January 2011 Wine Club Selections
January 2011
Oregon Reserve Pinot noir Club Selections
Tendril
Pinot noir 08 $48
Club Price $40.75
The experience of the Tendril 2008 Pinot noir starts with a nose of spice box,blackberry, and black currant. Add flavors ofdeep, dark, sweet berries, black currant, andcreamy, rich, silky tannins. It finishes long,showing a touch of blackberry leaf, minerals andsumptuous, refined sweetness. It’s a wine for cellaring, enjoyable now but promising at least five years of continued development.
Lumos
Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot noir 08 $33
Club Price $28.01
Holy Cow! The aroma is floral and thick with dark fruit. Silky and smooth with the spiciness characteristic of Temperance Hill wines. Extraordinarily balanced with a finish that lingers like a really great kiss. Barreled 15 months. 99 cases made.
January 2011
Northwest Big Reds Club Selections
Guardian Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon 08 $41
Club Price $34.81
The Guardian Cellars 2007 Cabernet is nicknamed “The Rookie” in honor of its status as the first wine made by Jerry for his own label. It’s soft and lush. This vintage features notes of ripe summertime blackberry, violets and faint spearmint with hints of cocoa, red fruit and spice on the palate. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It’s a blend of fruit from Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills that spent 22 months in new French oak and 18 months in bottle before release. 140 cases were produced.
Reynvaan
“The Unnamed” Syrah 08 $42
Club Price $35.66
It’s called unnamed, but enigmatic might be a better description. This mysterious and charismatic Syrah is not your typical Walla Wall big red (nor are any of the Reynvaan wines). Oil-cured olive, mixed herbs, smoked red meat, plum, a flash of raspberry, an undercurrent of black berry. Elegant, good acid, never heavy. 90% “In the Rocks” Vineyard Syrah, 10% co-fermented Viognier. 450 cases made.
January 2011
Northwest New Discoveries Club Selections
Cameron
Dundee Hills Chardonnay 09 $19
Club Price $16.10
Attention to detail, restriction of yields, and a strong dose of independent thinking make John Paul’s wines cult favorites. Undoubtedly one of the best Chardonnays made in Oregon. “wow” was the least expressive comment at Avalon when John Paul poured this month’s New Discoveries Club selection for us at the store. OMG and “whoa nellie” don’t do it justice. It’s made with fruit from Abbey Ridge Vineyard and Cameron’s estate vineyard, Clos Electrique.
Libra
Willamette Valley Pinot noir 08 $20
Club Price $16.96
Fresh red berries and cherry aromas dominate this juicy wine. Sweet red fruit flavors (raspberry, cherry, strawberry) are enlivened by a tangy hint of minerals and earth. A little air time evens and mellows this ready to drink Pinot noir. Made from grapes from Domaine Coteau, Angel Vine & Crawford Vineyards.
