Yo, Dinsdale

[Goober McTuber]

My local wine shop has emailed me their weekly special:

If you are searching for that perfect Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving, look no further. We found an unbelievable gem from the Umpqua Valley, one of the oldest AVA's (American Vitcultural Area) in Oregon. Running east to west, from the Pacific Ocean, to just shy of the more famous Willamette Valley, the cool ocean breezes that affect the valley are what drew the attention of Terry & Sue Brandborg. They were seeking to grow cool climate grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Syrah. Approximately 25 miles from the ocean they found older vineyard sites of Pinot Noir planted in 1972 near Elkton, Oregon and fell in love with the quality of fruit this unique climate provided.

Our email deal this week is the 2011 Brandborg "Benchlands" Pinot Noir. It is produced from fruit influenced by a mix of stony alluvial soils and cool temperatures maintained by the fog that rolls in off the ocean. In the glass the wine reveals a vibrant reddish color. It's nose is focused on beautiful cherry aromas complemented by hints of pomegranate, raspberry, dried rose, earthy spice and leather. Once down the hatch you will be treated to a seamless fruit texture filled with Bing cherries and backed with a slight smokiness and dry, earthy spices. Pay special attention to how it seemingly expands and builds in flavor on the palate yet maintains its balance and integrity. Pop the cork on this one 30 minutes or so before dinner is on the table as it will benefit from some time to open up. This wine is the perfect little rock star to match up with the earthier tones of a Thanksgiving dinner.

Are you familiar with this one? How much would you pay for it?

[Dinsdale]

Never had it. Driven by there a bunch of times (Elkton is awesome).

The Umpqua Valley/AVA is an interesting spot -- adjacent to some pretty hot climate, but the Umpqua River is a straight shot to the ocean starting at about Elkton. The ability of the ocean breezes to come up the valley a little provides the nighttime cooling that creates the complex flavors. About the only place "down south" that they grow any decent pinot.

Give it a whirl.

I just looked at their website -- looks like it goes for $22 on the site (probably 18-20 in the stores), but obviously you're going to pay a bit in shipping.

[Goober McTuber]

My local wine guy visits wineries all over the world and brings back deals. His regular price is $19.99. The email special is $14.99. I just ordered three.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Goober McTuber]

Guy had a "bonus" deal last week.

In Orin Swift We Trust

The 2012 Orin Swift Mercury Head Cabernet is an an absolute beast. It sits at the pinnacle of the Orin Swift portfolio of wines and as some of you may know, we have somewhat of a man-crush on the wines from this iconic wine producer. These folks just do not make a mistake and at every price point you find their wine, you can not go wrong by choosing an Orin Swift product. Yes, $92.99 is ALOT for a bottle of wine. Let us assure you though that if you are going to set a Benjamin ablaze you can certainly do far worse then doing it by picking this exquisitely packaged bottle of grape juice.

Am I gushing about this wine? Yes I am. I don't usually like to gush, especially about a bottle of wine, especially not to you all, but I am pretty sure I drooled right on my jeans when I pulled this thing out of the box. There are only 12 of them available so first come, first serve. It is getting close to that, you know, time of year and if you are looking for a gift for a TRUE wine fan in your life, or you want to seal the deal, with whoever you want to seal a deal with, then 'you're welcome and thank you'. If you want more than gushing, I'll let the winemaker himself tell you in his own words right here.

Regular Retail Price: $92.99
Deal Pricing: $92.99/btl :)

[Dinsdale]

Upon further review, I couldn't find a Wine Enthusiast or Spectator score for it (which isn't the end-all-be-all), but another outfit gave it an 89... OK for a pinot.

Then again, this place will sell you wines that frequently crack 90 for a similar price. Often listed in Wine Enthusiast's "best values" every year (the pinot gris usually racks up bigboy scores).

[Mikey]

Just started trying a few Oregon Pinots in the past three or four months, and have had some very good ones in the $18 - $25 range.

Some of them actually come with screw caps, which is nice because I've been travelling a lot by air and figure I can't lug a corkscrew around in my carry-on.

[Dinsdale]

While pinot (noir) is Oregon's "signature grape," as far as I'm concerned, there's no "flabbier" varietal.

Generally runny, weak stuff.

But some people like it, I guess.

As to screw caps -- beyond the stigma of being popular forever with Ernest and Julio (pronounced "Hoo-lio"), screw caps are, in this day and age of poor cork availiability, superior. The very high end French shit comes with screw caps, since people paying $200+ for a bottle don't take kindly to a corked bottle. The drawback being, especially for smaller outfits, the cost involved with converting the bottling line from a corker to the screw caps. Not sure if the big commercial portable lines are swapping over yet, and I assume (have no numbers on the subject, since the winery I kinda occasionally work for uses old school stuff still) the cost of the glass (bottles, us hip people call it "glass") is probably more, as well. I have seen some really cool plastic corks recently, but again, it takes a different corker to put them on, so it keeps the popularity down.

On a sidenote -- the Dinsdale Estate Cab/Zin Blend (technically not a "blend," but a conferment) is settling, and hopefully getting some ML going on. Might even get a case of it, give or take (see how much I lose on the next racking).

[Mikey]

While pinot (noir) is Oregon's "signature grape," as far as I'm concerned, there's no "flabbier" varietal.

Generally runny, weak stuff.

But some people like it, I guess.

There's a time and place for everything. Well maybe not everything. I never used to like pinots until the past couple of years. Tasted a whole lot of them last year in the Dry Creek Valley, Russian River and Anderson Valley areas. Some very good ones too. Not necessarily "weak", just a little more subtle than your average (or above average) big cab. Which I can also appreciate.

You'll never see me spend $50+ on a bottle of pinot, but a really good cab can be occasionally worth the price. In fact I busted out a few of my coveted Kathryn Hall wine club bottles last week. Damn that stuff is good.




BTW...most of the red wine (and therefore most of the wine) in Burgundy comes from pinot noir grapes.

[Dinsdale]

There's a time and place for everything. Well maybe not everything. I never used to like pinots until the past couple of years. Tasted a whole lot of them last year in the Dry Creek Valley, Russian River and Anderson Valley areas. Some very good ones too.

With all due respect to the Greatest Wine Producing State... there's little-to-no good pinot in any of the California AVA's. Wrong climates -- too cold at night, too hot at night, too hot in the day, etc. And that's the problem with the vast majority of Cali pinot -- it's not flabby. And if pinot isn't a hair flabby, it's "jammy." The Frenchies would cringe at California pinot. It's actually only small portions of Oregon where pinot grows properly, and that's not an every-year guarantee. It also has a lot to do with soil composition (moreso with pinot than others).

You'll never see me spend $50+ on a bottle of pinot, but a really good cab can be occasionally worth the price. In fact I busted out a few of my coveted Kathryn Hall wine club bottles last week. Damn that stuff is good.

I've been telling you fools where you can get cab that often pulls 90+(same score your $50 pulled) from the wine rags for $20 (maybe less, PM me). And it just picked up a distributor in SoCal (might even be coming in small lots to a Costco near you).

BTW...most of the red wine (and therefore most of the wine) in Burgundy comes from pinot noir grapes.

Chardonnay is Burgundy. They crank out plenty.

[Left Seater]

Some of them actually come with screw caps, which is nice because I've been travelling a lot by air and figure I can't lug a corkscrew around in my carry-on.

TSA will miss it more often than not, but just put one of these in your bag and leave it there.

http://www.bottlesup.com/productimages/ ... _thumb.jpg

[Dinsdale]

I needs me some of dat.

Is a score of 93 worth 4 times what a 90 or 91 is?

Although anything over 90 in a cab is a great score, and not that easy to get.

[Mikey]

I needs me some of dat.

Is a score of 93 worth 4 times what a 90 or 91 is?

Although anything over 90 in a cab is a great score, and not that easy to get.

Depends on who's scoring it.

[Goober McTuber]

Thanks for the feedback.

Who are you and how did you get Goober's password?

Go fuck yourself.

I've had one of these in my shaving kit since...I've been able to shave. My face, I mean.

[molly]

Omg red rooster