Chehalem Vineyards with Caroline Schoonveld

Oregon winery located in the Willamette Valley near Newberg, which is where their tasting room is located.

2008 Chehalem Pinot Gris, Three Vineyards 2008.. light, stainless steel so no oak, crisp and a little sweetness

2008 Chehalem Chardonnay, INOX which stands for stainless.. crisp pure expression of oregon chardonnay made with dijon clone grapes that do well in cooler climates.. a quick finish on the wine...

2007 Chehalem Three Vineyards, Pinot Noir a blend of three sites, soft earthy nose, tea and mushroom... light and elegant... typical for the vintage but very food friendly.

Lail Vineyards with Robin Lail

I have to say I dont get too excited lately over wine tastings, but today was different. Robin Lail is from one of the early pioneering familys of Napa wine, in the time after prohibition the Inglenook line of wine was known for outstanding quality and only became associated with box wine after the sale of the winery. Some of the best vineyard sites in Napa where owned by her family. Recommended reading, "Napa".. tells the history and personalities of Napa wine making.

Lail Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc Napa 2008 made by Phillippe Melka fermented in oak then rests in stainless steel beautiful depth of fruit, loads of viscous fruit, melon and prosciotto on thepalate...

Lail Blueprinte Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 cab and merlot blend.. a touch young on the nose, bright berry fruit on the palate with a long finish.. a good primer for cali cab

Lail J Daniel Cuvee 2006... beautiful cedar nose, deep rich flavors of dark black fruits, and a silky finish... named for her father who was a major booster for what napa wine could be like before it was cool to like napa wine.

Canopy wines mack hoehner and

A new group of wines using cute names, gimmicks to get the wine noticed.

Middle Sister... doing several varietals and styles. because the middle sister always gets noticed.
something about birth order and the way one perceives wine.
Smarty Pants WHite.. California Chardonnay No vintage given. sweet fruit to start but ends a little dull... banana was the most prominent flavor

Rebel Red. a california red table wine no vintage.. a blend. that surprised me to be very juicy and approachable.. a little cinnamon ..not bad... good intro wine for people just starting wine

Pro-mis-q-us White.. chard/chenin and gewurztraminer.. soft white.. a touch sweet... not exciting..


Pro-mis-q-us red. much better... cab.cab franc. merlot.... tea on the nose, good juice.. light bodied but a little more intense than the Rebel Red..

Purple Cowboy Tenascious Red. lots of up front fruit.. nice texture... the label is a little too cute but again... people will be attracted to the cover.

Southern Starz with Lee Folkes

Nugan Vision Chardonnay 2008 almost chablis like in its minerality.. crisp.. but finishes a little hollow.

Sherwood Pinot Noir 2007 New Zealand light not overly interesting wine.. quick finish

Goulart Classic Malbec Argentina 2008 a little then on the palate...not smelling much today from the wines.. dark berry flavors on the quick finish

Goulart Reserve Malbec 2007 that actually has some cab in it and the nose shows... dark purple in color, very pleasing on the palate...

Tait The Ball Buster 2007... shiraz.cab and merlot... dark purple color, was remembering more robust flavors.. still a cute name and good wine for the price.

TL Buller Tawny Port Australia tawny colored, rich caramel and nut.. good value

Buller & Son Fine Muscat... creme brulee in a glass... lush and rich. great value

Wente with Bridget Epps

Tamas Pinot Grigio 2008 Central Coast... juicy, relatively light and enjoyable.. but who needs another pinot grigio.

Tamas Double Decker Red 2007 Central Coast.. juicy, a blend different grapes... a little heat to it.. but would make a great pizza wine... tamas has had some issues with branding... hopefully they will stay with the current packaging.

Wente SOuthern Hills Cabernet 2007 bright fruit, nice easy finish.. nothing exciting but very consistent..

Muerrietta Wells Meritage 2006 garnet in color, pretty aromas on the nose, using all bordeaux varietals this year except Malbec.. velvety smooth tannins, well blended together... more interesting than I remember

Wine with Chad Zimmerman, Agent Provocateur

from vintegrity

2008 Haut Rion Bordeaux Blanc.. melon, light and relatively crisp... nice intro to bordeaux white, sauv blanc and semillon

2007 Chateau de la Terriere Beaujolais Village . cotton candy on the nose, earthy and strawberry on the palate.. light bodied but really enjoyable beaujolais

2006 Chateau Malbat Bordeaux Rouge. a touch green.. 90% merlot and shows...light and easy

2007 Chateau de Pennautier Cabardes.. dark collor, lovely dark fruit flavors, some earth and just a lot going on... a blend of bordeaux and rhone varietals.and I think will smooth a little with age... great wine.

2006 Domaine de Pesquier Cotes du Rhone a touch of iodine and tobacco, llight bodied, enjoyable if not memorable.

2005 Domaine de Pesquier Gigondas... gorgeous fruit and mouth filling, texture and long finish... really nice wine.

2008 Fattoria Roggio Romita Chianti.. just the right amount of leather and fruit but finishes a little soft and dull.

2006 Fattoria Poggio Romita Friman Chianti Classico... wine of the day... dark color but some traditional rust, great mouth of cherry and red fruits.. nice grip though the finish...

Domaine de Beaurenard Cotes du RHone 2007.. iodine and fresh red berrys..

Beaurenard Rasteau 2007 juicy, ripe and very tasty... mostly grenache with some syrah

Beaurenard Chateauneuf 2007 dark and brooding but oh so juicy. long finish of tobacco and smoke

Beaurenard Boisrenard 2007... each wine just keeps getting better... purple color, oak on the nose that will soften with age... lots of stuff going on with the palate..

Great wines from Pinnacle Imports, or at least thats what the sheet said.

2008 Torresiluna Pinot Grigio...house pinot grigio for Brio's restaurant. light tart and fresh...another pinot grigio.

2006 Damilano Barbera...red berry still young in the bottle though..can use some time to flesh out.

Damilano Lecinquevigne Barolo 2004.. rusty purple in color lots of acidity... from a great vintage. Great food wine.

2006 Cantele Primitivo green overtones, some red berry fruit but mostly a lot of tart uninteresting wine.

Statti Gaglioppo 2008 watery purplle..light body with a pretty smokiness... very linear or one dimensional finish.

San Fabiano Chianti 2008... great wine.. meaty nose, juicy with just the right amount of leather... would match with any steak you put it against... heinz 57 in a wine bottle...