We Love Portland :O)!

WINE TALK
1

My family and I got back from a wonderful long weekend trip to Portland to visit friends to share time, eat, and imbibe with several friends. It was actually hotter in Portland for a couple of the days than it was in Tucson so we were right at home… Thanks to Doug/Michele, Murray, John J., Jim/Kate, John/Crystal, Mike/Pam and all the others - super fun! We had a nice dinner at Paley’s and a SUPER nice dinner at Noisette there in Portland (highly recommended!).

Here is the list of wines consumed over the Thurs. through Sun. trip… In no particular order - a mix of sharing on the porch, with lunch, or with dinners! I brought a 1/2 case+ with me and the others were from friends. I may have missed writting down some…
1996 Drappier Champagne Grande Sendrée: Hints of apple mousse, tight effervescing bubbles, with a great streak of minerality. Top notch on was thirst quenching sitting off Lake Oswego eating an early dinner - yummy! 93pts.

N.V. André Goutorbe Champagne Carte d’Or Brut: Flashes of acid - wanted more creaminess to balance. Pleasant in the mouth - refreshing. 91pts.

2004 Domaine Bernard Morey et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles: Lovely touches of smoke and matchstick - citrus rind - orange blossoms. Really a nice mix of flavors and aromas - another nice one to sip on. 92+pts.

1998 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru Séchet: Served cold - 14yrs old. Nice streak of minerality through and through - creamy entry with plenty of saline laced pear fruit. Medium+ finish - lovely. 93+pts.

2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Louise: My first taste of the Louise bottling - lovely and balanced stuff. Dark garnet with flashes of ruby red. Black strawberry - raspberry and cherry compote - lots of layers. Powdery finish - 94pts.

2007 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs-Gain: Really liked this - light on its feet with smoke and lovely florals on the nose. Green apple - tight acidity - medium finish. 92pts.

2010 Ayoub Chardonnay (Oregon): This is another winner - went really well with the Lobster lunch :O). An acid and mineral driven chardonnay - try if you must - worth it. 93pts.

2010 Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Buisson Renard: Cut right through the lobster - tight and acid driven - stones/pears/flowers. Medium finish. 93pts.

2004 Vinoptima Gewürztraminer Reserve: My first stab at this producer - what a lovely Gewurzt if you ask me - Neal Martin apparently also loves this one… I dead ringer for a nice Alsatian - apple cream, apricots, citrus zest which moves into an acid driven and spicy creamy mouth feel. Nice. 92+pts.

2005 Domaine Matrot Puligny-Montrachet La Quintessence: Not bad and semi nicely balanced for an '05 white burg. Lovely pear cream, spiced apple compote, touches of honey. Needed more acid on the finish though… 90pts.

1990 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Vintage Cave Privée: Lovely mousse - creamed apples - touch of saline laced spice. Wanted more bubbles - lovely otherwise. 93pts.

1993 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Coeur de Cuvée from Magnum: Really nice - tight acidity and layers of minerality - served at the perfect temperature IMHO. Moved to bright citrus and brioche on the palate - long bubbles. 95pts.

1995 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne from Magnum: Normal levels of oxidation here - no pox as far as I could tell. Seemed to lack something on the finish - length. the nose was nice enough to get into the low 90s for me. 92pts. Maybe this needed to be colder when served???

2007 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles: A shining star - lovely and complex in a subtle sort of way - like a good Pucelles can always pull off. Classy juice - orange zest, honeysuckle, medium++ finish. 95pts.

1999 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet: In great shape!!! A deep wine with grand cru class and layers of subtle flavors. Smoke, peach, sage, apple cream. Long finish - loved licking my front teeth! 97pts - this one opened nicely in the glass.

1998 Alvaro Palacios Priorat L’Ermita: It had been a while since having a Palacios L’Ermita - this one was still young and lovely to sample. Touches of oak spice (vanilla) add to a dark profile of black currant, granite stones, cherry spice, clove. Long in the mouth - needs 5 more years. 95pts.

2003 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Little Hill: My first Rochioli - had to get a read on this one. Bigger style of course - dark cherry, earth, mushrooms, spice - tart tannins still. 92+pts.

1978 Scarpa Barolo Le Coste di Monforte: In great shape - hints of tart, roasted herbs, earthy and mushrooms - leather and savory spices. Medium finish - faded a bit after 30min in the glass. Loved it right after popping! 94pts.

2006 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Echezeaux Les Rouges du Bas: Another nice '06 red burg - young in fact. Earth, spice, ripe black strawberry - coats the mouth with layers of flavors. Wait 5-7 years for the next if you have any. 94pts.

2003 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Secret des Sabon: Not at all overdone - dark flavors of red raspeberries, cloves, black plums, and dark cherry compote - christmas cake spices. Medium+ finish - lovely, especially at the end of a dinner. 95pts.

1996 Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Bonnes Mares: A bit disappointing for me for whatever reason - didn’t have those extra layers I’d expect??? 91pts.

1995 Château Rieussec: A touch simple - plenty of sugar in there but wanted more acidity, tropical fruits, and crème brulee… Still nice - 91pts.

1982 Philipponnat Champagne Brut Clos des Goisses: What a WINNER!!! Lovely mouse - layers of minerality, lime spice, salted nuts, creamy bubbles. Yum. 96pts.

2007 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Réservée: 5 years from vintage - still really nice. My rule for drinking the common CDP blanc within 2-3 years from vintage doesn’t apply to this wine. Served cold - lovely pear, tart crisp orchard fruits, flowers. Medium finish - 92pts.

2000 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur: Another nicie! Creamy green apple, acidity, minerality, saline laced spine. Long finish - loved it - really blossomed in the glass. 95pts.

1985 La Pousse d’Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d’Or: My wine of the weekend - tart cherry, earthy aromas of forest brush and mushrooms, acid laced soft strawberry. Soft and resolved tannins - lovely and long Volnay. Really drank well with dinner. 97pts.

1982 Pierre Bouree Fils Chambertin: A go to negoc. for me - Chambertin - lovely… Darker profile than the Pousse - more earth driven fruit as maybe expected. Seemed to lack that extra dimension of flavor that the Pousse had - still lovely. 94pts.

1997 Domaine René Engel Clos Vougeot: Another nice '97 red burg - after having several in the not so distant past from Jadot - this one is A.O.K. Not a super wine but still has enough stuffing to get it up in the love 90s for me. 91pts.

2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial: Still dark with hints of asphalt and wood spice. New leather, plum, black cherry spice. Needs more time - 92+pts.

2000 Domaine Jean Grivot Clos Vougeot: Another good showing - young though. Present tannins - cherry spice, touches of wood, flashes of lavender. Let sleep for 5+ years. 92+pts.

2005 Domaine d’Ardhuy Corton-Hautes Mourrotes: Structure to burn - medium ruby red in color with young Corton profile of tight tannins, tart’ish cherry and other red berry fruits, and a focused minerality that begs for aging. Needs time - 92pts.

1981 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline: Red wine of the weekend for me. Salami, meat juices, high toned ripe strawberry, green olives, flashes of white pepper, black plum. Medium+ long finish - 97pts and super yummy. The '80 of this is also a super wine.

Thanks for reading - CHEERS!

2

I’m not sure I’ll make it through that many incredible bottles this year, let alone over a single weekend! Well done

3

It was tough work but someone has to do it [cheers.gif]! Andrew - you live in a great town with some great people - we love it up there…

4

Sounds like a great weekend!

1981 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline: Red wine of the weekend for me. Salami, meat juices, high toned ripe strawberry, green olives, flashes of white pepper, black plum. Medium+ long finish - 97pts and super yummy. The '80 of this is also a super wine.

Love Guigal La Mouline!

5

Sounds like the PDX folks treated you well. Doug is such a good organizer. Great notes and wines. [welldone.gif] I wish we could have extended our stay, but not in the cards. Now back to some serious drinking here in Tucson. [cheers.gif]

6

I’d love Portland too if I could drink wines like that!! Nice appetizer for your trip in couple weeks! :wink: From those notes…I now know at least one wine I’m bringin!

[cheers.gif]

7

Great notes. But how did you manage to avoid sampling even a single Oregon pinot in your visit?

8

That 04 DDO sounds like a pinot! Even maybe like a pretty good one?

9

That’s kinda like asking why someone didn’t have a Napa Cab when visiting San Francisco.

10

Zing. [cheers.gif]

11

Got that '04 Drouhin Louise in! Didn’t bring any and on top of that nobody shared any (other than the Drouhin) so I blame them neener. Generally love Oregeon Pinot and wish I could have made it out to wine country but with three kids 8yo and under we opted for visiting with friends and sightseeing. Patty Green, Bergstrom, Cristom, Cadeau, Beaux Frere, and Soter = Yummy…

12

Jon: you forgot the 99 Chehalem Rion Reserve we opened at Matti’s. Black and sour cherry, red-fruit driven and modestly complex with taut chalky finish. Holding up well.


Tsk Tsk.

(grin. great notes!)

13

Haaaaaa - forgot!!! Still need Matti’s address though :O).

14

For the record, when I started reading the thread, realizing it was Jonathan Favre, I knew what to expect, and that I’d be jealous and perhaps pissed that i wasn’t there…I wasn’t disappointed (in my expectations)

Jonathan - can you introduce me to your friends sometime???

15

[dance-clap.gif] T.French - I’ll continue to give Jason Berry a hard time for never inviting you when I’m in San Diego - I blame him [pillow-fight.gif]. Can’t wait to share a bottle or three when we finally meet Todd - CHEERS.

16

Make it happen!

17

I better build my burgundy cred if I’m going to get invited to a party like this in my hometown.

18

<2003 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Secret des Sabon: Not at all overdone - dark flavors of red raspeberries, cloves, black plums, and dark cherry compote - christmas cake spices. Medium+ finish - lovely, especially at the end of a dinner. 95pts.>

Had the 1998 version of this last September, if I was scoring I would give it 99-100 pts.

19

Portland done up in proper Favre fashion. Thanks for sharing Jon. Great town for relaxed eating/drinking with excellent company.

RT

20

See his notes:

2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Louise: My first taste of the Louise bottling - lovely and balanced stuff. Dark garnet with flashes of ruby red. Black strawberry - raspberry and cherry compote - lots of layers. Powdery finish - 94pts.