Oregon – Elizabeth Smith Consulting

August 22, 2016November 6, 2016 Elizabeth Food, Wine

Wine and Olive Oil

I’ve been on a bit of a writing ‘vacation’ since the fourth of July weekend, trying to sort out what I can continue to do in my increasingly limited spare time. I’ve enrolled in a wine marketing course this fall and I am being considered for a print writing opportunity, so I am at a point in my career where I need to make some decisions regarding my writing. I began an editorial calendar to figure out what I can do when so that I am able to enjoy free time as well. However, these past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to taste some interesting wines and an olive oil that I wanted to share with you. Therefore, voilà, an unexpected break from my self-imposed hiatus. These wines and olive oil are worth tasting. From my palate to yours, enjoy!

2013 Antigal Winery & Estates Uno Malbec, Mendoza, $18 (media sample)
What I most love about wine is that one sip can evoke time, place, people, and emotions. The 2015 Antigal Winery & Estates UNO Malbec takes me back three years to Mendoza, Argentina, the trip of a lifetime with a wonderful group of travel and writing professionals like me. Fermented and aged 12 months in French and American oak and sourced from higher-elevation, estate vineyards in Uco Valley, Tupungato, this malbec is not at all shy, with aromas of violets, cedar, blackberries, and spice. This dark ruby red, medium-bodied delight – with its interplay of vanilla, pepper, and dark fruits – is calling for grilled meat, roasted vegetables, and hearty potatoes. In this moment, my mind recalls an Argentine asado, whose intoxicating flavors of wine and food awaken memories of horseback riding in the Andes and late-night laughter in the streets of downtown Mendoza.

2014 Pike Road Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $19 (media sample)
This wine from Pike Road, the sister winery of Elk Cove, defies its $19 price tag by offering a fantastic example of Oregon pinot noir. Sourced from both estate and partner vineyards in the Williamette Valley, the grapes are hand harvested and sorted, then the juice is fermented in open stainless steel tanks and barrel aged 10 months in French oak. The resulting wine is brambly, dusty, earthy, and herbal. The night I tasted it, I took the winery’s advice on the label and paired it with salmon for a lovely dinner at home.

2013 DaVero Sangiovese, Hawk Mountain Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

2013 DaVero Estate Sangiovese, Hawk Mountain Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, $75
One of my favorite wines of a recent visit to DaVero, the estate sangiovese is biodynamically farmed at their three-acre Hawk Mountain Vineyard, wild yeast fermented, then aged in all neutral oak. This wine possesses contrasting floral and leathery aromatics. On the palate, black cherry, blackcurrant, and acid abound. The same sangiovese is used in their 2013 Estate Altobasso blend of sangiovese (60%) and barbera (40%), which was the first DaVero wine to captive my palate and my heart a year ago during a Twitter tasting of Dry Creek Valley wines.

2015 DaVero Vermentino, Schatz Family Vineyard in the Cosumnes River AVA, San Joaquin County

2015 DaVero Vermentino, Schatz Family Vineyard, Cosumnes River AVA, San Joaquin County, $30
This vermentino is produced in Sonoma County by DaVero, but sourced from the Schatz Family Vineyard in the Cosumnes River AVA of San Joaquin County, which is in the northwestern part of Lodi. DaVero takes a biodynamic, non-interventionist approach to winemaking to handcraft this wine, including foot stomping the grapes, two days of skin contact for added complexity, and native yeast fermentation. This wine is everything you want in a summer white: lemony, crisp, mouthwatering, and delectable.

2015 Fields Family Vermentino, Delu Vineyard, Lodi Appellation, $19
Now in perpetual pursuit of an alternative to sauvignon blanc, and smitten with vermentino thanks to DaVero above, I enjoyed this small lot, Fields Family offering prior to the start of the Wine Bloggers Conference, sitting by the pool at Bare Ranch talking to winemaker Ryan Sherman. I’ve always preferred to taste with the winemaker because usually I connect better with the wine through the person making it. After whole-cluster pressing, the wine is fermented in stainless steel, dry racked semi dirty, then spends about seven months aging sur lie in five- or six-year-old neutral barrels. Sherman’s love of vermentino, with Ryme’s “Hers” version as his inspiration, really shines. Bright, floral, textured, and tart – as well as exceptionally delicious – the Fields Family vermentino was the perfect accompaniment to that summer night in Lodi.

2015 Mainelli Family Reserve 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California, $25 (sample)
I don’t typically review olive oil, although I have, nor do I always eat parmesan herb ciabatta, but when I do, I dip it in Mainelli Olive Oil Family Reserve 100% Extra Virgin California Olive Oil. Each year, Tom Mainelli and his team carefully taste, select, and bottle some of Northern California’s best olive oils. This oil is one you want to taste, with its exquisite flavors, purity, and warm bite, indicative of great quality. Drizzle on almost everything. Delightful. Yes, please.

June 20, 2016November 6, 2016 Elizabeth Wine

June Solstice Sippers!

I haven’t been reviewing as many standalone wines lately as I’ve been focusing more on experiences, especially winery experiences for American Winery Guide. I have TEN winery reviews in the queue for publication, so stay tuned for those to go live throughout 2016. At any rate, I recently enjoyed a couple of noteworthy samples that are worth sharing. In fact, I would consider these to be great solstice sippers, aka Beth’s Smart Sips for their outstanding QPR.

2016-05-26 20.03.49.jpg

2014 Stoller Chardonnay, Dundee Hills (sample, SRP $25)
On #ChardonnayDay (always the Thursday before Memorial Day!), I stumbled (literally!) across this lovely sample sent to me last fall. Estate grown and fermented and aged in stainless steel, this is a great example of unoaked chardonnay. Pale gold in the glass, it boasts aromas and flavors of juicy apples, pears, peaches, and citrus with mouthwatering acidity. Stoller was the first LEED® Gold certified winery in the world. 13.3% ABV. Screw cap closure. Winemaker: Melissa Burr. Wine Spectator 90 points and Tasting Panel 91 points, for those counting. The 2015 vintage is the current vintage and can be purchased at this link.

2016-05-28 20.27.43 — 2015 Tank Garage Winery Stars Like Ours Rosé

2015 Tank Garage Winery Stars Like Ours Rosé, California (sample, $48 for a three-pack)
Comprised of 72% pinot noir, 22% grenache, and 6% syrah, this rosé is a gorgeous, rich watermelon color in the glass. On the nose, it exhibits a mélange of red berries, and on the palate, pink grapefruit and tart strawberry share the stage with zippy acidity. The Laserweb-created label has cutouts for the stars, so the color of the wine shines through and the stars brighten as you consume the wine. It comes in at a very quaffable 12% ABV. It is only available for purchase in a three-pack at this link. The back label is nearly as cool as the front label, so I’ve shared it below. Pair this with summer and never dream alone.

Cheers to the June solstice!
Beth

2016-05-28 20.28.00 — 2015 Tank Garage Winery Stars Like Ours Rosé Back Label

February 27, 2016February 27, 2016 Elizabeth Wine

In My Glass: East Coast and West Coast in the House

Playing in Napa Valley's February mustard! — Playing in Napa Valley’s February mustard!

My life as I know it is about to change for one month. I am preparing to process the largest wine club I have ever managed. It means long hours and long work weeks. I am putting my personal life on hold for at least two to four weeks to see this through successfully, so if I am unable to post next month that is why. Wish me luck!

Below are some wines – both East Coast and West Coast – that have been in my glass these past few weeks (and months) that merit a mention before February ends. As always, your palate may vary.

I tasted the 2013 Williamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir ($30) a couple of months ago and shared my review on Delectable, but forgot to share it here. Light ruby-garnet in color and medium bodied, this wine is fruit forward, exhibiting aromas and flavors of cherry, cranberry, and plum. The finish is cinnamon spicy with tangy acidity. Drink now and for the next four or five years. (sample)

Here’s another wine that I reviewed on Delectable, but failed to post on my blog. The 2012 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Franc ($60), hand crafted from 100% organic, 100% estate fruit, is OMG amazing right now: super drinkable with blackberry, black cherry, black currant fruit, spice, and it’s oh-so-mouthwateringly juicy on the palate. The 2013 vintage will be released next week. There might still be some 2012 left, but not much. This was a tasting room sample that I brought home with me one day after work.

Tempranillo in Calistoga? Who’d a thunk it? The 2011 Coquerel Wines Tempranillo ($42) is like a taste of old school Napa Valley before it became the Cabernet Sauvignon darling of the world. If I were to pair this with a song, it would be Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry, because that’s what you’ll get: a floral, funky nose with earthy, spicy, wild cherry and brambly raspberry on the palate. Its playful acid makes it delightfully easy to drink. Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die. (sample)

2013 Hudson-Chatham Field Stone Baco Noir Old Stones & Old Vines

I was in a New York state of mind one evening and decided to open one of my favorite low-alcohol wines (12% ABV) crafted by Hudson-Chatham Winery, the 2013 Field Stone Baco Noir Old Stones & Old Vines, Masson Place Vineyards, Pulteney Farm. I also reviewed this one back in August 2015. It remains outstanding, an exceptional example of Baco Noir which expresses its Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail area roots, literally, with aromas and flavors of tart cherry and plum accompanied by crushed rock and earthy minerality, lingering spice, and juicy, mouthwatering acidity. Pair this with nearly any food and music, such as Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind or Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind. I purchased this bottle from the winery for $29.95.

I participated in #VAWineChat with Horton Vineyards and Frank Morgan of Drink What YOU Like recently. I rarely cook, but that night, I made spicy stir fry chicken accompanied by wasabi green peas. The pairing: 2014 Horton Vineyards Viognier, which is 5% petit mansang, a match with its floral aromatics and mouth-coating melon and tropical fruits. This wine was more voluptuous the second day, with intense fruit flavors running the gamut from citrus to stone to tropical and fantastic honeysuckle aromatics. That bit of petit mansang also goes a long way. This is great example of Virginia viognier, a top-notch wine for $20. (sample)

Another intriguing wine from Horton Vineyards, the 2014 Horton Vineyards Cabernet Franc is crafted from 79% cabernet franc, 14% tannat, and 7% merlot, giving it multiple personalities, if you will, that are still integrating. This wine is young and vibrant, showcasing a mélange of red and black fruit, firm tannins, spice, and pretty floral aromatics, all at a quaffable 13% alcohol. What a nice, everyday wine for only $15. This will improve with age and air, which will soften the youthful edges. If drinking now, please decant. (sample)

While March is going to be a challenging month, I am looking forward to some exciting spring and summer destinations: Seattle, Santa Ynez Valley (California), Vermont, and Lodi (California) twice. I will also continue to contribute to americanwineryguide.com and Snooth, whose links I will also share on this website.

Cheers!
Beth

February 19, 2016February 19, 2016 Elizabeth Wine

Beth’s Smart Sip: 2014 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris

2014 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Just a few posts ago, I was saying how pinot gris wasn’t a go-to varietal wine for me. I am going to eat my words right this very second because I have discovered another good example, this time, a pinot gris from Willamette Valley, Oregon.

The 2014 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, a sample provided to me by the winery, is plush, due to a special inoculation of three yeasts during fermentation, sur lie aging, and bâtonnage, all of which add a succulent, weighty texture to the wine. Stainless steel fermentation and aging allow for sweet citrus and tropical fruit flavors to envelope the palate. Beautiful floral aromas enhance the tasting experience. This pinot gris has it all: lovely aromatics, lively fruit, and a rich mouthfeel, all for only $16. Voilà, another pinot gris becomes a Beth’s Smart Sip.

Wine Specifications
Grape Type: 100% Pinot Gris
Alcohol: 13.9%
Residual sugar: 7.1 g/L
Titratable acidity: 9.15 g/L
pH: 3.23
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Yeast Strains: VL1, VL3
Cases Bottled: 24,033
Cork Closure
SRP $16.00 (sample)

Happy sipping!
Beth

November 16, 2015November 20, 2015 Elizabeth Wine

What’s in my Glass: Random Wine Samples

As a wine and travel writer, I am often asked to visit wineries and accept wine samples. I say yes to samples, but I try to specify exactly what I want. That does not always work, because wineries and public relations people want to get their wines out there for some media love. Therefore, I end up with more than I had planned. This could not be more true than this fall, where I literally can’t keep up with all of the samples I am receiving and trying not to feel guilty that I don’t have enough time to taste them immediately. (I don’t get paid to write this blog, I have one full-time job and two part-time jobs in real life.) Because of this, I thought it would be a good idea to share random wine samples with you incrementally, now and in future posts. I believe all of these I requested.

The first random wine sample is the 2014 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir. I visited this winery for a wine dinner as part of the Wine Tourism Conference in 2013. Oddly enough, I had just read about this wine in Wine Enthusiast, one of America’s Best Value Pinot Noirs. Sixty percent of this wine is fermented by carbonic maceration. If I had blind tasted this wine, I think I would have thought it resembled a Beaujolais (made from the gamay grape). It is very light bodied and light in color, easy drinking, fruit forward, and shows soft acid and tannin. If you are new to red wines, this might be a good entry point. SRP $22.

I’ve said it time and time again: Gewürztraminer and Kung Pao Chicken is one of the best wine and food pairings ever. The 2013 Cave de Turckheim Gewürztraminer ($28 SRP) possesses heady, floral and citrus aromas; a soft, textured mouthfeel; rich, ripe tropical and stone fruit flavors and a near-perfect integration of sweetness and acidity. Combined with the warm, spicy brown Kung Pao sauce, it’s euphoric on the palate. This wine is imported to the United States by Magnum Wines International, for whom I used to work in 2013 prior to moving to Napa.

The 2014 Banfi Wines Centine Bianco is a white blend of 30% chardonnay, 30% pinot grigio, and 40% sauvignon blanc. It really shows off the trifecta of grapes with its freshness and aromatics, as well as its dual treatment in both stainless steel and French oak. It has a fuller body than I expected, perhaps due the partial oak treatment, the time spent on lees, and/or the percentage of each grape variety used. Tree and stone fruits dominate the nose and palate, with a touch of smokiness from the oak, and a hint of residual sugar (3.4g/l), which is balanced by moderate acidity. The sauvignon blanc component really shines on the back of the palate, with flavors of lime and lemon. This is a lot of wine for only $11-$13/bottle. I paired this with shrimp.

If these weren’t enough to whet your palate, I have two or three more cases in my closet to taste during the upcoming months, so stay tuned. As always, if you are in the Napa/Sonoma area and you want to taste, let’s get together with samples.

Cheers!
Beth

August 29, 2015August 29, 2015 Elizabeth Wine

My August Sips

It’s not quite yet the end of August, but below is my month-end roundup of great wines, from Dry Creek Valley, Napa Valley, Pennsylvania, Sonoma County, Spain, and Willamette Valley. This is not an all-inclusive list, so if you haven’t checked out this post from my trip to Hudson-Chatham Winery a couple of weeks ago, please do. As always, your palate may vary.

2010 Martorana Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, SRP $45
If a wine could be extroverted, it would be this one. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 5% Petite Sirah, it’s definitely not shy, boasting floral aromas, ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, and cranberry on the palate, and grippy tannins. I tasted this over a course of a few days and the tannins were still very much at the forefront, so this wine is young, ready for a little more time in the bottle or decanting if you can’t wait. ABV: 15.4%. Winemaker: Gio Martorana. This was a sample provided by Martorana for a Dry Creek Valley Twitter tasting.

2013 Fritz Malbec, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, SRP $45
When I first saw and tasted this, I couldn’t help but exclaim what a beautiful, elegant wine this is. The purple-red, magenta color is eye catching. The aromas are floral and feminine. On the palate, it’s soft, round, and balanced, with an impeccably silky mouthfeel, and luscious, dark berry flavors. I am confident that this loveliness comes from outstanding estate vineyard fruit and meticulous production: stemless, whole berries that were transferred to open-top fermenters, a five-day cold soak, punch downs 2-3 times per day for 10 days, then aging for 15 months in 40% new French oak. ABV: 14.5%. Winemaker: Brad Longton. This was a sample provided by Fritz for a Dry Creek Valley Twitter tasting.

2013 DaVero Altobasso, Hawk Mountain and Valladares Estate Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, SRP $65
The name Altobasso (high-low) comes from the vineyard sources of the two grapes, Hawk Mountain, a higher altitude vineyard which contributes 60% Sangiovese, and Valladares Estate, a lower altitude vineyard which contributes 40% Barbera. Produced with native yeast fermentation and neutral oak aging for 16 months, the resulting blend is a wine that speaks to my palate. The floral aromatics, juicy, red berry fruit, earthiness, leather, texture, and acid are pleasurably abundant and scream for food, especially a rich, hearty Italian or holiday meal. ABV 14.3%. Only 189 cases made. Drink now through 2028, if you can wait that long. Winemaker: Evan LaNouette. This was a sample provided by DaVero for a Dry Creek Valley Twitter tasting.

2010 Seavey Vineyard Caravina Cabernet Sauvignon, Seavey Vineyard, Napa Valley, SRP $65
The Caravina Cabernet is a second-label wine first offered in 1999, whose name means “My dear vine” in Italian. I tasted this wine over the course of a couple of days. The second day open, this wine demonstrated its loveliness, with a soft, round mouthfeel, lush, dark fruit, chocolate, supple tannins, and a spicy finish. I had no idea this was a 92+ point wine (Antonio Galloni), but it sure lives up to that rating. ABV 14.8%. 980 cases produced. Winemaker: Jeremy Weintraub. This was a gift from a friend.

2012 Huge Bear Chardonnay, Sonoma County, $40 SRP
Chardonnay, unless from Burgundy, or made with little or no oak influence, is not usually a go-to wine for me. This was a gift from a friend. Huge Bear Wines, the second label of Knights Bridge Winery, makes this Sonoma Chardonnay that sees partial malolactic fermentation. It shows an intriguing mélange of tree and tropical fruits, citrus, vanilla, caramel, and baking spices, with a creamy mouthfeel, yet noticeable acid. This was a gift from a friend.

2012 Penns Woods White Merlot, Pennsylvania, $22 SRP (2014 is the current vintage)
I first tasted this rosé in May 2014 at Penns Woods Winery and brought a bottle home with me. I was curious how well this has held up after traveling across the country and being stored for 15 months. I am happy to say that it’s still lovely. This is a red wine lover’s rosé, with a rich, salmon color, juicy palate, and aromas and flavors of raspberry, strawberry, stone fruits, and melon. The bright acid finish lingers long enough to make you want another sip. This was a gift from a friend.

2012 Cornerstone Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, $50 SRP
This is an elegant, yet rich, Pinot Noir, from the warmer 2012 vintage. The mouthfeel is round and plush, due to time spent in French oak barrels, 56% new. It yields luscious darker fruit, like plum and blackberry, firm tannins, earthiness, and vibrant, tart cherry acidity. I tasted this with Cornerstone Cellars’ Craig Camp in his suite at the Wine Bloggers’ Conference. ABV 14.1%. 1500 cases produced. 94 points Wine Spectator.

2013 La Caña Albariño, SRP $14-$18 (widely distributed)
This wine is a riper Albariño, with dominant flavors of melon and stone fruits. However, it still demonstrates lemony acidity and salty minerality. It’s crisp, yet has a more substantial mouthfeel due to a small percentage of the wine being fermented in French barrels and aged on lees. It’s the duality of warmer climate/citrus fruits and crispness/mouthfeel that make this wine interesting. I purchased this at my local grocery store for #AlbarinoDay on Twitter.

I have some exciting news for my readers. Next month, I begin writing for two new outlets, American Winery Guide and Snooth‘s Wine Writer Roundup Series, so I hope that you will continue to support me in these new writing ventures. Next month will also be a bit crazy for me in terms of travel and events. I’ll be flying to the East Coast for Labor Day weekend, then returning to California. I am booked every weekend in September for an event, as well as Garnacha/Grenache Day on Friday, September 18, when I will be participating in a Snooth Twitter tasting with some of my cohorts. It’s going to be a great start to fall!

Happy sipping!
Beth

October 13, 2014October 6, 2016 Elizabeth Film, Travel, Wine

American Wine Story: A Review

I had the opportunity to preview American Wine Story the weekend of October 10-12, 2014, and after viewing it, I saw bits and pieces of myself in the movie. I moved to Napa, California nine months ago, my own leap of faith after a divine storm that shook me awake from my comfortable, yet unsatisfying life, and led me to a career in the wine industry after an initial wine epiphany in 2008.

In my mind, I also envisioned some of my wine friends in this movie: Cindy Cosco of Passaggio Wines, Mike Anderson of MTGA Wines, Michael Westerberg of Hardball Cellars, Kim and David Vance of Zoetic Wines, William Allen of Three Shepherds, Carlo Razzi of Penns Woods Winery, Brad and Lele Galer of Galer Estate, and Anthony Vietri of Va La Vineyards, just to name a few.

The primary focus of the movie is Oregon winemaker, Jimi Brooks, and the pursuit of his American dream. When Jimi suddenly dies in 2004 at the age of 38, the impact of his legacy is felt as a community of winemakers come together to work his harvest. Subsequently his sister, Janie Brooks Heuck, and winemaker Chris Williams save and grow Brooks Wines into the business it is today. The winery is now owned by Jimi’s son, Pascal, who at age 18, plans to join the business after college and traveling.

The supporting cast of passion-following winemakers, owners, wineries, and distillers includes other Oregonians such as Sam Tannahill of Rex Hill/A to Z, Jim Day of Panache Cellars, Dick Erath of Erath, Scott Wright of Scott Paul Wines, Stewart Boedecker and Athena Pappas of Boedecker Cellars, Airlie Winery, Chehalem Wines, Bull Run Distilling, Ransom Spirits, as well as those from other states, such as Alan Baker and Serena Lourie of Cartograph Wines (CA), Mike Officer and Kendall Carlisle of Carlisle Winery & Vineyards (CA), Drew Bledsoe of Doubleback (WA), Luca Paschina of Barboursville Vineyards (VA), Cindy and Al Schornberg of Keswick Vineyards (VA), Michael Amigoni’s Amigoni Wines (MO), and Todd and Kelly Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks (AZ).

I was happy to see some wineries from nontraditional wine states included. However, I kept thinking, “What about the Finger Lakes and other areas of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, etc.? ” There are so many American wine stories to be told.

While on the surface, the movie is about the irresistible, career-changing call to make wine, it is ultimately a movie about living life in the moment, listening to your heart, and following your passion without hesitation, regardless of your career choice. As Pascal Brooks says near the end of the movie, “I’m not afraid to die, but I’m really afraid not to live.”

The movie will be available for purchase on October 14, 2014.