"pinot noir" news and stories

2006 Oregon Pinot Noir - Wine of the Week

by Kristine Hansen, Posted Apr 6th 2010 @ 4:00PM

In a tasting of 2006 vintage Oregon Pinot Noirs, we sampled some fabulous bottles. According to a recent issue of Wine Spectator, this vintage isn't all bad despite a long, hot summer – you might say Indian Summer – that stressed the vines (whew!). The results are Pinot Noirs with ripe, mature fruit and a nice tannic structure that are ready to drink now.

Generally speaking, Pinot Noir is a fitting wine to transition into spring, with a lighter body yet not lacking the spices and fruit that drive a bottle into excellence. Pair these with salmon to celebrate the earthiness in both the wine and the food, and you can even tap into a sommelier's wine-pairing trick: choose food and wine from the same region by going with Pacific Northwest salmon.

After the jump, find our eight favorites. And trust us when we say that the hike in bottle price – compared to what you might pay for a mass-market Pinot Noir from California – is well worth the splurge. These are wines you are going to remember long after you've finished them.

Filed under: Drinks

Pinot Noir - Wine of the Week

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by Kristine Hansen, Posted Mar 23rd 2010 @ 4:00PM

Photo: ourcommon, Flickr

As the weather warms up, we can at last turn our heads to lighter-bodied reds. Pinot Noir is an excellent example.

The film Sideways (2004) made the red-wine grape more famous than it had ever been, catapulting it from obscurity into high demand. Suddenly wine drinkers were searching their local wine shops for bottles from California's Central Coast, eager to learn what thrilled Miles about Pinot Noir. Planted not just in California -- and in more regions than the Central Coast -- the grapes also do well in New York, Washington, Oregon, New Zealand, Italy and France. Considered a finicky grape to grow, winemakers consider Pinot Noir their pride and joy and spend a lot of time perfecting their craft as it relates to this particular grape.

After the jump, find some of our favorites, from Anderson Valley, California, to Orange, Australia. (Wondering why there aren't any Oregon Pinots on our list? Stay tuned for a post dedicated to Pinots from that state.)

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Pumpkins, Praline and Pinot Noir - The Portland Press Herald in 60 Seconds

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by Monika Bartyzel, Posted Oct 23rd 2009 @ 12:00PM

Halved pumpkins. Photo: Icrontic.com, Flickr.

Damariscotta holds a pumpkin parade and contest that gives the orange gourd center stage. Plus recipes for: Pumpkin Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake, Brown Sugar Spiced Pepitas, Maple Mushroom Pumpkin Creme Brulee and Pumpkin Praline Trifle.
A reminder that healthy doesn't mean piled with nonfat, processed foods.
Portland's Harvest on the Harbor will offer all "the delicious flavors of this foodie state" this weekend.
Andy and Jaime Berhanu offer Maine its first taste of locally created tempeh.
A visit to Etude elicits musings about pinot noir and a list of their best wine picks.
Recipe: Oatmeal Cake with Coconut Icing.

Filed under: In Sixty Seconds

'Top Chef Vegas' - Who's Your Mommy?

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by Michael Thomas Hastings, Posted Oct 15th 2009 @ 11:00AM

Robin, the despised? Photo: Bravo.

Since the very beginning of "Top Chef Vegas" -- when she sheepishly chose immunity over a prize in a quickfire challenge -- the spazzy, chatty 40-something firebrand with the Kool-Aid hair has been courting the hatred of just about every mammal on the show, including the dead ones she's overcooked in the kitchen.

Even the cameramen seem to be joining in the slander. Each week, her pancake makeup looks a little worse, her puttering around the house more aimless, her early morning pilates routine more ridiculous. If you're looking for someone to teach you the doggy paddle on your front lawn, Robin's your girl.

Call it ageist, call it sexist, call it discrimination against the uniquely untalented, but certainly the bile and vitriol directed her way are disproportionate to her overall annoyance factor -- or are they? This week, the show's editors played up the Eli-vs.-Robin smackdown, wherein the elder stateswoman of "Top Chef" had the gall to suggest a nice serving platter for the Weeble-like Eli's scallops.

"You're not my mom," the snotty 25-year-old shouted, just after reminding us that he still lives with his mom and dad -- and is quite happy with the arrangement, thank you.

Filed under: Television/Film

Best Boxed Wines

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by Slashfood Editor, Posted Sep 1st 2009 @ 4:19PM

More people are drinking wine in a box than ever before. Read about the best boxed wines on Slashfood.

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Think Outside the (Wine) Box

by Kat Kinsman
Myths, Truths & Shopping Suggestions

Boxed wines of the past had a deservedly bad rap, but new packaging techniques have enticed makers of excellent vino to get juiced about wine boxes. We sipped and swirled over a dozen of 'em, so keep clicking to get our top picks (and a list of ones to skip) and one heck of a lot of reasons why we think great boxed wine is the wave of the future.

Nicole Goksel

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Think Outside the (Wine) Box

Nicole Goksel

Delicato Bota Box Chardonnay - 2005 (California)

Verdict: We liked it.
Tasting notes: Great floral smell, easy-drinking, a little bit dry
Tip: Once bottled wine has been opened, it's got a 4 day shelf life before it starts to really oxidize and turn. Because the majority of boxed wines are built with a bag-in-box system that doesn't allow air in, it'll stay fresh for at least 4 weeks.

Nicole Goksel

Three Thieves Bandit Pinot Grigio - 2004 (California)

Verdict: Our favorite of the white wines
Tasting notes: Light, herbal, kiwi
Tip: Because boxed wine stays fresh for a significant amount of time, it's easy to keep a box on hand in the cupboard or fridge so you can pour a single glass whenever you'd like -- without having to go to the fuss of opening a new bottle or worrying about waste. It's perfect for those drinking a glass a day for a healthy heart.

Nicole Goksel

Washington Hills Columbia Valley Chardonnay - 2004 (Washington State)

Verdict: We loved it.
Tasting notes: Citrusy, grassy, fresh, slightly chalky
Tip:While a few wines come in 1 or 5 liter boxes, the box you'll usually find on the shelves is the "3 liter cask," which holds the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine.

Nicole Goksel

Banrock Station Chardonnay - 2006 (South Eastern Austrailia)

Verdict: We loved it.
Tasting notes: Peachy, vanilla, not too oaky
Tip: The 3-liter boxes we sampled cost between $11.99 and $29.99, with the average being around $16.99. While the high end of that range might be a bit more than you might wish to spend on an everyday bottle, remember -- you're actually getting 4 bottles worth. Even at $7.50 a bottle, that's still a steal.

Nicole Goksel

Three Thieves Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon - 2002 (California)

Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Buttery, blackberries, also comes in a 4-pack of single-serving boxes
Tip: Even if you're short a home wine rack, there's no need to worry, 'cause the flat box packaging makes it as easy to store as cereal.

Nicole Goksel

Cintra Venezie Pinot Noir - Non-Vintage (Italy)

Verdict: We liked it
Tasting notes: A bit astringent, complex
Tip: Not so crafty with a corkscrew? No worries, 'cause the tab or cap is built right in-- eliminating the risk of crumbled cork and the resulting air exposure which taints the taste. Taps and screwcaps might have seemed tacky once upon a time, but more and more great winemakers are sealing the deal.

Nicole Goksel

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena Vin de Pays - 2004 (France)

Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Spicy, hint of blackberries, complex
Tip: If your friends seem resistant to the idea of boxed wine, try pouring in another room, and bringing in the glasses on a tray. Only after they've ooh-ed and ahh-ed, let 'em in on what it is they've been drinking. Great wines can come in square packages.

Nicole Goksel

French Rabbit Merlot - 2004 (France)

Verdict: We liked it
Tasting notes: Cherries, spicy chocolate
Tip: Because boxed wine has been kept under such tight wraps, aerobically speaking, make sure to give it a big ol' swirl in the glass, let it sit for a minute to fully open up and aerate, or dig out that decanter from the back of the cabinet.

Nicole Goksel

Thirsty Lizard Shiraz - 2005 (South Eastern Australia)

Verdict: We liked it very much
Tasting Notes: Plummy, jammy, easy-drinking
Tip: While this might all seem like a packaging revolution, folks in Europe and Australia have known and enjoyed the benefits of boxed booze for a long time. It's the perfect no-fuss way to enjoy the sorts of wines that are best enjoyed while they're still young and fresh -- no wine cellar required.

Nicole Goksel

Filed under: Taste Test