A Beautiful Wine

A beautiful Pinot Noir may not be your everyday red, but it's definitely there for weekends and special occasions. Pair it with anything from a salad to salmon to ham, chicken, turkey and beef, it's as versatile a wine as you could want. And over the last decade or so, some truly amazing Pinot Noir's have come from Oregon. That's why today's focus is on Evening Land.

The Evening Land has long been a symbol of the dream quest to find the mythical Greek garden where the golden fruits of immortality grew – tethered to the setting sun on the western rim of the known world – just beyond the reach of mortals.

Inspired by the myth, we began our own journey to find the "perfect vinegarden" along the coastal world in which we could grow exceptional Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

Evening Land Vineyards was born in 2005 with the purchase of Occidental Vineyard on California's Sonoma Coast.  We later traveled north to acquire Seven Springs Vineyard in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills. Finally, we crossed an ocean to begin producing wine in Burgundy.

Situated in the southeastern Eola-Amity Hills, our Seven Springs Vineyard is dry-farmed using biodynamic practices.  The Pacific Ocean breeze, volcanic soil, eastern exposure, and high elevation contribute to the natural preservation of the grapes' acidity and enrich the wines with elegant flavors and minerality.

Sixty-five acres were initially planted in the early 1980’s.  Today, Seven Springs Vineyard is a 70 acre vineyard.  The vineyard's soil consists of iron-rich, volcanic rock with a thin layer of top soil - less than 36 inches  right along the volcanic flow line.

The 2012 Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills rated 93 points from Wine Spectator. "Silky, expressive and minerally, this medium-weight red layers its blackberry, black cherry, tar and river stone flavors and aromatics on an open frame, lingering easily on the polished finish. Drink now through 2022."

We have a couple of other wines from Evening Land, and they are also highly-rated, exceptional Pinot Noirs.

The 2012 Pinot Noir, Seven Springs Vineyard, Eola Amity Hills is a deep garnet in color with a ruby edge. The nose is dominated with freshly picked blackberries, toasted almonds, baking spice and hints of citrus. The palate is pleasantly balanced, shows soft tannins and notes of freshly made grenadine. The finish is endless and expresses beautiful minerality, a lingering acidity, and perseverant fruit that all undeniably and characteristically come from the Seven Springs Estate. It rated 96 points from Wine Spectator.

Finally, the 2012 Pinot Noir, La Source, Seven Springs Vineyard, Eola Amity Hills scored 98 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "Seductive, silky and supple, this red layers its gorgeous currant, plum, blueberry and spice flavors on a lithe frame, coming together harmoniously on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2022." The winemaker notes: "This wine is dark red and garnet in color with light edges. The nose has hints of baking spice, dried violets, warmed raspberries, licorice, cocoa, sweet tobacco, and burnt marshmallow. Narrow on the entry, due to its fine tannins, the wine opens up to a very elegant, well-structured palate with beautiful acidity that leads to a lasting finish." Currently, La Source is only available in Woodbridge.

Evening Land wines are created with energy, purity, transparency and elegance with insistence on true appreciation of site. Whether you're looking for a special Pinot for the weekend or for your cellar, Evening Land offers you great choices.

Easter Pinot

For those who celebrate Easter with a family dinner of ham, we have a few suggestions for your table. In addition, any of these wines will also go well with Turkey. We do coordinate with our store team to get the best recommendations for you. These are a great place to start. Additional recommendations will be posted later this week.

An Oregon Pinot Noir is one nice choice. Something a bit spicy and berry-rich to play against the saltiness/sweetness of, say, a glazed ham. We recommend the A To Z Wineworks Pinot Noir.

The A to Z Pinot Noir invites with vibrant aromas of juicy berries, cherries, lavender and violets, evolving to clove, game, smoke and cherry tobacco. A succulent, focused attack has flavors of blue and red fruits, flowers and earth, then deepens with hints of mocha, gingerbread, green tea and cacao. A very tannic structure is balanced by perfect acidity, giving shape and elegance to the concentration of lush fruit. A beautiful, complex, forward wine results, walking a tightrope between richness and elegance. Built for midterm aging, the captivating A to Z Pinot Noir once again sets the standard for  Pinot Noir in Oregon. $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir. Meiomi comes from the Wagner Family of Wine, the producers of Caymus. It's classified as a California Pinot Noir, as the grapes used in Meiomi come from Santa Barbara, Sonoma and Monterey counties.

Meiomi is a high style Pinot Noir that is shaped, more than anything else, by the fruit sources that lay the foundation of the blend.  A purebred enjoyment wine, built to accommodate any pairing from food to friends.  Unifying California’s most noteworthy coastal areas opens the door for a dynamic and opulent wine that is ready to enjoy whenever you are.

From the winery: "From our first Pinot Noir vintage in 2002, we set out with a single goal for Meiomi:  To craft a vibrant, food-friendly wine that is approachable and ready to drink upon release.  Being grown and produced with all the bells and whistles available, Meiomi is known for its quality and consistency at a reasonable price.  By blending top-notch parcels of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from three great areas, Meiomi has become known as an approachable wine for any occasion – and at an affordable price it offers up the luxury of reliability year in and year out."

Meiomi Pinot Noir is available for only $19.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Here's another outstanding choice from the Wagner Family of Wines. They have already brought us Caymus, Conundrum and Meiomi, so we don't need to add anything to their well-deserved reputation for quality. Elouan Pinot Noir is their newest wine, as they grow from California into Oregon.

Elouan Pinot Noir emulates the successful sourcing philosophy introduced with Meiomi: blending the top Pinot Noir regions together for a richer, more complex style than what you could achieve by sourcing from one small area. In this instance, the grapes are grown in the great Oregon Valleys of Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue. The diversity of these cool climate areas elongates the growing season, developing intense structure, while maintaining a vibrant acidity to differentiate it from any California Pinot Noir.

Only $22.99 in the Bottle Club®.

If you prefer something of a rock & roll Easter, try the Dreaming Tree Pinot Noir. This is the newest wine from the partnership between Steve Reeder and Dave Matthews.

When Steve Reeder and Dave Matthews first met, they realized they had a few things in common, like a passion for making wine at least as strong as their passion for drinking it.

They set out into wine country, looking for a way to make quality wines accessible to everyone. Along the way, they found inspiration in the down-to-earth characters and unforgettable flavors that give the region its rare kind of charm.

"We think this wine hits all the right notes. No matter what your journey may be, this is the perfect wine to share along the way." - Sean McKenzie, Winemaker.

$13.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Mohua Pinot Noir. As we've been seeing, New Zealand winemakers made Sauvignon Blanc their own, and then started putting their unique approach to Pinot Noir, again, to great acclaim.

Capturing the essence and excitement of Central Otago in every glass, the hand-picked fruit of this dramatic Pinot Noir embody the character and purity of a major new wine region.

Mohua offers a floral scented, rich and juicy Pinot Noir. Layered with fine tannins, raspberry and blackcurrant, wild strawberry and spice flavors.

Only $13.99 in the Bottle Club®.

What To Watch For

With the Memorial Day holiday, it was a slow week for new wine and spirits items. Here's a quick look at what's just arrived, or will arrive shortly.

Belvedere Mango Passion

Tropical fruit is a natural for the summer, and Belvedere Mango timed its arrival perfectly. Not even white sandy beaches say summer like Belvedere Mango Passion. This guilt-free creation is made with real fruit and contains no artificial flavor or added sugar of any kind. Belvedere's unparalleled maceration process of soaking mango, passion fruit, tangerine, mandarins and lime directly into the vodka, has created the ideal summertime beverage.  Perfect with tonic or ginger ale and a slice of lime.

Hints of mango, supported by notes of ripe passion fruit and a zest of mandarin is sure to please the most finicky of noses. Tropical fruit bursts onto the palate, as snaps of mango and zesty lime battle for your attention. Luscious fruit notes, tempered by soft tangerine and a hint of sweet spice, lead to a lingering finish of juicy mango and aromatic passion fruit with a refreshing lime lift. Available in the 750ML size for only $33.99.

It might not be Mixology Monday, but here's a great recipe for the Belvedere Mango Passion. I think it just became 5 o'clock here!

Poolside Passion Pitcher

6 oz Belvedere Mango Passion

Top with fresh pressed lemonade

Combine ingredients with ice in a large pitcher and serve with slices of fresh mango. Serves 4-6.

Cameron Hughes Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Lot 395

If you're grilling salmon or chicken this summer, and that covers most everyone, you'll need a Pinot Noir. Look for Cameron Hughes Lot 395, a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, as the perfect partner for those grilled meals. 

Inviting aromas of fresh raspberry, cherry and cola spice swirl around a dark earth core of forest floor, black fruits, and wet stone. Beautifully aromatic and intense. On the palate, a juicy texture is supported by dark fruits and cherry spice along with well-integrated French oak. Terrific structure is perfectly balanced by broad sweeping tannins. No need to decant - just pop and pour!

When you can find an outstanding Pinot Noir for under $20, grab it. Lot 395 is available for only $16.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Pinot Surprise

Saget La Perrière, the leading premium Loire Valley winery, is 9th Generation Family owned and managed. They are continuously exploring the best expression of Sauvignon Blanc, both Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. Quality and respect of nature have always been the philosophy of Saget La Perrièret. Brought up in the vineyards, the Saget brothers; Jean-Louis and Christian, learned from a very young age to love and respect the soil. Saget La Perrière sources two-thirds of the production in the Loire Valley from their estates with the remainder from long-term relationships with families of vine growers.

Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge already have some Saget wine on the shelf, particularly the Sancerre. But because we've had many requests for a French, non-Burgundy Pinot Noir, that's what we've just added from Saget La Perriere.

With a winemaking history dating back to 1790, the Saget  family today brings together crus and terroirs, vintages and cuvees, industry professionals and food and wine enthusiasts with the best wines from the Loire. With 890 acres of vines located in the finest appellations, six estates and long-term relations with families of vine growers, Saget La Perrière not only has extensive vineyards, but also creates and blends a wide range of wines from the Loire Valley.

La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir is dense, pretty ruby color with a slightly orange rim. Typical Pinot Noir fragrances on the nose, soft vanilla, laced with violet. Immediately vinous and concentrated on entry to the palate, this is a lovely big wine with a long finish with fruity, slightly camphor, notes. This wine can be enjoyed when young but will also age well for 2-3 years after the bottling date. And it's 100% Pinot Noir.

If You Cook It, They Will Come

On occasion, we like to offer up some interesting recipes from our winery partners. We're regularly asked about pairing wines with food, and we know these recipes pair perfectly with items that we have on our shelves.

Merry Edwards produces some of the best Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, period. Their Dolce Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, like much of the Merry Edwards collection, typically rates over 90 points in Wine Spectator. Merry Edwards wines also do very well in restaurants; in the 24th annual poll by Wine & Spirits Magazine, released in April 2013, Merry Edwards was ranked #4 Pinot Noir, #6 Sauvignon Blanc and #8 brand among the top 50 in restaurants.

With that kind of a background, don't we recommend scanning their web site recipe page when you're hungry. Here are two of our easy-to-make favorites:

Potato Crusted Salmon

Ingredients
1 russet potato, peeled and grated
4 6.5-ounce wild salmon fillets, pin bones removed and skin off
2 tablespoons tablespoons olive oil
pinch kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, mix the grated potatoes with some salt and pepper. Pack a 1/8 of an inch layer of the potato on the inside side of each fillet. Heat a large pan with the olive oil on medium high heat. When hot, add the salmon fillets potato side down. Cook until the potatoes are golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Flip and finish cooking to desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium rare. Pair with the Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Serves 4

Crabmeat Mango Salad

Ingredients

6 ounces fresh ripe mango, diced into small cubes

1 tablespoon of chopped white onion

1 tablespoon chopped red bell pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

4 ounces jumbo lump crabmeat

6 ounces spring mix salad

Spring Mix Salad Dressing

Crabmeat Mango Sauce

Make the dressing for the Spring Mix Salad (see ingredients below) and toss with spring mix. Pile the spring mix in the bottom of the plate. For the best visual results use a shallow bowl. Pair with the Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc.

In a separate bowl, make the Crabmeat Mango Sauce (see ingredients below). Add the mango, white onion, red bell pepper and cilantro and crabmeat. Toss lightly. Place dressed crabmeat on top of the spring mix or use a mold to make it into a preferred shape.  

Spring Mix Salad Dressing

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon plum sauce

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and toss with the spring mix.

Crabmeat Mango Sauce

Ingredients

4 ounces mayonnaise

1 teaspoon horseradish

1 ounce Dijon mustard

Mix all ingredients together and see above.

Many of the wines we have for sale include the company web site, or QR code, or other identifier on the label. We all need cooking inspirations on occasion, and exploring the Merry Edwards web site, or the web site of another wine that you enjoy, can provide that inspiration.

  

The Delivery Trucks Can't Unload

Fast enough, that is. Our loading docks have been scenes of frenetic activity for about two months, leading up to these last few days before Christmas. Check our earlier blog posts for additional gift ideas, as we're going to talk about new products now.

Aubry Brut NV Champagne is the latest true Champagne to arrive in our stores. Aubry received 92 points from WA, and 90 from IWC. Priced at only $34.99 in the Bottle Club®, it's among our lowest priced Champagnes. From the WA review: " The NV Brut Premier Cru is a gorgeous wine, and a great introduction to the house style. Lemon, white flowers, mint, crushed rocks are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass as this refined Champagne shows off its impeccable class and total pedigree. The Premier Cru is 45% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 5% Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau. The high percentage of red grapes is felt in the wine’s breadth, while the aromas and flavors remain fresh, vibrant and beautifully nuanced throughout. This is a fabulous entry-level offering. Disgorgement date: June 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016."

Each of our stores will get a small allocation of the 2010 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay. This received 95 points from Antonio Galloni, of Vinous. His review: "Honeysuckle, tangerine, apricot, and crème brulee literally jump from the glass. A vivid, exotic wine, that is constantly changing in the glass. Stylistically, the 2010 is a little richer than Mount Eden fans are used to, but all the elements are in the right place. Th e 2010 verges on the edge of tropical aromas and flavors that are quite rare for young Mount Eden Chardonnays. Ideally, the 2010 is best left alone for a few years to allow some of the baby fat to drop off. I imagine it will always be a bit on the exotic side."

The view at Mount Eden

We also have received the 2010 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir. Another Domaine Serene wine finished at #3 in the Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2013, so they clearly know how to make great wine. And the Yamhill Cuvee did score 91 points from Wine Spectator. Priced at $39.99 in the Bottle Club®, it's sure to be a hit at the Christmas dinner, whether it's ham, goose, turkey or vegetarian.

From the Domaine Serene tasting notes: "Consistent from vintage to vintage as the “little sister” of the Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, the Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir is a blend from each of our vineyard sites that results in a vibrant, food friendly Pinot Noir.  This wine has an aroma profile that consists of red fruit, minerality, sweet and complex spice, earth and a hint of French oak.  The palate offers youthful tannins and balanced acidity which lead to a smooth and graceful finish.  The Yamhill Cuvée  is approachable in its youth while maintaining the elegance and finesse of a Domaine Serene Pinot Noir." And this is what Wine Spectator had to say: "A lively, lithe and inviting red, offering an array of red fruit, floral and spice overtones that come together on the focused and deftly balanced finish. Drink now through 2018."

New products, and new vintages or items we've previously carried, will continue to arrive in our stores. Just ask one of our associates "what's new?" the next time you're in one of our stores. Just make sure you have time to hear about all of the new products.