Enobytes Wine Blog

November 2009 Wine Picks

2006 Bonny Doon Ca’ del Solo Sangiovese, CA
2005 D’Isanto & D’Isanto I Balzini “White Label”, Italy
2006 Villa Fiorita Abaco Pinot Noir, Piedmont, Italy
2007 Weninger Blaufränkisch, Burgenland, Austria

Holiday dinner pairings…if you fret the challenge of finding the perfect pairing, you’re not alone. It’s daunting to think about what goes with what; turkey is sort of like chicken, so should I serve it with a Chardonnay? Can I serve the same wine with oyster dressing as I would a sausage dressing? What about smoked meats? Sauces? Candied yams? Pumpkin pie?

These decisions would make anyone go nuts. Holiday meals are usually so varied when it comes to flavor, texture, sweetness level, acidity and oil content that it’s almost impossible to find the perfect match as the combinations are endless. If you’re looking for a few really good versatile wines that will pair with a myriad of foods, check out my recommendations from the slideshow below. There’s bound to be a few wines you’ll love and your guests will be impressed with your wine-savvy knowledge.

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It’s Wine Blogging Wednesday #54, the monthly virtual tasting event sure to educate and entertain any enophile. The recipe is simple. Find a host, create a theme, add bloggers, mix in some great tasting notes and post at 350° until tasty.

This month, our host David McDuff over at McDuff’s Food & Wine Trail hosted the event and selected our theme, "Passion for Piedmont". I was enthusiastic about this theme because the region always gets my blood rushing with excitement. I almost forgot about participating (time slipped away with family in town) but as luck would have it, I happened to look at my calendar this morning and realized I’d scribbled Piedmont WBW due! Doh! Read the rest of this entry »

As we returned home from our trip to California wine country, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a place like the Willamette Valley and even though it was fun to see some old friends, and find some new favorites, it was great to get back home.

After being on the road for a while, it was relaxing to get into the kitchen. One of the things that make this area so fabulous is the availability of ingredients to make practically anything. I was thinking something Italian and had a dish in mind. So I pulled out and old favorite of mine, the Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rufina 2005. I had not tasted this wine in a while and sort of swore off Sangiovese for a few months. It’s really a wonderful thing when you stay away from a particular varietal for a while and when you do try one, you find a fabulous wine that hits all the notes and impresses beyond your expectations. I got a little spoiled with a Sangiovese last year that I can no longer get so rather than be

disappointed, I’ve just not bought any for a while now and that included Chianti’s, not even an old favorite like Selvapiana.

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Dolcetto originates in the Piedmont region of Italy, where it is overshadowed by the more powerful and concentrated Nebbiolo and even Barbera. In California, there are less than 100 acres under vine, typically grown by expatriate Italians. The grape produces deeply-pigmented wines, thick with fruit character, high in natural acidity and having only mild tannins. Dolcetto is best consumed young, as its youthful fruit character fades quicker than its acidity.

Lake County can produce phenomenal wines and the 2005 Rosa D’ Oro Dolcetto is one of them. Sticking to old-school winemaking techniques, this winemaker has brought out the best in this grape. Read the rest of this entry »

As I was wandering the wine isles of a local grocery retailer the other day, I was happy that they were now carrying the Echelon label. When this label first came into existence in the late 90’s it represented above average quality wine from respected growing regions at below average prices and their Pinot Noir and the Merlot were standouts. My first instinct was to grab a bottle and check out the information on the label. Much to my surprise, the Pinot Noir lists French fruit but the wine is blended and bottled in California.

Many other American producers seem to be on this ‘source Pinot Noir from anywhere‘ mission. Beringer’s founders reserve Pinot Noir is now made from grapes coming from the Lombardy region of Italy. Pepperwood Grove’s Pinot Noir started this year with French Vin d’ pays grapes then it went to Chilean fruit, changed again to join Beringer bringing it’s grapes from Lombardy, Italy, only to change once again bringing the fruit from Australia.

Grapes from three different continents and four different viticulture regions all with the same label all within one vintage – I hope you Pepperwood Grove drinkers like change.

If you go to the Pepperwood Grove website after reading this article, you might be a little confused because the website lists the appellation as California. I have not seen any of their Pinot Noir from California on the shelf since 2006. Read the rest of this entry »