Thursday, December 31, 2009

Welcome 2010 - and all new wines!

Hope everyone has a fantastic New Year. Though we've focused mostly on Pinot Noir this week, but never fear - I've got a bottle of Banear Prosecco chilling in the fridge for midnight (or 9pm PST if you're on the East coast!).

Here's to drinking lots of great wines in the coming year.

Cheers!

Quick-Sip: 2006 Soléna Willakia Pinot Noir - super fruity single vineyard

Soléna Pinot Noir Willakia Vineyard (2006)
Soléna Estate
Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills AVA, OR
Our fifth Soléna wine, fourth Pinot Noir tasted at the Grand Cru tasting room.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Quick-Sip: 2006 Soléna Vista Hills Pinot Noir - premium vintage, single vineyard

Soléna Pinot Noir - Vista Hills Vineyard (2006)
Soléna Estate
Pinot Noir
Dundee Hills AVA
The fourth wine tasted at Soléna's Grand Cru tasting room. Moving to the 2006 vintage we start with another single vineyard Pinot.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Quick-Sip: 2007 Soléna Hyland Estate Pinot Noir - single vineyard complexity

Soléna Pinot Noir - Hyland Vineyard Estate (2007)
Soléna Estate
Pinot Noir
McMinnville AVA, OR
Third wine from Soléna Estates. This is another 2007 from a single estate.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Quick-Sip: 2007 Soléna Grand Cuvée Pinot Noir - fruity new world pinot

Soléna Pinot Noir Grand Cuvée (2007)
Soléna Estate
Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, OR
The second of my reviews from Soléna Estate after a visit to their Grand Cru tasting room in Yamhill. This is one of the lower cost bottles of Pinot offered by Soléna, but certainly that shouldn't be taken to mean that it's lower quality.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Quick-Sip: 2008 Soléna Pinot Gris - sharp with loads of fruit

Soléna Pinot Gris (2008)
Soléna Estate
Pinot Gris
Oregon (Willamette and Rogue Valley AVAs)

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Visiting the Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center

So, "oe•no•phile HQ" has moved from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, and I'm excitedly getting to know my new home in McMinnville, OR (Mac for short). Arriving this past Thursday I was giddy to drive past many wineries and tasting rooms that I've been enjoying back in Ohio. Now living here I'll get to visit all of them and many others all the while tasting and writing about many new wines. I'm very excited for this adventure that will definitely help oe•no•phile to grow and help me in learning more about wines, new regions, and being a better taster/writer.

One of my first stops this weekend was to visit the newly opened Wine Center right here in downtown Mac, run by the folks at Willamette Valley Vineyards. The center is a tasting room of sorts for WVV but also so much more. In addition to their own wines, visitors can taste samples from other area wineries which change weekly. There is a small tasting fee, and the staff there is very knowledgeable and eager to help.