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Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Pinot Gris / Willamette Valley

Jasonb — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:39 +0000

Willamette Valley Vineyards stylistic emphasis is on pure varietal fruit characters, with attention to depth, richness of mouthfeel, and balance. The wines are truly a collaborative effort of the entire vineyard and winemaking staff.

This Pinot Gris greet drinkers with a nose of apple and tart pear, with traces of stone fruits. Sharp green apple is quite prominent on the palate, with more subtle notes of orange blossoms and fresh minerals lingering in the background. A fresh, brisk wine, try it with halibut or your favorite shellfish.

FBWorld Panel Score: 89

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir / Willamette Valley

Jasonb — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:12 +0000

A combination of determination and extraordinary people has turned Willamette Valley Vineyards into one of the region’s leading wineries, earning the title “One of America’s Great Pinot Noir Producers,” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

The nose is quite inviting with expressive aromas of bing cherry, tart plum, cola, vanilla, and a hint of oak. On the palate the lively red fruit flavors of cherry, raspberry, and plum accompany notes of sweet, earthy spice before finishing with a soft kiss of minerals. A fresh acidity and smooth finish make this wine great for pairing with grilled salmon in a soy sauce marinade.

FBWorld Panel Score: 89

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Signature Cuvée / Willamette Valley

Jasonb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:14:37 +0000

The winery’s approach is to grow, by hand, the highest quality fruit using careful canopy management, and to achieve wines that are truly expressive of the varietal and the place where they are grown. Since they ferment and barrel each vineyard lot separately (sometimes as small as two barrels), they can save the best barrels for single vineyard bottlings and Signature Cuvée.

This Pinot has a classic nose of plum and black cherry that melds with accents of cinnamon, oak, and a hint of game. Rich dark fruit flavors dominate the palate, with notes of sweet spice and smoky oak rounding out the flavor profile. A lush wine that maintains a nice acidity, fans of Pinot Noir won’t be disappointed.

FBWorld Panel Score: 91

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Tualatin Pinot Noir / Willamette Valley

Jasonb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:46:11 +0000

The winery and underground cellar are carved into the top of an ancient volcanic flow, the soil red from its oxidized iron content and well-drained. This unique terroir is similar to the red clay soil found in the Grand Cru Pinot Noir vineyards of Romaneé-st-Vivant in Burgundy.

The lavish nose of cherry, plum, strawberry, cola, and licorice is quite inviting. A sip brings cherry, plum, and cranberry flavors to the forefront, with notes of vanilla, as well as a touch of spice and minerals rounding out the palate. Light, bright, and lovely, this Pinot is perfectly suited for lamb.

FBWorld Panel Score: 90

Slow Cow: The Anti-Energy Drink?

FBWorld Team — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:05:01 +0000

I stopped by the grocery store for lunch today and was struck by the vast amount of energy drinks on the shelf. It clearly says something about our lifestyle in America when there’s such a market for drinks designed to perk us up and get us through the day. The breakneck speed that many of us try to maintain has to take its toll, and I couldn’t help but wonder if all the sugar, caffeine, and fancy herbal ingredients found in energy drinks were really a good way to combat fatigue and increase concentration.

When I arrived back at the office, I remembered we’d received some samples of Slow Cow, a radical alternative to all the energy drinks out there. Slow Cow is designed to increase people’s mental faculties without the over stimulation of an energy drink. Essentially, the unique blend of ingredients is designed to relax and de-stress people so they can work more effectively. The makers suggest taking it for difficulty sleeping, to concentrate on an exam, after intense exercise, or to help combat nervousness and stress. As a test, I drank a can just before I started writing this article. I will honestly say that I do feel more relaxed than before, but I can’t say I’m experiencing a spike in my ability to concentrate. (It’s taken me half an hour to write up to this point.)

As far as the taste, I thought it perfectly adequate, fairly fruity but slightly watered down. I had our wine editor try some, and he offered a much more through explanation than I did stating, “The nose is predominately sour apple, with hints of pear, citrus, and a few floral notes. It has a nice, light carbonation, with slightly muted apple flavors. The finish is a bit minerally, though, with a somewhat chemical aftertaste, which lingers well after each sip.”

In other words, Slow Cow will relax you, but we think there is room for improvement in terms of taste. Still, for people that could use a small bit of relaxation in the middle of a hectic day, or for people who are sick of all the energy drinks, Slow Cow is worth a try. Who knows? Maybe it will help you find a small amount of serenity in the craziness of life.

John Bragg – FBWorld Taster

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Riesling / Willamette Valley

Jasonb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:04:25 +0000

Founder, Jim Bernau, purchased the Estate site in 1983 and cleared away the old pioneer plum orchard hidden in scotch broom and blackberry vines. He planted Pinot Noir (Pommard and Wadenswil clones), Chardonnay (Dijon and Espiguette) and Pinot Gris. In the beginning he hand watered the vines with thousands of feet of hose.

A delectable nose of pineapple, pear, candied apricot, and sweet spice draws you towards your first sip. Sweet pineapple, ripe pear, and notes of peach unwrap on the palate, building to a mineral finish. Fairly crisp, fresh, and not too sweet, this Riesling strikes a very nice balance.

FBWorld Panel Score: 90

Hunt Cellars 2005 “Thriller” / Paso Robles

Jasonb — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:48:57 +0000

While deciding on the final blend for this wine, everyone at Hunt Cellars agreed the flavors were quite thrilling. Thus, in keeping with their musical theme, they payed tribute to the music of Michael Jackson and named the wine “Thriller.”

A blend of Syrah, Cabernet, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc, it’s a wine that offers layers upon layers of flavor. Aromas of dried cherry, blueberry, currants, blackberry, butterscotch, chocolate, coffee, clove, and a hint of oak rise from a glass. On the velvety palate, flavors of caramel and chocolate unfold into notes of cherry, blueberry, and currants, leading to hints of oak and clove. Truly a wine that will wow you.

FBWorld Panel Score: 94

Hunt Cellars 2005 “Duets” / Paso Robles

Jasonb — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:01:34 +0000

David spent years looking for the perfect venue for his wines and eventually settled on a uniquely beautiful property of over 550 acres in the foothills and mountains of Creston. This area met David’s criteria for topography, soil composition, unparalleled beauty, and ideal terroirs – its varied elevations and mineral soil composites mirror some of the world’s great wine regions.

This blend of Syrah and Cabernet Savingnon has a lovely nose of cherry, plum, blackberry, and coffee. The palate has Hunt Cellars’ trademark smoothness, as notes of cherry, vanilla, blackberry, and robust highlight of mocha unfold with each sip. Treat yourself to a tender cut of lamb, and open a bottle for a memorable meal.

FBWorld Panel Score: 92

Hunt Cellars 2004 “Duets” / Paso Robles

Jasonb — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:01:03 +0000

David Hunt, the owner and winemaker is blind, but he plays the piano and names most of his wines after musical terms. David says that blindness makes his palate and nose extra-sensitive.

A brilliant nose of cherry, plum, blackberry, chocolate, and vanilla beckons your senses closer. With a sip, rich flavors of black cherry and plum open up into notes of oak, mocha, and a slight hint of pepper. A lush wine that still has very good structure, it’s a gem that will keep getting better.

FBWorld Panel Score: 94

Hunt Cellars 2003 “Serenade” Syrah Raging Bull Vineyards / Paso Robles

Jasonb — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:00:28 +0000

David Hunt, the owner and winemaker is blind, but he plays the piano and names most of his wines after musical terms. David says that blindness makes his palate and nose extra-sensitive.

The nose intoxicates your senses with aromas of black cherry, plum, blackberry, and pepper. Silky smooth on the palate, its flavors of dark plum, raspberry, cranberry, roast coffee, and pepper are in perfect harmony. It takes a great deal of finesse and barrel work to produce a Syrah like this, so given the chance to try some, don’t pass it up.

FBWorld Panel Score: 94