Dundee Hills Oregon Wine Tasting @Sokol Blosser Vineyards #WBC12

We've just had a snowstorm.  It s January 2013, I've poured myself a glass of scotch, sat down at the computer, and now I am reminiscing about the Dundee Hills in Oregon.

August 2012  The first cork was popped by Sokol Blosser's Jenny Mosbacher on the bus. (now THAT's hosptality!)  I was traveling with my favorite wine professionals, Luiz, his wife Nanci #WINELOVER, Valerie #CHEZVINO, and forty or so other close wine blogging fiends (that is a freudian typo for friends!) from the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference.

The white wine that we sipped from plastic cups as we drove through Portland, Oregon to the Dundee Hills is lost to my distant memory, but was good, and a great way to introduce us to the amazing regon that is the Dundee Hills.  I had already fallen in love with Anam Cara wine at Valerie's birthday party just days before, but little did I know what was to come....


The event was held in the bosom of the rolling Dundee Hills, at Sokol Blosser Family Estate.  The area is beautiful, and good for growing grapes too.  After a outdoor tour and lecture on the terroir (really, I just used the word terroir in a sentence, and my head didn't explode) from Argyle Winery's wine maker Rollin Soles, we were ushered into the Sokol Blosser fermenting room for a tasting provided by the local wineries.

I am biased to bubbly.  The first wine I tasted was a sparkling wine from Argyle, their `09 Brute.  I may have yelled at Rollin "Why don't you sell this in London?!?"  It was my favorite of the night, and to this day remains my favorite American sparkling wine. It rocked my world (and I was still sober).

But why stop there?  I love writing about wine because it affords me the opportunity to taste so many fantastic/uncommon/small production types.  Lang Pinot Gris, Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, they stand out as delicious wines that I really liked.  What started as a Trader Joe's Wine Shop blog has turned into my own personal discoveries, and had led me on adventures that are ripped from the pages of romance novels. REALLY. But I write about those stories on my private "50 Shades of Wine Writing" blog.

Meanwhile, after a cold shower of Bronco Chardonnay... back to the tasting.

PINOT NOIR.  Yeah, Oregon rocks it.  The Stoller Pinot Noir Rose (no one can buy that anymore, it was delicious, and it went FAST).  Whew, I went back for more.  In between sips, I realized that I was living the life that Thomas Jefferson WISHED he could have had.  I was tasting premium American grown and made wine from Lewis and Clarke's backyard. I have live in Europe.  I have tasted the centuries old traditional wine, and it is great, as it should be.  But in the Dundee Hills?  I was drinking something distinctly American, Rollin is a man who wears a cowboy hat in the hot August sun, and looks the part, but he can hold his own with his peers from Maison Jaquesson.  After all, they are ultimately farmers, just with a different accent.

Sure, it's roots are European, and that shows, but we now"own" it.  As I sat with the LA rooted brand ambassador Lee Medina from Sokol Blosser over dinner on the patio with my Canadian, and Brazilian American friends, we were living Jefferson's dream, watching the sun set and planning for our futures. We've done it.  There is great wine to be had, and we don't need to fly to France to taste it.

Willamette Valley Estate Pinot Noir`09 $45.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

"It's Willamette, Dammit!" Turner Oregon.  ETOH 14.5% They take this wine seriously, and this Pinot is serious.  The wine is light, but has long finish.  I'm thinking Thanksgiving turkey. This is a vineyard that cares. It cares about its wine, and about the earth.  They talk the talk and they walk the walk.  This is a sustainable, happy wine. I'm a convert.

Tapena Garnacha`10 $10.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

@Tapenawine  Spain. Garnacha. Ten Bucks. The name and price say it all.  ETOH 13% Pena means friend, and tapas is small plates.  Have a bunch of friends over, mix up a lot of food, dig in, kick back drink a few bottles while you eat, talk and dream about the future.  40,000 cases were made.

Decible Pinot Noir `10 $28.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

New Zealand Martinborough.  Daniel is from Philly but moved to NZ.  This is a Pinot with an undertone of minerality.  I may be imagining this as I think of NZ, but it is very interesting, and has a great flavor.  This is a 100 case wine, so seriously, buy it and talk about it.  It is Distributed in NY, so if you see it, snap some up, and talk about it while you eat mushroom risotto, or go out to eat and order a bottle.  This wine is in a lot of restaurants in PA.  Try it, you'll like it.

Quatro ??? $17.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

A four grape variety Portuguese wine, Blanche our pourer was very nice, but I have no idea what the name of this wine is.  It is a good burger wine.  I think that I can fix this post after the live blogging when I add the picture, but for Twitter, this is all you will get...  It is a dark fruity wine kind of like a Tempranillo with a light touch.

Cornerstone Pinot Noir`09 $50.00 Live blog red #WBC12

Hi Craig!!!  This is an Oregon Pinot Noir,  I'll just drink your yummy wine while you talk about how you make it.  Ok, I'll take a picture and then wonder how many bottles I can fit in my suitcase for the flight home.  This is a great wine that would pair with the char on a perfect thick slap of grilled salmon.  ETOH 13.9%  So you can buy three bottles and the hangover won't be too bad.  This is a great wine to impress people with!

Archery Summit Premire Cuvee Pinot Noir`10 $48.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

This is a very fruity pinot.  WOW.  Fruit upon fruit upon fruit. 14.5% ETOH it is a big wine.

J. Christopher Pinot Noir `10 $30.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

Winery started by J Somers.  From the Chehalem Mountains AVA.  This is a complex Pinot.  This is a Pinot that would stand up to a fatty lamb.

Mary Hill Zinfandel`08 $16.99 Live blog red #WBC12

@MaryhillWinery presented by Rich Marshall and Carley from the Columbia Gorge Basin.  Total Production 85,000 cases 15th largest winery in the state.   ETOH 14.5% Very Well Balanced, a favorite for lamb and game. In addition to a winery, they have an amphitheater, check out their website:  www.maryhillwinery.com

Seven of Hearts Red Blend Chatte D`Avignon `10 $25.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

Byron Dooley from Seven of Hearts wines small production out of Carlton Oregon, and Dundee Oregon. This is a Rhone Style red wine. 252 cases made.  Grapes are from the Columbia Valley. This is a grilled meat wine! ETOH 14.3%

Gina Gallo Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon `08 $40.00 Live blog red #WBC12

Yes, THAT Gallo family, and Gina, now back from maternity leave is giving us this Cabernet Sauvignon.It is a BIG wine.  Kelly Conrad presented it to us, and she puts a great spin on this wine.  This is the very first vintage of the Signature Series.  Thank you Gina for upping the bar!

Johan Vineyard Chardonnay Reserve`09 $33.00 Live Blog White #WBC12

This is a lovely, rich Chardonnay.  Really, the vineyard made a great choice to pour us this wine. it is easy to drink, and would class up any drinks party.  I'd love to have it with canapes and then I'd talk about small producers who are doing amazing work.  ETOC 12.5% - I like finding gems like this. Thank you @Johan_Vineyards

Alexana Pinot Gris`11 $26.00 Live Blog white #WBC12

ETOH 12.1% Dundee AVA. Nice, light slightly effervescent thanks to the minerality.  This is a good, light wine for a special summer meal.  It is a mouthful of flavor, and it would pair well with Asian foods.

Coppala Winery Votre Sante Chardonnay`10 $12.99 Live Blog White #WBC12

Thanks to the Godfather, FFC started making wine. #CoppolaWBC  This wine brings all things fun and Italian to the USA.  A true hybrid, and a great wine. Buy this, have some friends over, and re-live the American Dream. (serve some grilled chicken Caesar salad or some crab cakes and you'll be very happy!)

Brooks Ara Riesling `09 $25.00 Live Blog White #WBC12

Jamie Brooks presented this 12% dry Riesling.  This was her Brother's (the late Jimmy Brooks) dream, to restore Riesling to Oregon.  He did it.  Look out Germany, there's a new kid in town.  Dry, tart, and is famous to pair with red lentil soup. (as served by Chef  Marcus Samuelsson)

Amity Vineyards, `09 Estate Dry Riesling $20.00 Live Blog White #WBC12

Matt Gibson.  Only 91 cases made, so this is a treat. I like small producer wines.  15 acre estate vineyard. Grapes planted in 1971 and 1973.  Vineyard is dry farmed and certified sustainable.  Now to taste the wine:  It dances on my tongue.  gives a huge mouth full of flavor and then disappears. ETOH 12.5 This is an Oyster wine.  I'd steam mussel in it myself. with butter. Loved it!

Rodnet Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay `10 $20.00 Live Blog White #wbc12

Robert Larsen from Rodney Strong poured for us. This is a light, bright, 100% chardonnay made in 100% French Oak.  Have it with some salmon. Rodney Strong is a national brand, I 'm sure that you've seen it.

August Cellars `08 Riesling $14.00 Live Blog White #WBC12

My favorite wine of the session!  August Cellars Riesling from Washington State  TS August poured for us, he's the facility manager, and his brother is the winemaker.  This man is AMAZING, and his wine is a classic Riesling,  Low ETOH at 7.5, with some acidity, this wants BBQ. It is served at a PDX Peruvian Restaurant LIMO and it pairs really well with cerveche.  THANK YOU!!!

Long Hand Sonoma Chardonnay `10 BevMo Wine Live blog whites and Rose #WBC12

Mr Wong of BevMo came to see us, and I guess that there was a wine, but I didn't get a chance to drink it or write about it.  And, I have no idea what the name of it is. I finally got to take a picture and taste it. It is a smooth, rich California Chardonnay.  I asked for the price point, but Mr. Wong was busy.

Banfi Fontana Candida Frascati `10 $13 Live Blog whites and rose #WBC12

@BanfiBanter  Hello Banfi Fontana Candida, you have something new for us.  Restyling an ancient wine , Banfi brings Frascati back to the people.  Artichokes.  Have it with artichokes.