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WINES FOR THIS SATURDAY:
This is the first tasting after an awesome Summer - yahoo!! We're a week early this September because my daughter, otherwise known as BeerGirl, is getting married later in the month. We were pretty lucky to have some terrific new wines come our way and we're also pouring an old favorite with new lower pricing - always a nice treat.
HD RIESLING - $11 EACH, 2 FOR $20, 6 FOR $54 MIX & MATCH
14 HANDS HOT TO TROT WHITE BLEND - $11 EACH, 2 FOR $20, 6 FOR $54 MIX & MATCH
14 HANDS HOT TO TROT RED BLEND - $11 EACH, 2 FOR $20, 6 FOR $54 MIX & MATCH
ARGYLE WILLAMETTE VALLEY CHARDONNAY - $15 EACH, 2 FOR $28 Argyle makes two chardonnays: Nuthouse Chardonnay and Willamette Valley Chardonnay. The Willamette Valley Chardonnay is a blend from two or three of our wineries. The Nuthouse Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine, made in small quantities and are very limited in quantity. Argyle prestige chardonnays are 100% Dijon clone. Argyle has one of the largest plantings of small cluster, Dijon chardonnay clones in Oregon.
Winemaker's Tasting Notes: The aroma is lovely pear with a hint of fresh pineapple fruit over vanilla spice. The flavor is bright and creamy textured citrus-pear fruit, with a continuing creamy, refreshing vanilla spiced finish.
Winemaker's Production Notes: The 2007 growing season was picture perfect up until the end of September. Not too cold, and not too hot, usually makes Argyle a very happy winemaker. Many times predicted bad weather news is thwarted by the fall jet stream’s ability to pop back up into British Columbia. This was not the case for 2007. September 27’s rain event predicted a week before became a reality. Argyle has over 20 years experience with Oregon weather. Argyle believes in balanced irrigation to encourage leaves on the vine to stay healthy and actively “pumping” flavor into the fruit berries. We found over time that this activity can actively encourage slightly earlier ripening than dry farmed portions. This earlier ripening by even a couple of days, paid off in 2007. We went to the whip to pick a significant amount of our ripest fruit just prior to the night of the 27th. This of course means that a significant amount of fruit had to ride out the storm. Argyle has shown mastery in the face of adversity before. The result seems to be great balanced structure to show off elegant, juicy fruit.
ARGYLE WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR - $19 EACH, 2 FOR $36 Depending upon the quality of the vintage, Argyle makes anywhere from 2 to 4 Pinot Noirs: Reserve Pinot Noir, Nuthouse Pinot Noir, Spirithouse Pinot Noir and Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Typically, all Pinot Noir harvested for still wine receives a 4-5 day cold maceration prior to fermentation. Fermentation takes place in open top 2-ton bins using one of our proprietary wine yeasts. At the end of alcoholic fermentation the new wine receives a second 4-5 day maceration prior to pressing. Reserve Pinot Noir, Nuthouse Pinot Noir, and Spirithouse Pinot Noir spend 12 to 14 months aging in French oak barrels prior to bottling while Willamette Valley Pinot Noir spends 8 to 9 months in French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: You are all going to like this Pinot Noir. Besides the raspberry and cherry fruit aromas, this is the first Willamette Pinot I've ever gotten bright boysenberry fruit aromas from! Deep underlying scents of fresh tilled earth and Eastern spice rack further add to the complexity and wonderful smell of this classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The mouth-feel and flavor exceed what one expects from the already enticing smell. This wine has lovely balance for those red fruits wrapped up into a velvet-textured tannin shell. The center of the palate is cherry creme with bright minerality. Enjoy a long lasting finish accented by red cherry and a hint of dark chocolate.
PITULE NEIRANO MOSCATO D'ASTI - $13 EACH, 2 FOR $24
WINE NEWS - Last summer the message from the public was that we had too much variety. We tried to cut back, but ended up with roughly the same number of labels. So now, after the summer has shown us what people want, we're are cutting labels. So the NEWS this month is: if you have a favorite label that's rather eclectic and doesn't sell that well - come and get it. As always we're happy to special order anything we can get, but we are in the process of reducing selection.
Kristi's Kloseout Korner has been a resounding success. We chose carefully and the feedback has been positive. We will be keeping it going for the foreseable future. Please check it out - right by the office door.
For those of you that disappeared thanks to the tourism - please brave the traffic and make this a successful wine tasting - we have missed you.
BEER NEWS - We planned out beer tastings from September through May 2011. The Labor Day weekend tasting of Octoberfests and Pumpkin beer was terrific. Lots of folks came out and had a great time making the comparison. Good fun, very busy, thanks for showing up. See you next time.
The summer beers are gone and most of the autumn beers are in. There are more Autumn brews available than any other season. Some breweries have both an autumn beer and a pumpkin brew as well. Mixed packs are the rage at this time of year - be sure to try more than just your usual please.
OTHER NEWS - Store Hours: 9-9 Mon-Sat. 11-7 Sunday
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