This week: Owen Roe Pinot Noir, Yakima Valley Spring Barrel Tasting, upcoming spring wine fests/events, your favorite wine shop, Brandborg Winery, WineTrails of Washington, Wine Knows blog.
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April 22, 2008
Vol. 9, No. 17
Wine Press Northwest's Wine of the Week is an independent opinion based on double- and single-blind tastings.
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WSU Tri-Cities Wine Seminars
Kick off your wine country weekend with a seminar at Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland. Learn how to use the U.C. Davis Aroma Wheel at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, April 24 ($35). On May 22, discuss "terroir" and explore how different vineyards create unique aspects in wine ($30). Register online at:
http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/wine
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Pacific Northwest Wine Of The Week
Owen Roe 2006 The Kilmore Pinot Noir
Appellation: Yamhill-Carlton District
David O'Reilly has built Owen Roe into one of the Northwest's most phenomenal wineries, thanks to careful selection of grapes from Oregon and Washington. This Pinot Noir is a blend of two Oregon grape sources, Kalita's Vineyard and Lenne Estate Vineyard, both in the venerable Yamhill-Carlton District west of the Dundee Hills. Pinots from this appellation tend to be complex, darker toned and layered, and this is a prime example. It opens with aromas of freshly mown hay, black raspberries and minerally earth, followed by polished flavors of ripe dark cherries and even lingonberries. A certain density of flavor is backed up with superb balance and a whisper of tannin through the smooth, long finish. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine.
Price: $42.
Cases produced: 729 cases. Look for this in wine shops or order directly from the winery.
Food matches: Pair this with the finest cuts of beef or enjoy with dark turkey meat or duck drizzled with a reduction sauce.
Owen Roe, 8400 Champoeg Road, St. Paul, OR 97137, 503-678-5058, http://www.owenroe.com
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Recent wines of the week
-- Pend d'Oreille Winery 2005 Bistro Rouge, Washington
-- Waterbrook Winery 2006 Riesling, Columbia Valley
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Best Buys
-- Lone Canary NV Bird House Red, Columbia Valley, $15
-- Magnificent Wine Co. House Wine White, Columbia Valley, $10
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Shea Estate Pinot noir 06
Anam Cara, Capitello get national press
Beaux Freres 2006 Pinot noirs
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Avalon employees' weekly picks for their favorite new wines
OREGON WINE IN THE NEWS
Lumos Winemaker Dai Crisp profile
WVV second Oregon winery in a row to be #1 "Hottest Small Brand"
Bryan Wilson new winemaker at Foris
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More about Owen Roe
Owen Roe is co-owned by David O'Reilly and Jerry Owen. O'Reilly was a co-founder of Sineann, an Oregon winery with near-cult status in the Northwest. Though no longer involved with Sineann, O'Reilly still is often associated with the winery near Newberg and remains close friends with owner Peter Rosback.
Recently, O'Reilly strengthened his ties with the Washington wine industry by purchasing a Sunnyside dairy that housed Washington Hills for several years. He also purchased the famed Outlook Vineyard, also in the Yakima Valley.
Owen Roe also produces O'Reilly, a second label that is as prized for its quality as it is for its price.
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Yakima Spring Barrel Tasting
Despite the bizarre spring weather the Northwest has experienced in recent weeks, the spring wine touring season officially kicks off this weekend with the annual Yakima Valley Spring Barrel Tasting, one of the Northwest's oldest events.
I've put together a quick guide to tackling the Yakima Valley on The Wine Knows, including looking at the valley region by region, along with touring tips, places to eat and places to stay. Check it out at:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/819
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Barrel tasting weekends looming
The annual Yakima Valley Spring Barrel Tasting weekend unofficially marks the beginning of the wine-touring season in the Pacific Northwest. Here's a quick rundown so you can begin mapping out your strategy:
May 1-10: Okanagan Valley Spring Wine Festival
May 3-4: Walla Walla Valley Spring Release
May 9-11: Spokane Spring Barrel Tasting
May 16-18: North Central Washington Barrel Tasting
May 24-26: Willamette Valley Memorial Weekend in Wine Country
May 24-26: Olympic Peninsula Spring Barrel Tasting
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Your favorite wine shop, wine bar, wine club
We are in the midst of revamping our Web site. One of the features will be easier-to-use search functions for wine reviews, wineries and wine shops.
Here's where we need your help. We want to make certain our database of wine shops, wine bars and wine clubs is as complete as possible.
Thus, I have put our list of 161 Northwest wine shops, wine clubs and wine bars online. You are welcome to look it over and add your favorites via a simple form. I'm especially lacking in wine bars on this list so far.
The links for the list and submission form are posted on The Wine Knows at:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/809
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Oregon Winery to Watch
Our 2008 Oregon Winery to Watch is a new winery that is an old hand at the wine business.
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery in the tiny town of Elkton is owned by Terry and Sue Brandborg. Terry started a winery in his native California in the mid-'80s. After he and Sue married in 2001, they began to look for property in Oregon. They moved to Elkton in 2002 after purchasing 145 acres, began planting Pinot Noir and had their first vintage released that Thanksgiving.
Today, Brandborg makes Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Syrah from the Umpqua Valley.
For more on our 2008 Oregon Winery to Watch, go to:
http://www.brandborgwine.com/
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WineTrails of Washington
Over the weekend, I caught up with Steve Roberts, whose book "WineTrails of Washington" has been a big hit with Northwest wine lovers. In this week's Northwest Winecast, we chat with Steve about the book and how it is being used.
You can watch the Northwest Winecast two ways (both free):
On our Web site:
http://www.winepressnw.com/video/vodcast/
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/WinePressNW
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The Wine Knows
The Wine Knows, Wine Press Northwest's blog, is getting updated almost daily (and sometimes more than daily). Recent highlights include:
-- Vineyard2Door helping wineries online
-- Precept buys into Yakima Valley wineries
-- The resurrection of Gino Cuneo
-- Will Washington's wine bubble ever burst?
-- Buds breaking - and growers are nervous
-- Have travel restrictions changed your wine-buying habits?
-- Snow on Red Mountain?
-- Taste future this weekend at Yakima Valley CC
-- Western Washington workshops introduce winemaking
-- Purple Cafe to expand to Bellevue
-- And more.
Be sure to check out the blog daily to read updates on the Northwest wine scene. If you are into RSS feeds, you can easily get blog updates throughout the week.
http://community.winepressnw.com
If you are into RSS feeds, you can easily get blog updates.
The URL for the RSS feed is:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/feed
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Pacific Northwest Wine Shop Directory
LIBATION STATION, a Fine Wine Shop
110 N. First St. Suite B., Mt. Vernon. Located in old downtown Mt. Vernon, WA. Weekly tastings. Local & imported wines; 10% off all cases.
360-336-5266
http://www.libationstation.com
BRENTWOOD WINE COMPANY
Internet fine wine auctions. Titanium Schott Zwiesel crystal wholesale & retail. The Northwest's largest buyer of fine wine. For free appraisal, email wine list: appraisals@brentwoodwine.com
(503) 638 WINE
http://www.brentwoodwine.com
