The Wines of Patricia Green:
Oregon, Aisle 6A
I had the opportunity to taste the wines of what is my opinion one of the top Oregon Pinot producers. At the EQ inside the Party Source last Saturday, winemaker Jim Anderson was on hand tasting and talking about 6 of his estates  Pinot Noir’s.   This was a true testimony to how different the same grape can taste based on soil, climate and total production.   From their entry level Reserve to the high end Old Vine all these wines showed very well. Here are my tasting notes on the ones that stood out to me.

#4 Eason Vineyard- $32.99
This was the lightest in color with a very alive and super bright cherry bouquet that was long and refined. The wine had a huge mouth feel that was full of bright berry flavors and spices with high acid and chewy tannins. Somehow  Eason Vineyard was able to tie all of these big and ripe flavors and bring them to a sophisticated harmony.
SCORE: 3++++
#3 Balcombe Vineyard- $36.99
Deep earthy nuances of soil, tobacco and a hint of cherry juice on the nose. More earthy flavors dominate the palate with blackberry fruit in the background. Second sip and man oh man this is a savory wine and is a perfect showcase on what sets Oregon Pinot apart from the rest of the world. My comment to Jim was that this particular wine reminded me more of the wines I tasted in Oregon 2 years ago more then any of the others. He agreed that it was the most Orgonian in style.
SCORE:4+
#2 Estate Vineyard – $36.99
The nose on the Estate bottling was very French like with notes of leather, earth, and plum but had the distinct bouquet of Oregon’s volcanic soil. The flavor profile showed racy fruit flavors of cranberry and pomegranate and at first sip I knew this wine was going to be serious. This Pinot was more thick, rich and dense than any of the others on the table and finished with great poise and concentration.
SCORE:4++
#1 Estate Old Vine – $39.99
This wine was the show stopper. It might not have been the one that showcased Oregon’s soil and unique climate but it was too good not to rank #1. The essence of the wine was of silky and satin textured fruits, and a bouquet of red roses. The old vine was super smooth, and elegant. I was very impressed and think I said wow 3 or 4 times tasting this one. It had a feminine quality to it that could not be denied with little kisses of fruit that would show up here and there. This would be a prize possession for any Pinot fan.
SCORE: 4++++

Cheers!

Danny

Hahn SLH Pinot Noir-$24.99  California Aisle 6A

Hahn has a reputation amongst wine drinkers especially red as being solid and a safe bet for your money. In fact one of the first Meritage and Cabernet Franc wines I tasted 8 years ago were Hahn wines. They just released late last year with a new series of high quality performers and the buzz is mainly about this Pinot.   I had it last night with some Korean marinated Sea Bass and was impressed by it’s delicate touch and well mannered fruit. The wine was medium bodied packed with beautiful berry notes and floral tones.
SCORE: 4

Cheers!

Danny

r-wines: Permutations Pinot Noir
$13.99, Australia-Aisle 7A
From Chris Ringland the wine maker of such labels as Marquis Phillips, Strong Arms, Bitch, Roogle, Luchador, 3 Rings and Evil to name a few. Has come out with several new wines. Some selections our from with in his home in Australia others are from Napa. While we anticipate these California arrivals we did just receive Permutations an Aussie Pinot Noir. This is a light, bright and fresh Pinot Noir, well structured with savory, complex characters and nice texture. Rich plum, red berries, and herbal notes on the nose. Subtle, sweet dark fruit, toasty oak and fruit of the forest.
SCORE: 4

Enjoy!

Danny

by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

Here are a couple of no-brainer wines for your Thanksgiving table, or indeed any holiday dinner. Both Ecker Grüner Veltliner and Ramsay Pinot Noir are superbly balanced and more than flexible enough to swing with the diverse and challenging food matches common to a Thanksgiving dinner.

From all of us in the EQ, have a simply super Thanksgiving.

Ecker Grüner Veltliner, Austria/Weinland, 2007 liter $12.99
Anyone looking for a dry, savory, insanely good value white wine for their holiday table should consider the fat liter bottle of Ecker’s 2007 Grüner Veltliner. Master importer Terry Theise offered a perfect description of this wine which I shall borrow: “Slim and racy, spring water strained through herbs.” The lithe, thyme/green bean/mineral flavors of Grüner are backed by fairly generous ripe fruit in a zesty, bone-dry palate. Matched against such tough Thanksgiving customers as The Green Bean Casserole, Ecker suggests: have seconds.

Ramsay Pinot Noir, North Coast, 2006
Ramsay Pinot Noir is a terrific Thanksgiving wine, and I have the scars to prove it. In 2001, my first holiday season at The Party Source, Ramsay was all the rage with our staff and customers. Case after case of this well-balanced, juicy, P. Noir left the store. In the midst of the biggest wine selling days of the year, it felt like Cincinnati was inhaling Ramsay Pinot Noir. Well, despite our enormous warehouse, we of course ran out of Ramsay the day before Thanksgiving. A concerned elderly customer came asking for more Ramsay–nothing else would do for her family but this terrific Pinot value. I had to inform her that, sadly, we had run out of Ramsay–and then she smacked me! True story. I’m pleased to say that the 2006 Ramsay is better than ever, and seven years later is still a square deal at $17.99.