I really enjoyed.
So enough with the pleasantries.
Nose: Blackberry, Current, herbal notes
First Taste: Very drying and fruity, pretty one dimensional but I really liked it. Seemed like a lot of black pepper, but I may be wrong on that. I just remember it being hot but not alcohol hot.
Score:88/100
For a wine out of Humboldt County I have to say they did a pretty good job. For the price $32, I would have to say pass though. However, if you have an expense account…give it a try!
(No picture as I can’t find a website for them…sorry)
So………..another Northern California wine. I know I know (points to title of blog) the Oregon Sipper isn’t living up to his name, BUT I will prevail once I am back in the Holy Land. This business trip to Eureka, California has been good to my pallet so far, and this bottle of wine was no exception.
First of, Roy’s Club, is an amazing restaurant on 2nd and d st in downtown Eureka that if you are in the area you must go to and get the new york steak. The atmosphere was great, I mean you can’t beat old Italian men playing dice games at the bar and old dark wood on the walls. You just can’t!
The company was divine and the wine was great.
I am actually doing the tasting notes for the second wine we had mainly because I liked it better.
So without further blabbering; my tasting notes.
Nose: A ton of fruit on the noise; blackberries, cloves and other dark fruit hints. It was a huge punch to the face of fruit smell. Kind of like fruity pebbles (thanks Gary V)
First taste: This is a fruit bomb that old world fans might stay away from. This has delicious, lush fruit flavors that finishes with some herbal notes. I actually got some tart cherry on the very first taste. Was just about the right amount of dryness.
I loved this wine and it paired extremely well with my steak. I would definitely recommend buying a few bottles if you can.
Score: 90/100
I am finding that Alexander Valley is becoming one of my favorite California Appellations . Here are some notes from the Murphy Goode Website
We produced our 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown in select vineyards throughout the Alexander Valley. The blend includes 10% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine was aged for 15 months in a combination of French and American oak comprised of 37% new barrels.
The vivid dark fruit f lavors and firm structure of this wine make it a versatile complement to spring lamb rubbed with garlic and rosemary, a variety of slow-cooked stews, marinated and grilled wild game, good steaks and aged cheeses.
Cheers my friends, Cheers!
Sad to say the first wine I am tasting on this Oregon Wine Journal is a Northern California Wine…shame I know. BUT we will save the best for last!
So this little diddy is my first experience of Pinotage (click on the link to find out more about this interesting grape) Here are my tasting notes on this $31.00 restaurant price bottle of goodness.
Location of Grapes/Vineyard: Amador County- Sutter Creek Vineyard
Nose: A lot of black fruit, black current and even a hint of menthal…very green as well.
First taste: Boooom! That is what I thought when this full wine hit my mouth. Very dry which made my mouth smack but at the same time this wine attacks your taste buds with no Mercy. A ton of cranberry and cocoa on this flowing into a green mid-palate.
Second Taste: About an hour later on my second glass this wine smoothed out tremendously and became more luscious. Still the flavor profile was very interesting.
Score: 89+/100
If you can find this wine for $20 or under, buy a case!
So welcome to the my wine journal online! I am from ORYGUN as you might tell by the title of this here blog. This journal will of course be dedicated to the wines I drink on about a once a month basis. I would love to do more, but I am just not that financially stable yet to increase my wine consumption. (Probably a good thing) A big focus here will be on wines from Oregon; a larger focus from Southern Oregon. However, every once in a while I review a wine from elsewhere…so keep reading!
I enjoy Pinot Noir, but have a soft spot for Merlot. I am not afraid of whites and you might see them pretty often on here.
So as one casual wine drinker to another, welcome and enjoy!
WLTV
My Corkd Wine Journal- Gary V’s Wine Journal
- 2004 2004 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon - 84/100 on Cork'd
- 2004 2004 Vigna Vecchia Chianti Classico - 91/100 on Cork'd
- 2006 Amisfield Pinot Noir - 91/100 on Cork'd
- 2005 Beringer Vineyards California Collection White Merlot - 50/100 on Cork'd
- 2002 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Red - 85/100 on Cork'd
- 2004 Castoro Cellars Tempranillo Reserve - 81/100 on Cork'd
- 2003 Chateau D'Issan Margaux - 84/100 on Cork'd
- 2001 Chateau d'Yquem - 94/100 on Cork'd
- 2005 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir - 85/100 on Cork'd
- 2004 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard - 93/100 on Cork'd
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