Enobytes Wine Blog

On November 10th, I attended the Northwest Food & Wine Festival’s 2nd annual Grand Food & Wine Tasting event held at the Portland Memorial Coliseum. This was my first time attending the festival and as Alder from Vinography can attest, public wine tasting affairs can vary greatly between the services they offer and the quality of products they bring to the table so I was a bit apprehensive at first. As I entered the Coliseum, my concerns soon diminished as I scanned the room consisting of 80+ quality vintners intermingled with 50+ local restaurants offering delectable food options.

Unlike my counterpart who was busy socializing and looking for the next great story :), my intent was to sample as many Oregon and Washington wines in a four hour period and then report out on my findings. Most wineries at public wine tastings will offer (on the average) 3-4 wine samples per vintner, so I expected to hit at least half of them in the four hour timeframe, which seems reasonable if you consider visiting 10 booths per hour.

To my amazement, many wineries offered 5-7 wine samples, which is great because it allows the winery to showcase their flight and it allows tasters to find something they really enjoy.

I spent more time than expected at each booth (due to the extra samples) so unfortunately I wasn’t able to visit but a third of the vintners, but it doesn’t matter because I thoroughly enjoyed tasting all of the wonderful wines offered by our gracious vintners and I am looking forward to next year’s event.

As for the reviews, I’ve divided my tasting notes into white and red categories and grouped them into our 100-point scoring system.

RED WINES

Scoring between 90-94 (Exceptional)

2004 Nicholas Cole Cellars "Camille", Washington
2005 Zerba Cellars Columbia Valley Syrah, Washington
2005 Zerba Cellars Merlot, Washington
2005 Michael David Earthquake Syrah, California
2005 Michael David Petite Petit, California
2006 Seufert Winery Pinot Noir Momtazi (Maysara), Oregon
2004 Quenett Zinfandel, Oregon

Scoring between 85-89 (Very Good)

2006 Erath Pinot Noir, Oregon
2005 Erath Pinot Noir, Estate Selection, Dundee Hills, Oregon
2004 Maryhill Syrah, Washington
2005 Tertulia Cellars Merlot, Washington
2005 Nicholas Cole Cellars "GraEagle Red Wing", Washington
2003 Roza Ridge Syrah, Washington
2005 Girardet Wine Cellars Grand Rouge, Oregon
2005 Girardet Wine Cellars Baco Noir, Oregon
2005 Zerba Cellars Cabernet, Oregon
2006 Dalla Vina Sangiovese Terra Madre, Washington
2005 Dalla Vina Cabernet, Washington
2005 Dalla Vina Syrah, Washington
2005 Zerba Sangiovese, Washington
2005 Zerba "Wild Z", Washington
2005 Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel, California
2005 Michael David Incognito Rouge, California
2005 Mannina Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, Washington
2005 Mannina Merlot, Pepper Bridge, Washington
2005 Mannina "Cali", Washington
2006 Seufert Winery Pinot Noir Bishop Creek, Oregon
2006 Seufert Winery Pinot Noir "Pinot-Licious", Oregon
2005 Kana Winery Lemberger "Old Vine", Washington
2005 Kana Winery "Dark Star", Washington
2005 Kana Winery "Scarlet Fire" Reserve Red, Washington
2005 Kana Winery "Workingman’s Red", Washington
2005 Kana Winery Yakima Valley Syrah, Washington
2005 Cascade Cliffs Nebbiolo, Washington
2005 Cascade Cliffs Syrah, Washington
2004 Quenett Barbara, Oregon
2004 Quenett Merlot, Oregon
2004 Quenett "Redd", Oregon
2004 Quenett Sangiovese, Oregon
2004 Quenett Syrah, Oregon
2004 Quenett Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon
2006 Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte Red, Washington
2004 Anam Cara Pinot Noir, Nicholas Estate, Oregon
2005 Anam Cara Pinot Noir, Nicholas Estate, Oregon
2005 Anam Cara Pinot Noir Reserve, Oregon
2005 Chatter Creek Syrah, Lonesome Spring Ranch, Washington
2006 Chatter Creek Grenache, Washington
2003 Chatter Creek Cabernet, Alder Ridge Vineyard, Washington
2004 Trentadue Petite Sirah, North Coast, California
2005 Trentadue Zinfandel, Sonoma County, California
2005 Waving Tree Estate Syrah, Washington
2004 Waving Tree Cabernet, McKinley Springs Vineyard, Washington
2004 Wind River Cellars Merlot, Washington
2005 Wind River Cellars Lemberger, Washington
2004 Wind River Cellars Syrah, Washington
2005 Dry Hollow Vineyards Estate Merlot, Oregon
2005 Dry Hollow Vineyards Estate Syrah, Oregon

Scoring between 80-84 (Good)

2000 Girardet Wine Cellars Cabernet, Oregon
2005 Dalla Vina Silo Vino Cabernet Merlot blend, Washington
2005 Kana Winery Tempranillo, Washington
2005 Waving Tree Barbera, Washington
2005 Wind River Pinot Noir, Washington
2005 Wind River Tempranillo, Washington
2005 Dry Hollow Vineyards Cabernet, Oregon

WHITE WINES

Scoring between 85-89 (Very Good)

2006 Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon
2006 Erath Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon
2006 Tertulia Columbia Valley Viognier, Washington
2004 Girardet Wine Cellars Chardonnay, Oregon
2005 Girardet Wine Cellars Pinot Gris Late Harvest, Oregon
2005 Dalla Vina Silo Vino Riesling, Washington
2006 Kana Winery Cuvee Blanche, Washington
2006 Alexandria Nicole Viognier, Oregon
2006 Maryhill Pinot Gris, Washington
2006 Maryhill Rose of Sangiovese, Washington

Scoring between 80-84 (Good)

2006 Dalla Vina Chardonnay, Washington
2006 Maryhill Viognier, Washington
2006 Maryhill Sauvignon Blanc, Washington

~ Pamela Heiligenthal

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During a recent wine event, I had the opportunity to taste a hundred different samplings. The majority of the wines tasted were very good in quality; some even exceptional; but one thing I noticed midway through the event was that the greater part of the offerings fell into what I like to call, "the safe zone". Read the rest of this entry »

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If you live in the Pacific Northwest and you love wine, why not find some
time to join in on the fun by visiting the wine country and sampling some of
the best wine Oregon and Washington has to offer. This traditional Thanksgiving
weekend is the oldest and largest event in the Pacific Northwest and visitors
come from miles to visit hundreds of wineries located throughout the Washington
and Oregon region. Read the rest of this entry »

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A new trend in the winemaking industry is going "green". To date, there are 380+ biodynamic wine producers worldwide who are eliminating pesticides, synthetic sprays and chemical additives from their winemaking process. This trend, otherwise known as sustainable or biodynamic growing, produces purer grapes and eliminates the toxins; it’s a cleaner way to produce a better product. This method has obvious advantages; reducing the aftermath of hangovers and headaches seems obvious since eliminating as many toxins from wine would be healthier to consume; and it’s obviously better for the environment. But what about taste? I began to think about all of the biodynamic and/or organic wines I’ve tasted over the years and I had a hard time recalling… Read the rest of this entry »

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November 2007 Wine Picks

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The Oregon Liquor Control Board Commission (OLCC) passed a petition to allow eleven new grape varietals to be blended with other varietals, as long as they don’t exceed 25%. Until now, Oregon wines labeled with a grape variety had to be at least 90% of that variety.

The varietals, which include Carmenere, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo and Zinfandel are now allowed to be blend up to 25%. Other varietals which make up more than 90% of Oregon production will still require the minimum 90% varietal.

The change was made in part to improve the quality of the southern and eastern Oregon wines. According to the OLCC, “The new rule gives winemakers the flexibility to stay competitive on national and international markets”.

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At holiday time when offered something to drink, use my guidelines:

1. Ask if anyone has died lately from whatever you are being offered.
2. If the answer is yes, respectfully ask if it was anyone you knew; after
   that you are own your own and let your conscience be your guide.
3. If everyone else has already tried it and no one threw up, you will probably
   be okay. Big emphasis on the probably part.
4. Even if it’s not wine, use the taste spit and then swallow only if
   you’re sure method.
5. “Beer before wine you’ll be fine” does not always work.

Read the rest of this entry »

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