2020: My Favorite Wines

What were some of my favorite wines of the past year?

As 2021 has arrived, it's time to reflect upon the past year, to remember and savor pleasant memories. I've already posted a couple of my annual Favorite Lists, My Favorite Restaurants and My Favorite Food-Related Items, and it's time now to cover my Favorite Wines. As I said before, these Favorite Lists will be different, and smaller, from prior years due to the pandemic. However, there are still items deserving of being highlighted, and I will endeavor to showcase them. 

Usually, I have three lists of my Favorite Wines, divided by price point. This year, I will only have a single list, including wines at all price points. This list includes wines that not only I enjoyed, but which I also found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be especially delicious, something more unique or just excellent values for the price. They all stand out, for some particular reason, above the other wines that I've tasted this past year.

This is a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" wines out there. It is primarily the wines which spoke to me the loudest, even when they were subtle wines. These are all wines that I strongly recommend and which I believe many other wine lovers would also enjoy.

The wines are not listed in any particular order and each choice is linked to my more detailed prior review. All of these value wines are worth your consideration but please also note that the prices are approximations and the actual price may vary in your area. In addition, some of the wines might not be available in your local region, though you might be able to order them from the winery or an online store, dependent on your state's shipping laws.

Wines Under $20

1) 2016 K7 Plavac Mali ($19)

This wine was a joint effort from 7 wineries in the Komarna region of Croatia. Made from 100% Plavac Mali, it's certified organic, has a 14.5% ABV, and was aged for 24 months in a combination of Croatian, American and French oak barrels. It possessed a medium-red color, slightly translucent, and the initial aromas included black fruit and subtle spice. This wine presented an interesting complex melange of flavors, including blackberry, plum, blueberry, black pepper, hints of vanilla, and a touch of chocolate. It also possessed a lengthy, satisfying finish, pure deliciousness. The tannins were moderate, and it was a wine that's probably best accompanied with food, something hearty, a juicy steak or even just a burger. This wine was a very good value and an excellent introduction to Croatian wines and the Plavac Mali grape. 

2) 2018 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Rosé of Pinot Noir ($16-$18) 

This Oregon wine was fermented in stainless steel, and then aged for three months, 95% in stainless steel and 5% in neutral oak. With a 13.8% ABV, this wine had a rich pink color and a pleasing nose of red fruits. On the palate, it was dry and crisp, with delicious and complex strawberry, watermelon, cherry and mild citrus flavors, and a hint of herbal notes. It was fresh and clean, with a satisfying finish, and would be excellent on its own or paired with food. This would be great with seafood, pizza or even hamburgers. 

3) 2016 Karabunar "Bulgarian Heritage" Dimyat ($12-$15)
An intriguing Bulgarian wine, made with 100% Dimyat, an indigenous grape, and with a 13% ABV. On the nose, there were intriguing spice notes that reminded me a little of Gewurtztraminer. There were also some notes of pear and citrus. On the palate, I was again reminded in part of a Gewurtztraminer, with a nice spice element, along with tasty notes of pear, citrus and toasted nuts. Very crisp and with a moderate richness, it was a pleasant and refreshing wine. At this price, it's an excellent value, over-delivering for this price point.

4) NV Keush Origins Brut ($19.99)
An Armenian Sparkling wine made from two indigenous grapes, 60% Voskehat and 40% Khatouni. It was produced by the Méthode Traditionelle, aged for at least 22 months on the lees, and had a 12% ABV. When you taste this bubbly, it will remind you of Champagne. This was a serious sparkling wine. It was dry, fresh and crisp, with a complex melange of flavors, including peach, pear, citrus, white flowers and a touch of brioche. It had a creamy and rich texture, pure pleasure on the palate. It had a lingering and clean finish and over delivered at this price point.

5) 2019 Oenops Apla Dry Rosé ($14.99)
From Greece, this Rosé is a blend of indigenous grapes, 50% Xinomavro, 30% Limniona, and 20% Mavroudi, all from sustainable vineyards which are 15-45 years old. The grapes were fermented in concrete tanks and the wine wass aged on the lees for about four months before bottling. This Rosé was easy drinking, though it was far from simple, being fairly complex, especially at its low price point. With a 12.8% ABV, this Rosé had a rich pink color and an appealing nose of red fruits and citrus, and a savory hint. On the palate, it was crisp and dry, with delicious flavors of strawberry, cherry and hints of savory, almost a touch of tomato. The finish pleasantly lingered and it was a nicely balanced wine. 

Wines From $20 to $50

1) 2018 Amity Vineyards White Pinot Noir ($25)
Another Oregon wine, this Pinot Noir was lightly pressed, fermented in stainless steel and then aged sur lie for a time. At 13.9% ABV, this wine had a light pink color, almost like a Rosé, and on the nose, there was a blend of white fruit flavors, including tropical notes. Take a sip and you'd be impressed with its complex melange of rich fruit flavors, including melon, pear, pineapple and a hint of cherry. There was so much happening in your glass. Everything was well balanced and it was pure delicious, definitely excellent on its own though it would pair well with food too. Good acidity, a lengthy, pleasing finish, and you'll crave a second, and third, glass. 

2) 2017 Hyland Estates Old Vine Pinot Noir ($45)
Also from Oregon, this Pinot Noir, with a 13.3% ABV, spent about 9 months in French oak. With a medium red color, it possessed an appealing aroma of red fruits and subtle spice notes. On the palate, it was compelling and elegant, complex and silky, with delicious flavors of cherry and raspberry, with a mild spiciness, balanced acidity, well integrated tannins, and a touch of earthiness. The lengthy finish was satisfying and alluring, and beckoned for you to take another sip. 

3) 2018 Wine & Soul Guru Branco (about $35)
From the Douro region of Portugal, this compelling white wine was produced from a field blend, from a 60 year old vineyard, which is approximately 25% Viosinho, 25% Rabigato, 25% Codega do Larinho and 25% Gouveio. The wine was fermented and aged in French barriques for about seven months. With a 12.5% ABV, this wine was fresh, crisp and delicious, with a complex blend of flavors, including peach, grapefruit, mineral notes, and a touch of oak. Medium-bodied, it possessed a pleasing finish and a nice elegance. Would love to pair this wine with seafood, from oysters to cod.

4) 2014 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve ($40) 

Once again, an Oregon wine hits this list. This Pinot was a select barrel blend, aged for sixteen months in French oak, about 20% new. With a 14.3% ABV, it had a light ruby red color, with an alluring aroma of red fruits and subtle spices. On the palate, it presented a complex melange of flavors, bright cherry, a touch of vanilla, a mild, spicy backbone, and a hint of clove. The finish was lengthy and pleasing, with a bit more spice. Medium-bodied, interesting and delicious. 

5) 2018 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir ($42)
South Africa can produce excellent Pinot too. The wine was aged for about ten months, in a variety of French oak barrels, and was a pleasant red wine to drink and you can easily have a second, or even third glass over the course of an evening. With a dark red hue, though still partially opaque, the wine had an alluring nose of red fruits and spice, a mild floral note and a hint of earth. On the palate, it was smooth and silky, with an intriguing complex melange of flavors, including strawberry, cherry and plum, mild spice notes (including a peppery aspect), and a subtle, underlying earthiness. Nice acidity, a clean taste, and a lengthy, satisfying finish. Simply delicious.

6) 2019 Greek Wine Cellars Flowers Assyrtiko (about $25)
A Greek white wine, it had a 13% ABV with a pleasing aroma of citrus. From your first sip, you would be entranced by its freshness, crisp acidity, lemon and apple notes, and its mineral backbone. There was an interesting complexity to the wine as well, elevating it above some of the simple Assyrtiko you might find. All of its elements worked harmoniously together and it was simply delicious and refreshing, a great choice for seafood or other light fare. 

7) 2018 Éric Teixer Chat Fou Côtes du Rhône (about $23)
This French Rhône wine was a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% white grapes, including Clairette, Viognier, and Chasselas. The grapes were fermented with native yeasts in concrete tanks, and it then was aged for a year in concrete. The wine was certified organic, unfiltered, unfined, and had a 13% ABV.  The wine was intended to be fresh and light, and it certainly accomplished that objective. It had an alluring fruity nose, with hints of spice. If you took a few moments to ponder over the wine, you would realize it offered some intriguing complexity. It was an easy drinking wine but it was far from simple. Besides the delicious red fruit flavors, cherry and raspberry, there were spice notes as well as a subtle minerality. It was a well balanced wine with a very pleasing finish, excellent acidity.

Wines Over $50

1) 2017 Wine & Soul Pintas (about $90)
The grapes for this Portuguese wine were foot-trodden, and the wine aged for 22 months in French barriques. With a 13.7% ABV, this wine first evidenced a seductive aroma, subtle and complex, drawing you into its beauty. On the palate, there was an intriguing and absolutely delicious melange of complex flavors, such as ripe plum, blackberry, blueberry, mild spice notes, a few floral hints, and a touch of earthiness. Full-bodied and bold, yet elegant, with well-integrated tannins and a delightfully lengthy finish. Well-balanced and compelling, this was a superb wine, certainly evidence that Portugal can make world-class wines. It was an amazing pairing with lamb. This is also a wine that should age well for many years to come, something definitely you should add to your wine cellar. It earns my highest recommendation.

2) 2017 Wine & Soul 10 Year Old Tawny Port ($55)
Also from Wine & Soul, this Port was aged closer to 15 years, spending time in 50+ year old, 630 liter, chestnut barrels. At 19.5% ABV, its nose was compelling, with a subtle sense of sweetness amidst dried fruit and nut notes. On the palate, the Port was more dry, with only a hint of sweetness, and possessed a complex and beguiling flavor profile, with elements of dried fruit, cherry, salted nuts, honey, caramel, earthiness, and more. It drank more like a 20 year-old Port, being well balanced and well integrated, and I could have sat there all evening just sipping this Port. I can easily understand how this Port could convince more people to drink it, especially as it was more dry than sweet. This Port also earns my highest recommendation. 

3) 2014 Dominio Fournier Reserva ($50)
This Spanish wine, made from 100% Tinta del Pais, was fermented in stainless steel and wooden vats, and aged in French oak barrels for at least 18 months. With a 15% ABV, this wine had a dark red, nearly black, color with an intriguing aroma of black fruit, intense spice, and a touch of smokiness. On the palate, it was a powerful wine, yet with restraint, as the tannins weren't overpowering and it possessed a complex and concentrated melange of flavors, including plum, black berry, dark spices, a little earthiness, and more. Well-balanced, a lengthy, satisfying finish, and nice acidity. This was a wine best paired with a juicy steak, or similar hearty dish. 

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Nine countries/regions made the list this year, and Oregon took the lead with four spots with Portugal a close second with three spots. Greece came in third with two spots, while Croatia, Bulgaria, Armenia, South Africa, France, and Spain all had a single spot. As for wine types, the list is also broken down into two Rosé, four Whites, seven Reds, one Sparkling, and one Fortified. I have other wine recommendations on my blog and you just have to search for them. 

If you have some of your own recommendations for excellent wines you've enjoyed, please add them to the comments.

Island Creek Oyster Bar: Reopened & Still Excellent

One of my favorite restaurants, Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington, has recently reopened, and is now available for dine-in, patio dining, and take-out. Their current hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4pm-9pm, Friday & Saturday 4pm-10pm, and Sunday 12pm-8pm (Brunch and Dinner). Hopefully in the near future, they'll reopen for Lunch as well. 

Last week, I dined there with a few family members and we all thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. Yes, it's a bit different now due to the pandemic and the safety precautions restaurants need to take, but the food and wine remain as impressive as always. They serve their full menu, the same type of items they served before the pandemic, so there's plenty of good seafood choices, from raw to fried. And their drinks list is basically the same too, with a fascinating wine list, numerous cocktails, beers, and other drinks. 

Every day, they offer a special $1 oyster, until they are sold out, and we ordered a dozen of them, the Paines Creek Oysters from Brewster, MA. A nice briny taste and they worked well with a glass of Orlean Borbon Manzanilla Sherry ($9). The dry salinity of the Sherry complemented the oysters. More people should be drinking Sherry. 

From their Raw Bar menu, we also had some Scallop Ceviche ($12), with cherry tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime. Fresh, tender pieces of scallops with bright acidity and a little bit of spicy heat.  An excellent summer choice. 

Also from the Raw Bar was the Yellowfin Tuna Poke ($14), with sesame, chili, nori. As usual, it consisted of silky tuna, with tangy citrus and mild spiciness. The thin, crisp taro root chips were a nice platform for the poke and the sesame seeds added a bit of crunchiness and a nutty element. One of my favorite choices when I dine here. 

The Clam Chowder ($11) is made with hand-dug clams, buttermilk biscuits, and house cured bacon. Creamy, with plenty of pieces of clam, a smoky kick from the bacon, and a nice crunch from the biscuits. 

Even something as simple as the ICOB Caesar ($12), with garlic croutons, white anchovy, and Pecorino, was very well done. Fresh ingredients, well balanced, provided a delicious taste.

One of the highlights of the dinner was the Swordfish Belly Pastrami ($10), atop white rye and topped by a peach mostarda. A nice smokiness to the tender swordfish, with a touch of sweetness from the peach, and some spiciness from the rye. It's creative and tasty, a definite winner of a dish.

We received a complimentary appetizer too, the Blue Crab & Artichoke Dip ($13), which is served with grilled naan. This was another big favorite at the table, and the cheesy crust atop the dip was so enticing. 

With dinner, I opted for a bottle of the 2016 Andrew Rich Marine Sedimentary Pinot Noir ($72) from the Willamette Valley, Oregon. As this wine is about $35 retail, its reasonably priced at the restaurant. Silky smooth, complex, and alluring, with an intriguing melange of flavors, including black cherry, raspberry, some dark spice, a touch of earth and some mineral notes. Well balanced and elegant with a lingering finish. Pure pleasure on the palate.

As an entree, I opted for the Lobster Roe Noodles ($34), with braised short rib, oyster mushrooms, and Pecorino. The slightly reddish noodles were cooked perfectly, and were an excellent palate for the tender short rib, ample and sweet lobster meat, and earthy mushrooms. A hearty and delicious dish, which went very well with the Pinot Noir.

Everyone else ordered a a warm, buttered Lobster Roll ($28) with cole slaw and their home-made kettle chips. The roll is stuffed with warm, sweet lobster, enhanced by the buttered bun, and the sandwich remains together, rather than falling apart like at some restaurants. It is everything you want from a buttered Lobster Roll. And those kettle chips are a delight, with a great crunch to them.

For dessert, we went with one of their standards, the Banoffee Pie ($9) with dulce de leche. This is an English dessert pie, commonly a blend of bananas and toffee, though Island Creek uses dulce de leche. The banana slices atop the pie have a light, crunchy layer of dulce de leche and would be a tasty dessert on their own. The silky and sweet cream is compelling, a fine topping for the thick banana slices beneath. Make sure to save room for dessert. 

Service was excellent, with a few minor differences. For example, once the server pours your initial glasses of wine from a bottle, they aren't permitted to later refill your glasses, You just refill them yourselves, which is  fine. If you want bread, it is brought to you in a small box, that contains two slices and a plastic tub of butter. Just measures intended to increase the safety of their guests, which is very important at this time. The restaurant truly seems concerned and cognizant of safety issues, which help to reassure guests. 

The food was as excellent as always, and their have an intriguing wine list, with plenty of less common selections, sure to please any adventurous wine lovers. The seafood is fresh, prepared well, and is worth the price. I'm so pleased that they have reopened, and look forward to my next visit. 

Yamhill Valley Vineyards: Pinot Blanc, Rosé & Pinot Noir

As Spring progresses, and the weather gets warmer and warmer, many people start craving more White wines, Rosés, and lighter Reds. Oregon is an excellent region to find such wines, from Pinot Blanc to Pinot Noir. One of the compelling wineries in Oregon, located in the Willamette Valley, is the Yamhill Valley Vineyards. I received media samples of a few of their wines and was impressed with their taste and quality.

Yamhill Valley Vineyards was established in the foothills of Oregon’s Coast Range Mountains, in 1983, by Denis Burger, Elaine McCall, and David Hinrichs, and they initially bought 34 acres, planting it with Pinot Noir. Over time, they purchased additional land, until they now own 150 acres, and have planted other grapes, including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling. They have a current capacity of about 15,000 cases, growing, producing and bottling all of their wines on their estate.

In 2005, the McMinnville AVA, a subappellation of the Willamette Valley AVA, was established, and Yamhill Valley Vineyards fell within this new AVA, making them the oldest winery in that region. The McMinnville AVA currently has about 16 vineyards and about 750 acres of vineyards. Making McMinnville more unique, it's one of few AVAs that is designated in part based on elevation. Vineyards in this AVA must be located between 200 and 1,000 feet above sea level, and their soil is also different from much of the rest of the area. The soil is mostly uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silt.

The 2016 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Blanc ($25) was fermented in stainless steel, and then aged for seven months, 97% in stainless steel and 3% in neutral oak. With a 13.5% ABV, this wine has a compelling nose of stone fruits and floral accents, and on the palate, it is juicy and crisp, with delicious flavors of peach, melon, pineapple and nutty hints. Easy drinking but with a nice complexity and a lengthy finish. Very food friendly, this would work well with seafood to chicken, salads to soups. Or you could just sit outside and sip a glass on its own.

The 2018 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Rosé of Pinot Noir ($16-$18) was fermented in stainless steel, and then aged for three months, 95% in stainless steel and 5% in neutral oak. With a 13.8% ABV, this wine has a rich pink color and a pleasing nose of red fruits. On the palate, it is dry and crisp, with delicious and complex strawberry, watermelon, cherry and mild citrus flavors, and a hint of herbal notes. It is fresh and clean, with a satisfying finish, and is excellent on its own or paired with food. This would be great with seafood, pizza or even hamburgers. You should definitely stock up on this Rosé, as it will please yourself, as well as any guests you invite over.

The 2014 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve ($40) is a select barrel blend, aged for sixteen months in French oak, about 20% new. With a 14.3% ABV, it has a light ruby red color, with an alluring aroma of red fruits and subtle spices. On the palate, it presents a complex melange of flavors, bright cherry, a touch of vanilla, a mild, spicy backbone, and a hint of clove. The finish is lengthy and pleasing, with a bit more spice. Medium-bodied, interesting and delicious. This is a type of Pinot Noir which I enjoy, and which should please any Pinot lover.

Check out the wines of Yamhill Valley Vineyards. It's the perfect time to experience the wines of Oregon.

2017 Hyland Estates Old Vine Pinot Noir: "Land Not Hand"

It's one of the oldest wineries in Oregon, and its vineyards were initially planted with Pinot Noir, which may have been originally sourced from Alsace. An intriguing origin tale.

Hyland Estates, located in the McMinnville AVA of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, was first planted in 1971 by four families, the Kreimeyers, Markleys, Welches, and Trenhailes. One of the original Pinot Noir clones that was planted was the mysterious Coury clone, named after the pioneer Charles Coury, who came to Oregon in 1965, believing the area would be excellent for Pinot. It is believed that around 1964, Charles brought Pinot Noir cuttings from Alsace, and these became known as the Coury Clone, said to possess a "signature spice and elegant texture." Today, Hyland Estates grows over 30 acres of the Coury clone.

The estate is also now owned by Laurent Montalieu, Danielle Andrus Montalieu, and John Niemeyer, with Laurent acting as winemaker in conjunction with Anne Sery. Ranging over 200 acres, the vineyards are planted on red volcanic Jory soil, which is also the state soil of Oregon. Though Pinot Noir is their primary specialty, and they grow a number of different clones, their vineyards also grow a variety of other grapes, such as Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewurtztraminer.

They practice Biodynamic agriculture and their grapes are LIVE certified grapes, indicative of their environmental and socially responsible winegrowing. The estate has also adopted a "land not hand" philosophy, a minimal interventionist stance, believing that the wine is primarily made in the vineyard, not in the winery.

The 2017 Hyland Estates Old Vine Pinot Noir ($45) is a single vineyard wine, made from a blend of different Pinot Noir clones, some as much as 48 years old, including 65% Coury clone. With a 13.3% ABV, this wine spent about 9 months in French oak and only about 1968 cases were produced.   Their goal was to "showcase the entire vineyard and the best of the clones planted throughout." With a medium red colorist possessed an appealing aroma of red fruits and subtle spice notes. On the palate, it was compelling and elegant, complex and silky, with delicious flavors of cherry and raspberry, with a mild spiciness, balanced acidity, well integrated tannins, and a touch of earthiness. The lengthy finish was satisfying and alluring, and beckoned for you to take another sip. An excellent Pinot, this earns my hearty recommendation.

2018 Amity Vineyards White Pinot Noir: Elegance in a Bottle

White Pinot Noir? In short, red grapes can make white wine as the color mainly comes from the skins. If you press red grapes lightly, with little to no contact with the skins, you can get white, or pale pink, juice. You've probably drank "white" Pinot Noir before, if you've enjoyed Champagne, which sometimes is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, or even a Blanc de Noirs which is a white Champagne made from just Pinot Noir grapes. However, outside of Champagne and other sparkling wines, white Pinot Noir is more of a rarity. However, based on the quality of the 2018 Amity Vineyards White Pinot Noir, let's hope others decide to produce such wines.

The first vineyards, in what would become the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in 2006, were planted by Jerry and Anne Preston of Amity Vineyards in 1971. The primary grapes were Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc. Amity would then be purchased in 1974 by Myron Redford and Janis Checchia, becoming the first bonded winery in 1976. Myron's goal was to produce first class Pinot Noir. About thirty years later, in 2014, the winery was sold once again to Ryan Harms from Union Wine Company & his brother, Eric Harms. He is continuing the tradition of producing quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling.

It appears that one of the new wines that Ryan Harms is now producing is a White Pinot Noir, the first vintage apparently being 2015. I recently enjoyed the 2018 Amity Vineyards White Pinot Noir ($25), the first vintage of this wine I've tasted. The winery feels this was an excellent vintage, "with wines drinking fine in their youth, but with the ability to improve with age in the bottle." To produce this particular wine, the Pinot grapes, 69% from the Willamette Valley and 31% from Eola-Amity Hills, were harvested in the morning and then whole bunch pressed, though using a light press. It's fermented in stainless steel and then aged sur lie for a time.

At 13.9% ABV, this wine has a light pink color, almost like a Rosé, and on the nose, there's a blend of white fruit flavors, including tropical notes. Take a sip and you'll be impressed with its complex melange of rich fruit flavors, including melon, pear, pineapple and a hint of cherry. There is so much happening in your glass. Everything is well balanced and it's pure delicious, definitely excellent on its own though it will pair well with food too. Good acidity, a lengthy, pleasing finish, and you'll crave a second, and third, glass. I drank this wine with Thanksgiving dinner and my family and friends all loved it, asking where they could buy some. I later bought a case of this wine. Highly recommended! 

2019: Top Wines Over $50

What were some of my favorite wines of the past year?

Welcome to my third Top Wines List. I've already posted my Top Ten Wines Under $20 and Top Ten Wines Over $20 (But Under $50). It is now time for my Top Wines Over $50. This isn't a Top Ten list as there aren't always sufficient wines at this price point that I've tasted and deemed worthy for inclusion. Like the prior lists, this list includes wines that not only I enjoyed, but which I also found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be especially delicious, something more unique or just excellent values for the price. They all stand out, for some particular reason, above the other wines at this price point that I have tasted this past year.

This is a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" wines out there. It is primarily the wines which spoke to me the loudest, even when they were subtle wines. These are all wines that I highly recommend and which I believe many other wine lovers will also enjoy.

The wines are not listed in any particular order and each choice is linked to my more detailed prior review. All of these value wines are worth your consideration but please also note that the prices are approximations and the actual price may vary in your area. In addition, some of the wines might not be available in your local area, though you might be able to order them from the winery or an online store, dependent on your state's shipping laws.

1) 2014 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon ($58.99)
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and with a 13% ABV, this Australian wine was compelling. With a dark red, almost plummy color, the wine had an appealing nose of red fruits with subtle spice notes. On the palate, there was an initial taste of bright red fruits, cherry and raspberry, and on the finish it transformed so there were more black fruit, plum and black cherry, flavors. Throughout the complex palate, there were subtle spice notes, restrained tannins, and a hint of sweetness. It was a more elegant wine, with a lengthy, satisfying finish, and it was a delightful companion to steak.

2) 2014 Podere Il Carnasciale Caberlot (about $275/magnum)
This unique wine is made from Caberlot, a natural crossing of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, using only their best and oldest grapes. The wine is unfiltered, has a 13.5% ABV, and is bottled only in magnum. It was a more complex wine, with silky tannins, vibrant plum and black raspberry flavors, and a spicy backbone. Each sip delivered an intriguing taste, which tantalized the palate with a harmonious melange of flavors. The lengthy finish was satisfying and the acidity was spot-on. It would benefit from food pairing, maybe wild boar or lamb.

3) 2017 Antiquum Passiflora Pinot Noir ($58)
This Oregon Pinot Noir, using high altitude grapes, is a superb wine, fresh and vibrant. It also possesses a light red color, an alluring aroma, and a complex melange of flavors, including plum, black cherry, and almost tropical fruit notes. There are also earthy notes, accompanied by chocolate and dark spices, with a very lengthy finish you didn't want to end. Some a compelling Pinot.

4) 2016 Troon Vineyard Cuvée Pyrénées ($65)
Also from Oregon, this wine is a blend of 62% Tannat & 38% Malbec, has a 13.5% ABV, and is produced with native yeast, no new oak, and spends some time in concrete. This was a fascinating and impressive wine, with a rich, almost purplish color, and a nose of black fruits and spice. On the palate, there is plenty of intriguing complexity, each sip delivering something different to your palate. Ripe plum, black raspberry, hints of cherry, chocolate, dark spices, rich acidity, and more. The tannins are well integrated and the finish is lengthy and satisfying. A well-balanced wine, it brings hedonistic pleasure to your palate, and would be a great accompaniment to steak, wild boar, or other hearty dishes.

5) NV Krug Rosé (about $300)
This Rosé is a blend of 51% Pinot Noir, 17% Chardonnay, and 32% Pinot Meunier. The blend also contains 22 wines, 5 vintages (2005-2010), 47% Reserve wines, and 9% macerated Pinot Noir. Elegant, complex, and subtle, it seduces your palate with its compelling melange of flavors, from red fruits to citrus. It is delicate and fresh, with crisp acidity and pure deliciousness. Each sip tantalizes and satisfies, and will make you yearn for another sip. While it might not possess the depth of the other two Champagnes, it still pleases on many levels. This is a Champagne of romance, a bottle to share with your significant other for celebrations, or simply to make any night even more special.

6) 2016 Halter Ranch Ancestor ($80)
A Bordeaux style blend, from Paso Robles, California, this wine, at 14.6% ABV, is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petite Verdot, and 11% Malbec. The aromas of this wine were compelling, alluring notes of black fruits and dark spices, which meshed so well together, almost like the smell of a freshly baked fruit pie. On the palate, the wine was powerful yet elegant, with well-integrated tannins and a silky mouthfeel. It possessed a complex melange of flavors, with rich blackberry, black cherry and blueberry, mixed with dark spices, vanilla, and some mineral notes. It was rich and delicious, a hedonistic wine which is sure to please. You don't want its lingering finish to ever end. Paired with a juicy steak, this is a fantastic pairing, and it certainly would do well with many hearty dishes.

Summary

This year, there were five countries and regions on this list, with only Oregon occupying two spots, the others being Australia, California, France, and Italy. Of these six wines, they also consist of one Sparkling Wine and 5 Red Wines. Not all expensive wines are worth their high price but these wines well worth the splurge. These are the type of wines that words often cannot do justice. These are wines to experience and savor, not to dissect and analyze. These wines should be shared with others, with family and friends, to share the experience. With the holidays near, why not splurge and buy one of these wines.

If you have some of your own recommendations for unique and compelling wines over $50, please add them to the comments.

2019: Top Ten Wines Over $20 (But Under $50)

What were some of my favorite wines of the past year?

Welcome to my second Top Ten Wine List. Yesterday, I posted my Top Ten Wines Under $20, which I hope you enjoyed and found useful. Now it is time for my Top Ten Wines Over $20, though these wines also cost less than $50.

Like the prior list, this list includes wines that not only I enjoyed, but which I also found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be especially delicious, something more unique or just excellent values for the price. They all stood out, for some particular reason, above the other wines at this price point that I have tasted this past year.

This is a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" wines out there. It is primarily the wines which spoke to me the loudest, even when they were subtle wines. These are all wines that I highly recommend and which I believe many other wine lovers will also enjoy.

The wines are not listed in any particular order and each choice is linked to my more detailed prior review. All of these wines are worth your consideration but please also note that the prices are approximations and the actual price may vary in your area. In addition, some of the wines might not be available in your local region, though you might be able to order them from the winery or an online store, dependent on your state's shipping laws.

1) 2004 Shavnabada Mtsvane ($39.99)
This is an amazing Georgian wine, quite unique and absolutely delicious. It is made from 100% Kakhuri Mtsvane, where the grapes were foot trodden and then it was macerated in qvevri for about five months, before aging in the qvevri for another 11 years! The wine has a light mahogany color, with an intriguing nose of nuts and savory spices. On the palate, it is a complex melange of savory notes, with basically no fruit elements. I was enthralled with its flavors, hints of salted nuts, smoke, as well as savory spices and herbs. In addition, the taste is very clean and elegant, a feeling of freshness, and you might not even believe it has been aging for 11 years. Phenomenal.

2) Gonzalez Byass La Copa Vermouth Extra Seco ($21.99)
You almost never see Vermouth on other top ten wine lists but that needs to change, especially with the surge of so many excellent artisan Vermouths. And this isn't the first year I've had Vermouths on my Top Ten lists. This La Copa Extra Seco, a Spanish Vermouth, has a 17% ABV and was produced with numerous botanicals, including wormwood, savory, clove, and cinnamon. In addition, some red fruits were added "to achieve a long and persistent balsamic aftertaste." All you have to do is to smell this vermouth and it will remind you of a Fino Sherry. On the palate, it is bone dry, like a good Fino, with a compelling blend of flavors, including citrus and peach, herbal notes, and a hint of bitter. It is fresh and elegant, with a pleasant mouthfeel and a long, pleasing finish. It would be easy to drink this on its own, simply slightly chilled.

3) T.W. Hollister Oso de Oro Dry Vermouth ($37)
Another excellent Vermouth, the Oso de Oro, made in California, with a 16% ABV, begins with a base of "quality white wine" and is macerated with a blend of 12 botanicals that include orange peel, wormwood, chamomile, rosehip, and hyssop. It was dry and light, with an intriguing melange of herbs, bright fruit, and a touch of bitterness. Nice acidity, a lengthy finish, and such a pleasing taste on the palate. It went down so easy. You can enjoy this Vermouth on its own, though I loved it mixed with some club soda and ice. It would also work well in a cocktail though I'd suggest making it the star of a cocktail rather than as a minor ingredient.

4) 2016 Hudson-Chatham "Block 3 North Creek Vineyard" Baco Noir ($24.95)
Produced in the Hudson Valley of New York, this Baco Noir wine is quite compelling. At only 12% ABV, it is easier to drink multiple glasses, and you'll want to do so with this wine. With a light red color, this wine possesses an appealing fruity nose with subtle hints of vanilla and spice. On the palate, it is smooth, delicious and easy drinking, but this isn't a simple wine but rather one with some interesting complexity. It also possessed bright cherry and raspberry flavors, subtle spice notes, a touch of vanilla, and excellent acidity. This is a versatile food wine, great for pizza to burgers, salmon to roast pork.

5) 2015 Gitana Winery Lupi Reserve ($27.99)
I loved the label of this Moldovan wine, with its wolf paw print, as "Lupi" means "wolf," and it's named after a pack of wolves that wander through the vineyard. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Saperavi, which was aged for two years in big, used oak barrels and then for another year in new barrique. This is a complex and delicious wine, with plenty of rich, black fruit flavors, mild spices, some vanilla notes, and hints of chocolate. It is full bodied and powerful, yet with well-integrated tannins, and paired beautifully with lamb.

6) 2017 Gilbert Picq Chablis ($24.99)
At a superb dinner at Mooncusser Fish House in Boston, this was one of the wines paired with our multi-course seafood dinner. It was an absolutely delicious Chardonnay, from the Burgundy region of France, with complex notes of white flowers, citrus, and minerality with a hint of briny salt. It went great with a halibut crudo and I would love to try this wine with oysters too. This is the style of Chardonnay I love the best.

7) NV Domaine Mittnacht-Freres Crémant d'Alsace Extra Brut ($22.99)
Crémant d'Alsace has a special place in my heart and I loved this example. The Crémant was produced from an intriguing blend of 60% Pinot Auxerrois, 10% Pinot Blanc, 10% Riesling, 10% Pinot Gris, and 10% Pinot Noir, all from 25+ year old vines. The wine, with a 12% ABV, was aged on the less for about 18 months. With a light golden color, and plenty of tiny bubbles, this Crémant was bone dry, with high acidity, and intriguing subtle tastes of green apple and peaches, and an underlying steely minerality. Elegant and delicious, this would be a great pairing with oysters or fried foods, as well as even a simple bag of potato chips.

8) 2017 Antiquum Daisy Pinot Gris ($24.99)
This Oregon wine, from a farm that practices "grazing-based viticulture," is named in honor of the owner's daughter, is intended to be an everyday wine. It is easy drinking and delicious, with fresh flavors of citrus, pear, and lime, bright acidity, and an underlying backbone of minerality. An excellent summer wine, with plenty of complexity at this price point, this would also be a nice pairing with a variety of seafood.

9) 2015 Henry's Drive "H" Syrah ($27.99)
I enjoyed a few delicious Australian wines this past year and loved this wine, made from 100% Syrah and with a 14.1% ABV. I found this wine to have a rich, red color and an appealing nose of blueberries and floral notes, with just a hint of spice. On the palate, there was an initial bust of bright fruit, cherry, raspberry and blueberries though it wasn't jammy in the least. As the taste progressed, there was an undertone of spice notes, especially on the finish. The tannins were well-integrated and the wine presented as silky and elegant, with a fairly lengthy and satisfying finish.

10) 2015 Pombal do Vesuvio ($27.99)
This Portuguese wine is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 45% Touriga Franca, and 5% Tinto Amarela. At only 13.5% ABV, the wine had a rich, dark red color with a pleasing nose of red fruits and floral notes, a touch of violets. On the complex palate, the red and black fruit flavors were prominent, accented by some dusty spices, bright acidity, well-integrated tannins, and some underlying minerality. The finish was long and satisfying, and there was a mild earthy touch as well. Definitely an excellent food wine, with everything from pizza to burgers, steak to pasta with a hearty ragu.

Summary

Nine wine countries and regions made the list this year, one more than last year. France ekes out first place, with two wines on the list. The rest of the list is occupied by Australia, California, New York, Oregon, Georgia, Moldova, Spain, and Portugal. The list is also broken down into one Sparkling wine, two Aromatized wines, one Amber wine, two White wines and four Red wines.

I have plenty of other recommendations for wines at this price point on my blog. There are top notch wines from countries all over the world, made from an incredibly diverse selection of grapes and you can still find plenty of values too. My advice is that you seek out wines outside of your comfort zone. Explore the multitude of diversity in the wonderful world of wine. Taste and try anything new, unique or potentially interesting. I am sure your search will lead to new favorites.

If you have some of your own recommendations for wines that are over $20 but under $50, please add them to the comments.

2019: Top Ten Wines Under $20

What were some of my favorite wines of the past year?

As 2020 approaches, it's time once again to reflect upon the past year, to remember and savor many pleasant memories. As 2019 winds down, I'll be posting my annual series of Favorite Lists over the next few weeks, covering food, wine, spirits and other drinks. These lists should provide a comprehensive summary of my favorites from this past year, allowing my readers to more readily locate such gems, the best of my recommendations.

My first Favorites List of 2019 is my Top Ten Wines Under $20. For the previous 11 years, this list has included only wines Under $15, but over time, wine prices have obviously risen and it has been more difficult to find compelling wines under this price point. I've finally decided to raise the price point of this Favorites list, although these wines still remain excellent values. You can still find some compelling wines under $15, but it gets harder each year.

This list includes wines that not only I enjoyed, but which I also found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be especially delicious, something more unique or just excellent values for the price. They all stand out, for some particular reason, above the other wines at this price point that I have tasted this past year.

This is a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" wines out there. It is primarily the wines which spoke to me the loudest, even when they were subtle wines. These are all wines that I strongly recommend and which I believe many other wine lovers would also enjoy.

The wines are not listed in any particular order and each choice is linked to my more detailed prior review. All of these value wines are worth your consideration but please also note that the prices are approximations and the actual price may vary in your area. In addition, some of the wines might not be available in your local region, though you might be able to order them from the winery or an online store, dependent on your state's shipping laws.

1) 2016 Dow Vale do Bomfim ($12.99)
This wine is a blend of 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Touriga Nacional and 50% Field Blend of indigenous grapes. With a dark red color, it possesses an appealing fruity aroma with floral accents. On the palate, there is a tasty melange of red and black fruit (especially cherry and plum), peppery spice with some licorice notes. Mild tannins, a moderately long finish, and decent complexity for this price point. This is an excellent example of the great values you can still find in Portugal.

2) 2017 Herdade do Rocim Amphora Vinho Tinto ($17.99)
A blend of indigenous Portuguese grapes including 50% Moreto, 30% Tinta Grossa, 15% Trincadeira, and 5% Aragonez. The vineyards are organic and the wine was fermented in a talha (amphora), without any temperature control and using indigenous yeasts. At only 12% ABV, the wine has a deep red color with an interesting nose of earth and red fruits, with a mild floral note. On the palate, it was fresh, with deep and complex flavors of plum, black cherry, and blackberry, an earthy backbone, and a mild tomato accent. The tannins were well integrated, the acidity was good, and the finish was fairly long. And at its price, it is a good value for the quality, complexity and taste of this wine.

3) 2017 Chateau Mercian Yamanashi Koshu ($16.99)
You probably can't buy this wine in the Boston area, but there is a single restaurant in Massachusetts, Kamakura, that carries it, and this is where I tasted it. The wine is from Japan, made from the intriguing Koshu grape. This was an excellent summer wine, with plenty of acidity, bright citrus and peach notes, a streak of mineralogy, and a pleasing and fairly lengthy finish. There was a mild richness to the wine as well as a touch of salinity. This would pair great with seafood, including raw oysters.

4) Karavitakis Little Prince Red ($12.99)
This is another wine which I first tasted at a local Greek restaurant, the new location of Gre.Co in the Seaport. They only have two wines, a white and a red, both from the Karavitakis winery. This red wine is a blend of 65% Kotsifali and 35% Mandilari, both indigenous Greek grapes. The wine is smooth and easy drinking, but there is still depth to this wine, with pleasant black fruit flavors, including plum and black cherry. There is a freshness to this wine as well, and it pairs very well with a lamb gyro.

5) NV Cricova Crisecco Vin Spumant Alb Brut ($11.99)
This Sparkling Wine, from Moldova, is a blend of 90% Fetească Albă (an indigenous grape) and 10% Muscat, and is produced by the Charmat method (like most Italian Prosecco). I enjoyed it at a wine dinner at the Moldova Restaurant in Newton. At 12.5% ABV, this bubbly is aromatic, with a distinctive Muscat nose enhanced by some citrus notes. On the palate, it is dry, crisp and tasty, with flavors of apple, pear and subtle citrus. A very pleasant and easy-drinking, and at this price point, an excellent value as well.

6) NV Mirco Mariotti "Set e Mez" Rosato ($19.99)
I tasted this Italian Sparkling wine, from the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, at BISq, pairing it with their Fried Chicken. The wine is produced from the indigenous Fortana grape, made by the méthode ancestrale, with native yeasts. It was delicious, dry and complex, with pleasing red fruit flavors and a touch of earthiness. A nice depth of flavor and it worked great with the Fried Chicken.

7) 2015 3 Rings Shiraz ($19.99)
This Australian wine, made of 100% Shiraz, possessed a dark purple color and a nose of black fruits enhanced by spice notes. On the palate, it was a full bodied and muscular wine, with deep and complex flavors of plum, black pepper and raspberry, with a vein of pepper and other bold spices. However, it wasn't a jammy fruit bomb, and the alcohol was well balanced. The finish was fairly lengthy, the tannins bold but not overwhelming, and it has a spicy kick. This is a wine of power, but it isn't overpowering. The complex taste will please and with a juicy steak, the wine shines even greater.

8) 2017 Laurent Cazottes Champetre Blanc ($17.99)
On their wine list, Forge & Vine in Groton, has some interesting natural wines, including this one from the Gaillac region of south western France. It is produced from 100% Mauzac Blanc, a grape that is indigenous to this region. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts, aged in tank on its fine lees, and isn't fined or filtered. The wine is also certified organic and Biodynamic. With a 12% ABV, this was an impressive white wine, one would like to enjoy all summer long. It was crisp and light, fresh and clean, with delicious citrus, especially lemon and pear notes. Excellent acidity, a lengthy finish, and a few floral hints. Pure pleasure and it would be a great pairing with seafood too.

9) 2018 Westmount Pinot Noir Rosé ($19.99)
From Oregon, where Pinot reigns king, this Rosé certainly was impressive. With a 12.9% ABV, it possessed a medium pink color and an alluring nose of fresh red fruits with a hint of tropical fruit. On the palate, it was dry, crisp and fresh, with bright strawberry and watermelon, and subtle hints of more tropical fruits and citrus. A tasty, refreshing and well-balanced wine, it was excellent on its own though it would also be very food friendly.

10) Bodegas Williams & Humbert Canasta Cream Sherry ($19.99)
Made from a blend of Oloroso and PX, this Spanish Sherry had a rich, brown color, and an alluring nutty aroma, enhanced with dried fruit notes and a little brown sugar. It has an excellent complexity, with a silky, creamy body and only a mild sweetness. The Oloroso was the primary star of this sherry, with a minor, but important, supporting role from the PX. The melange of flavors intrigued my palate, with enticing notes of nuts and caramel, a touch of raisins and dried figs. The finish was persistent and satisfying, prolonging the pure enjoyment of the taste. A killer value in a dessert wine.

Eight countries/regions made the list this year, more than the five from last year. Portugal took the lead with two spots on the list (the same as last year). The other countries/regions on the list included Japan, Greek, Moldova, Italy, Australia, France, Spain, and Oregon. There is plenty of diversity on this list, and it is also the first time that Japan has appeared on these lists. As for wine types, the list is also broken down into two Rosé, two Whites, four Reds, one Sparkling, and one Fortified.

One interesting trend this year is that half of the wines on this list were tasted at restaurants. Obviously their price at a restaurant will be two to four times the usual retail price, but most of these wines can also be found at your local wine shop, or they will be able to order them from you. Restaurants with good wine programs can present delicious and intriguing wines, and you simply have to be adventurous to find those wines. Ask the sommelier for some recommendations and be willing to be a vinous explorer.

I have other recommendations for wines under $20 on my blog and you just have to search for them. Even if some wine prices are rising, you can still find value wines all over the world, in every region, though some regions provide a greater range and diversity of value wines. It is important to remember that though wine stores sell plenty of wines in this price range, not all of them are of equal value. Wines in this price range do not have to be one-dimensional wines that all taste the same.

You can find wines of character and complexity, though you might need to spend a little more time seeking them out. Wine blogs can help you in that regard, pointing out wines that you might not otherwise know about. Tasting the wines before you buy them is another way to find such values. Or simply ask your trusted wine store staff for advice and suggestions. For more advice on finding value wines, please check out my article on the subject.

If you have some of your own recommendations for excellent wines under $20, please add them to the comments.

Westmount Winery: Pinot Gris to Pinot Noir Rosé

"Westmount embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration."
--Westmount Wine website

The delight of Oregon wine! Pinot is King, especially in the Willamette Valley, but other grapes grow well in different regions of Oregon. With the heat of the summer, it's a great time to explore the White and Rosé wines of Oregon, such as those of Westmount Wine. I received a couple media samples of their wines, which were both delicious and refreshing.

Westmount Wine Company, which falls under the parent company NW Wine Co., was founded by four people, including Danielle Andrus Montalieu and John Niemeyer. The third founder was Laurent Montalieu, who acts as the Executive Winemaker. He studied agricultural engineering at the Institute of Oenology in Bordeaux, moving to Oregon in 1987, eventually becoming a partner and winemaker at the famed WillaKenzie Estate. The fourth founder was Robert Moshier, who has a degree in Production and Operations Management. He is also a wine lover, as well as an avid climber and mountaineer.

"The Westmount winemaking philosophy is to maintain the personality of the vineyard while allowing the grapes to develop into the wine they were meant to be.”
–Anne Sery, Winemaker

Westmount Wine has over 100 acres planted with grapes, primarily Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, with some Chardonnay. As they are outdoors people, it was only natural for them to produce wine in cans as well, something which is much easier to carry and transport in the wilderness (or beach) rather than glass bottles.

The 2018 Westmount Pinot Noir Rosé ($20), with a 12.9% ABV, possessed a medium pink color and an alluring nose of fresh red fruits with a hint of tropical fruit. On the palate, it was dry, crisp and fresh, with bright strawberry and watermelon, and subtle hints of more tropical fruits and citrus. A tasty, refreshing and well-balanced wine, it is excellent on its own though is also very food friendly.

The 2017 Westmount Pinot Gris ($20), with a 13.1% ABV, was equally as delicious. A compelling nose of stone fruit with a hint of spice. On the palate, it is fresh and crisp, bright and round, with tasty flavors of pear, apple, and a subtle spice note and hints of a floral element. Well balanced, with a fairly long and pleasing finish. Enjoyable on its own or paired with food, from salads to seafood.

Both of these wines are easy drinking, perfect for the summer, but they aren't simple. There is sufficient complexity for the price, and they'll provide much pleasure as well.

Slow Wine Guide Tasting: Compelling Oregon Wines (Part 3)

As I previously mentioned, the Slow Wine Guide tasting event presented approximately 300 wines available for tasting, so I had to be very selective as to the wines I sampled. I'm sure I missed plenty of interesting and delicious wines, though I was pleased with much of what I was able to experience. I'm now going to highlight some of those wines, those which most appealed to me. The Slow Wine Guide is an excellent resource for a myriad of Italian wines, and now it is moving into California and Oregon wines.

Three Oregon wineries presented at this event, and I tasted wines from two of those wineries. Antiquum Farm, owned by Stephen Hagen, is located in the southern end of the Willamette Valley and earned a Bottle in the Slow Wine Guide, indicative of high quality. On the winery's website, Stephen states: "I am obsessed with growing the best wines possible. Our wines are not made. They are grown, cluster by cluster, with my own hands. They are a marriage of a place, its people, and a moment in time." The 20-acre estate is mostly forest, with about 8.5 acres of vineyards, and they raise various animals on their property, practicing “grazing-based viticulture.”

Hagen “...counts on rotational grazing to carry nutrients from a family of cover crops to his vineyard. Sharply trained sheep do most of this, with trusty horses on hand to tow equipment along with geese and chickens. No outside inputs are needed, and his vineyard is entirely self-sustaining.” The bow-shaped vineyard, farmed organically, grows 6 types of Pinot and the winery produces about 32,000 bottles annually.

The 2017 Antiquum Daisy Pinot Gris ($20), named in honor of Hagen's daughter, is intended to be an everyday wine. It is easy drinking and delicious, with fresh flavors of citrus, pear, and lime, bright acidity, and an underlying backbone of minerality. An excellent summer wine and it would be a nice pairing with a variety of seafood. The 2017 Antiquum Juel Pinot Noir ($40), a blend of grapes from all six of their vineyards, is a light red color with a stunning aroma. The wine is fruity and earthy, with a spicy accent, and such tempting flavors of black cherry and plum. The 2017 Antiquum Passiflora Pinot Noir ($58), using high altitude grapes, is a superb wine, fresh and vibrant. It also possesses a light red color, an alluring aroma, and a complex melange of flavors, including plum, black cherry, and almost tropical fruit notes. There are also earthy notes, accompanied by chocolate and dark spices, with a very lengthy finish you didn't want to end. Highly recommended!

I feel that some intriguing wines, using grapes other than Pinot, are being produced in Southern Oregon. Troon Vineyard, in Applegate Valley, was started back in 1972 when Dick Troon planted  Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Sadly, he passed away in 2011 and the current owners are Texans Bryan and Denise White. Their General Manager is Craig Camp, who was present at the Slow Wine event, pouring a few of their wines. Troon is one of only ten Oregon wineries in the Slow Wine Guide to earn a Snail designation, which indicates the winery conforms to the ideals of the Slow Food movement.

Their vineyards occupy about 14 acres and has been farmed organically for a few years, and should receive both Organic and Biodynamic certification later this year. They are already certified LIVE and Salmon Safe. Current annual production is about 66,000 bottles. They are growing grapes such as Vermentino, Marsanne, Roussanne, Riesling, Sangiovese, Malbec, Mourvedre, Tannat, and Grenache, not the grapes you commonly see to the north, in the Willamette Valley.

I only tasted their 2016 Troon Vineyard Cuvée Pyrénées ($65), which is a blend of 62% Tannat & 38% Malbec, which though you might think of as a nod to South America is more a nod to the French appellations of Madiran and Cahors. The two grapes are co-fermented, stating: "At Troon we are firmly committed to co-fermentation instead of of blending as we believe it adds many layers of complexity and texture that cannot be obtained in any other way." With only a 13.5% ABV, this wine is produced with native yeast, no new oak, and spends some time in concrete, where the Tannat makes silky tannins.

This was a fascinating and impressive wine, with a rich, almost purplish color, and a nose of black fruits and spice. On the palate, there is plenty of intriguing complexity, each sip delivering something different to your palate. Ripe plum, black raspberry, hints of cherry, chocolate, dark spices, rich acidity, and more. The tannins are well integrated and the finish is lengthy and satisfying. A well-balanced wine, it brings hedonistic pleasure to your palate, and would be a great accompaniment to steak, wild boar, or other hearty dishes. Oregon is about more than Pinot and this wine is an excellent example of the potential of Southern Oregon. Highly recommended!

Slow Wine Guide Tasting: Italy, California & Oregon (Part 1)

When you're confronted with about 300 wines available for tasting, you have to make some hard decisions. In only four hours, no one can properly taste and give respect to all of those wines so you need to be very selective as to which of those wines you'll sample. Forced to be selective, I knew that I'd miss out on tasting some interesting and delicious wines. However, I was pleased to find some compelling wines which were well worthy of attention.

The 2019 U.S. Slow Wine Tour visited five cities, starting in San Francisco and ending in Boston, where it took place at the City Winery. The Tour was intended to showcase the release of the 2019  Slow Wine Guide, a wine review guide which doesn't use numeric scores to assess wine. This guide is an offshoot of the Slow Food movement, which was established in Italy, in Piedmont, by foodways activist Carlo Petrini as a way to protect the world’s gastronomic traditions.

Their website states their basic philosophy, "Slow Food believes that wine, just as with food, must be good, clean, and fair--not just good. Wine is an agricultural product, just like any of the foods we eat, and has an impact on the lives of the people who produce it, as well as on the environment--through pesticides, herbicides and excessive water consumption which are all commonplace in conventional wine production." The first edition of the annual Slow Wine Guide, centered on Italian wines, was published in 2010, with an English translation released the next year. To review their wines, they visited each winery, spoke about their agricultural practices & wine production, blind-tasted their wines, and then composed their reviews.

In 2017, Slow Wine decided to expand their coverage to California, so they traveled there, visiting and evaluating hundreds of wineries. The 2018 Slow Wine Guide was the first to include reviews of California wineries, 70 in all. For the 2019 Slow Wine Guide, they expanded their California coverage to include over 130 wineries. In addition, they have added coverage of Oregon, including about 50 wineries. As their website states, "Oregon’s commitment to sustainable wine-making and respect for the terroir is consistent with Slow Wine’s principles and its mission to support local agriculture."

In addition, they note, "Like last year’s book, the 2019 guide isn’t intended to be exhaustive or comprehensive: it’s a growing, living, and breathing almanac that’s meant to give voice to the new wave of America’s viticultural renaissance." Next year's guide will continue to grow, including more wineries from California and Oregon, and possibly reaching out to other U.S. states as well. Though the inclusion of other states might take a bit longer.

I didn't know until I arrived at the Slow Wine tasting that approximately 300 wines were available for sampling. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the event. Representatives of 85 wineries were present, including 79 from Italy, 3 from California and 3 from Oregon, each pouring about three wines. Some of the Italian regions covered include Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Piedmont, Veneto, Puglia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, and more. There were also three joint tables, representing the Prosecco DOC, Lugana DOC, and Bardolino Chiaretto DOC, which added about another 50 wines. Some of the wineries were seeking importers but a significant amount are already available locally.

In the tasting event guidebook, some of the wineries and wines were marked with various symbols or phrases, indicating something special. The wineries might be marked with a Snail, Bottle, or Coin while the wines might be marked as Slow Wine, Great Wine or Everyday Wine. In short, the Snail indicates those wineries whose values align with the Slow Food movement, the Bottle indicates high quality, and the Coin indicates excellent value. The Slow Wine designation represents "an expression of place, originality and history," while the other two phrases are self-explanatory.

The tasting was spread out over three rooms, and though it was well-attended, by various representatives of distributors, wine stores, restaurants, the media, and more, it generally didn't feel too crowded. There was a table of food, snacks to help cleanse your palate, and there was plenty of bottle of water too. The event seemed to run well and I encountered plenty of other attendees that I knew. There was a casual vibe, though plenty of work got done as well.

A few of my highlights of the tasting included a Tannat/Malbec blend from Oregon, a delicious Italian Rosé made from a blend of Barbera, Groppello, & Sangiovese, and an Italian wine made from a grape that only a single winery in the world is allowed to produce. In the next couple weeks, I'll be writing in detail about some of these highlights as well as some of the other wines I tasted, sharing the best of what I tasted.

To Be Continued...

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food & drink events.
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1) On Wednesday April 5th, from 7pm-10pm, Bar Boulud located at Mandarin Oriental, Boston, is bringing a taste or Oregon’s lush Dundee Hills to the Back Bay. Located in the well-regarded wine region of Willamette Valley, Torii Mor Winery boasts ten acres of vines and is known for producing the highest quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.

Guests are invited to join Sommelier David Bérubé for this exclusive educational five-course experience, featuring special guest and winemaker, Jon Tomaselli. While learning about the intricacies of the winery’s varietals, guests will enjoy seasonal dishes paired by Chef de Cuisine Michael Denk and Pastry Chef Robert Differ.

The Torii Mor Wine Dinner menu will be served as follows:
Canapé
Torii Mor, Rosé, Willamette Valley, 2016
Razor Clams (celery, apple, mint)
Rabbit and Pork Pâté (pickled mustard seeds, sun-dried tomatoes, mustard frills)
Torii Mor, Pinot Blanc, Yamhill-Carlton, 2015
English Pea Tortellini (wild mushrooms, pea tendrils, lardo)
Torii Mor, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, 2015
Veal Shank (fava beans, leeks, chanterelles, natural jus)
Torii Mor, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, 2014
Amarelle Cherry Galette (anise almondine, 72% chocolate, vanilla gelato)
Torii Mor, Syrah, Port Style, Rogue Valley, 2011

COST: $125 for five-course menu and wine pairings (Ticket price includes tax and gratuity)
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/torii-mor-wine-dinner-tickets-32589076806

2) Tapestry Co-Owners/Chefs Meghann Ward and Kevin Walsh invite guests to join them as they raise a glass to the late Marlena Ward and raise funds for the Marlena J. Ward Breast Cancer Research Fund. In memory of late owner and beloved family member, Marlena Ward, Tapestry will be hosting an evening to benefit the Marlena J. Ward Breast Cancer Research Fund on Sunday, April 2nd. Taking place from 6 p.m. to close in Tapestry’s Club Room, the reception-style fundraiser will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres prepared by Meghann Ward and Keivn Walsh as well as cocktails curated by Will Isaza of Tiger Mama and Melissa Figerleski of Campari America.

Proceeds will benefit Marlena’s research fund and all tips received at the Club Room Bar will be donated to the worthy cause.

For more information, or to make reservations, please call (617) 421-4470.

3) Valerie Rochon, President, Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce announce the line-up of 40+ restaurants participating in Restaurant Week Portsmouth & the Seacoast  March 30 – April 8, 2017. “It is an exciting time to dine in Greater Portsmouth” shares Rochon. “We are so proud that Portsmouth is home to the only two NH chefs recognized by the James Beard Foundation as 2017 Best Chef Northeast semi-finalists, Chef Evan Mallett and Chef Matt Louis. Plus we have extraordinarily talented chefs creating every kind of cuisine on every corner.”

There is something for everyone in Greater Portsmouth during Restaurant Week. Waterfront views, open kitchens, woodfired ovens. Wine Bars. Oyster Bars, Craft Breweries. Greek, Mexican, Italian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, New England. Steak, Seafood, Tapas. And so much more. It’s all here in Greater Portsmouth, NH. It is said there are more restaurant seats in Greater Portsmouth than there are residents.

Menus: Special Prix Fixe Three Course Menus for Lunch and Dinner
Pricing: $16.95 for lunch / $29.95 for dinner per person
Lodging: Make it a weekend getaway. Local hotels and inns are offering special

Looking at the menus, I'm especially taken with a few of them, including:
--Moxy, with a cultural celebration of their employees, and dishes like Kdam Chaa (Cambodian stir fried crab) and Ukranian Potato-onion Pierogis.
--Cure Restaurant with dishes like Spicy Chorizo & Three Cheese Fondue Dip and Honey & Sage Glazed Boneless Pork Loin.
--Franklin Oyster House with dishes like Crispy Goat Roulade and Buttermilk Fried Maine Chicken.

4) Civic Kitchen & Drink is hosting its first ever Farmers' Expo, on Sunday, April 2, from 3pm-7pm, to showcase and thank their favorite farmers, brewers, bakers and friends who are part of their extended family at Civic Kitchen & Drink. Come meet the actual farmers and brewers and bakers whose product is behind every plate and glass at Civic. Free and open to the public – come on in for their Farmers Expo Open House.

Participating companies include: Lettuce Be Local, Harvey's, Spring Ridge, Lilac Hedge, Nourse, Pecorino's, Yummy Mummy, Bean Counter, Julio's, Wicked Twisted, Wormtown, Cold Harbor, Nashoba Winery, and Cake Shop Cafe.

5) Chef/Owner Michael Schlow and the Doretta Taverna team invite guests to join them at Doretta’s bar for its “Doretta Donates” Celebrity Bartending Series. Taking place on various Thursday evenings throughout the spring, Doretta Taverna welcomes local celebrities to give it their best “shot” as guest bartenders. From 6pm-9pm, each night, guest bartenders will sling cocktails, chat with guests, and even concoct their own signature drink to be featured that evening. 10% of all proceeds from the evening’s bar sales will be donated to a charity of each guest bartender’s choice.

So far, confirmed celebrity bartending evenings include:
April 20: Dining Playbook’s Jenny Johnson (benefiting Boston Healthcare for the Homeless)
May 18: Mix 104.1’s Kennedy (benefiting Great Dog Rescue New England
June 22: Miss Massachusetts, Julia Scaparotti (benefiting The Miss Pink Organization)

For reservations, please call (617) 422-0008

6) Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar introduces new BBQ Wednesdays, where guests can watch Executive Chef Matt Drummond flex his culinary chops with Loco’s twist on BBQ favorites. In addition to Loco’s signature lineup of tacos and ceviches, guests can enjoy a BBQ Plate for two for $33 every Wednesday.

Wednesday BBQ Special (Serves Two)
Two Pulled Pork Tacos
Full Rack of Ribs
Baked Mac & Cheese
Cornbread

BBQ Specials will be available every Wednesday at Loco starting at 5pm, until they are gone. Guests can anticipate some rotating menu items from the Loco smoker as part of the ongoing Wednesday evening special.

Bar Dude Will Falaro will be slinging mouthwatering cocktails, including the spicy cult favorite Little Devil Margarita with jalapeno-infused Maestrp Dobel tequila, a little Combier, Lejay cassis, and fresh lime, and the newly debuted Flamingo with Absolut lime, fresh lime juice, Berry Simple (strawberry, blackberry, blueberry), orange bitters, Elderflower and a splash of soda water.

For Reservations, please call  617-917-LOCO

7) Pedro Martinez Charity, founded by former Red Sox pitching star Pedro Martinez and his wife Carolina, is hosting a fundraising feast at Fenway Park on Saturday, May 6, from 6pm-10pm, that will help the organization continue to provide underserved children and families a brighter future. Dozens of notable sports figures, more than 40 local Boston chefs.

Food lovers and Red Sox fans can indulge on delicacies from 39 of Boston’s chefs while overlooking the beautiful field at Fenway Park, mingling with numerous notables, and supporting a great cause. Participating chefs include Tony Maws of Craigie on Main, Andy Husbands of the Smoke Shop BBQ, Brian Poe of the Tip Tap Room, Steve DiFillippo and Rodney Murillo of Davios, Jason Santos of Buttermilk and Bourbon, Jason Neve of Eataly, Leo Fonseca of Stephanie’s on Newbury, Chris Coombs of Boston Chops, and many more.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite, ranging from $35 for children’s General Admission and $75 for adult General Admission that includes food from more than 40 chefs. There is also a Grandslam Ticket option for the VIP experience that includes an intimate meet-and-greet. All proceeds will benefit the Pedro Martinez Charity.

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feast-with-45-at-fenway-tickets-32237234436